History

The present-day village was founded in the wake of Ferdinand II's conquest of Andalusia; the Christian monarch set up a camp on this site which later became a hospital under the supervision of don Pedro de Meneses (who gave the village its name), a Galician from Orense, in 1234; he brought with him a crucifix which, according to tradition, brought about a series of extraordinary events. Ferdinand III ordered a chapel to be built on the spot where the crucifix had stood, and this chapel became the origin of the village itself.

The village was bought from Philip II by don Luis Mendez de Haro, Knight Commander of Alcañiz, who was also Marquis of El Carpio on the side of his mother, doña Beatriz de Haro.

Eminent citizens

Rafaela Maria Porras Ayllon, founder of the Order of Slaves of the Sacred Heart (1850-1925).
Fernando Rojas Muro, bullfighter.