Calatrava la Nueva
Encyclopedia
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
and convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
found on the peak of Alacranejo, within the municipality of Aldea del Rey
Aldea del Rey
Aldea del Rey is a municipality in the province of Ciudad Real, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. It has a population of 2,017.-Main sights:*Castle of Calatrava la Nueva...
, near Almagro
Almagro, Ciudad Real
Almagro is a city situated in Ciudad Real province, in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha, Spain.A tourist destination, Almagro is an important Historical-Artistic Zone ....
, in the province of Ciudad Real, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
Its name is a reference to the Order of Calatrava
Order of Calatrava
The Order of Calatrava was the first military order founded in Castile, but the second to receive papal approval. The papal bull confirming the Order of Calatrava as a Militia was given by Pope Alexander III on September 26, 1164.-Origins and Foundation:...
, which was originally situated in Calatrava la Vieja
Calatrava la Vieja
Calatrava la Vieja is a medieval site and original nucleus of the Order of Calatrava. It is now part of the Archaeological Parks of the Community of Castile-La Mancha. Situated at Carrión de Calatrava, Calatrava during the High Middle Ages was the only important city in the Guadiana River valley...
, 60 km to the north. In 1217, the Order of Calatrava moved to Calatrava la Nueva. Thus, the original site became known as "Calatrava la Vieja" ("Old Calatrava") and the new site as Calatrava la Nueva (“New Calatrava”).