History

The archaeological remains found in Venta Micena and Barranco del Paso prove the ancient origins of this town. The economic and military route from the west coast of Spain and Cartagena to the mining area.

The Alcazaba (Moorish castle) was built in the 11th century in the Arab Andalusian period, as part of the formation of small Arab kingdoms called Taifas. In 1320 it became part of the kingdom of Granada, limiting with Christian Cazorla, Segura, Caravaca and Lorca. In the Mid 15th century, there was a surprise attack in the hands of D. Rodrigo Manrique, father of the poet Jorge Manrique. Ten years later it was re-conquered by the Granada King Muhammad X, which re-established the borderline of the North mountain ranges. It was given out to the Catholic Monarchs in 1488. After the conquest it became part of the domains of D. Enrique Enriquez.