Olvera

History

There is a lack of specific data and studies into the true origin of the town. This means it is of conjecture to historians, some thinking that the present city was an establishment named Caricus, about the time of the Celts. Professor Ramos Santana posits that the legendary Cenosia, the original name of Olvera, located near the present city centre, was known as Vallehermoso (beautiful valley), existing at the time of the Visigoths. In this area of the mountain range of Sierra de Lijar are numerous Roman camps and remains. The archaeologist Lorenzo Perdigones' report (1986) shows the existence of a Roman establishment in the area, dated the end of 3rd century B.C. Indeed, the foundations of the city castle were found to be Roman, during the removal of some of the rubble. The original name of Olvera could be "Ilipa", (established by geographically adjusting in a map of Roman Spain, published in 1879, between Morón and Ronda). Hippa and Hippo Nova are likely names of the original village. But the first demonstrably reliable origin of Olvera is within Muslim documentation, in the mid 12th Century, when it is chronicled as an outpost in the mountains called "WUBIRA" or "URIWILA" (year 1327) when king Alfonso XI wrested it from the Arabs. As part of the Christian conquest plans emanating from Seville, Olvera formed part of the advance strategy towards the Straits of Gibraltar to prevent the reinsurgence of Muslims. In one first expedition the Christians lost the banner of Seville that flew in Olvera castle. After the negotiations that followed the surrender of the town, Ibrahim-ibn-Utmain secured concessions, in respect of the Moors of Olvera, that each one of the inhabitants could keep their houses and goods. The village was repopulated through a decree, a 'Letter of…

Most-observed species

• Eurasian Griffon

  Gyps fulvus (Hablizl, 1783) · Aves
  1,509
• Common Chaffinch

  Fringilla coelebs Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,028
• European Goldfinch

  Carduelis carduelis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,022
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,014
• Sardinian Warbler

  Curruca melanocephala (J.F.Gmelin, 1789) · Aves
  964
• Great Tit

  Parus major Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  930
• Eurasian Blue Tit

  Cyanistes caeruleus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  847
• House Sparrow

  Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  830