Alguazas is a municipality located between the rivers Segura and Mula, a geographical position that allowed the territory to be populated for thousands of years. The name of the town comes from the Arabic word Al Waza, meaning "the one in the middle." During the Islamic period, it was inhabited by the tribe of the Bena Andik, and its first written references appear in the 13th century following the conquest of the taifa of Murcia.
In the 14th century, the fortress of the Torre de los Moros was restored in the huerta next to the Mula river. This fortress served as a refuge for some bishops, as a prison, and as a military base. The town's history is marked by shifts in ownership; for example, it was donated to the wife of King Alfonso X in the 13th century and was owned by several queens until 1321. It was also exchanged for the castle of Lubrín in 1321.
Strategic defense has long been a part of the town's identity. During the War of Independence, various defensive elements were constructed, including a large wooden wall along the Mula river. The local economy was historically driven by mudéjares working the irrigated lands, which were supplied by an acequia bringing water from the Segura river. The town's coat of arms features a tower symbolizing the medieval castle-fortress around which the town emerged.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nik Frost
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