Moveros de Aliste – Villages of Spain (1)

Moveros de Aliste – Villages of Spain

Apples ripening in a garden in Moveros, Zamora
Apples ripening in a garden in Moveros, Zamora

Moveros de Aliste, Zamora

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Moveros de Aliste, Zamora, Spain

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Moveros de Aliste: 41.654089, -6.249575
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Moveros de Aliste
Moveros de Aliste
Moveros, Spain

This village in Zamora, on the border with Portugal, still has a renowned production of ceramica.  It is typical of the villages in this area in that there are many fincas, or fields, dotted right in between the houses which give an expansive sensation of space and sky.

Everywhere, even in the village centre, there are fields.
Everywhere, even in the village centre, there are fields.

Gardens are used to grow vegetables and fruit.  No space is wasted, especially now that each house has a water supply.  Every village in Spain has drinkable water and mains sewage.

In his garden, a man uses long sticks of black poplar tree to support his beans.
In his garden, a man uses long sticks of a  black poplar tree to support his beans.

Until Spain entered the European Community it was common in most villages to share a common water supply, usually a spring or a well.

disused spring in Moveros
disused spring in Moveros

The Church is the centre of village life.  We came across a group of women preparing the Church for the annual visit by the Bishop of Zamora.  The were cleaning everything and arranging gladioli and other flowers for the altar.

Women arranging flowers for the Mass and the Bishop's visit.
Women arranging flowers for the Mass and the Bishop’s visit.

Houses of Granite.

The town is built on granite and the houses have thick walls of granite blocks which keep them cool in summer.  The summer months are hot and the winters cold with frosts mainly in January through to April.

Granite walls everywhere.
Granite walls everywhere.

Apples, pears and plums.

In July the trees are bearing ripening fruit.  Here apples and pears abound and many trees are bowing low with plums.  Often local people will offer visitors fruit as a gift and the hedgerows, too, are dotted with bushes and trees from which fruit can be eaten in passing.

This couple were picking huge green plums which they insisted we try.
This couple were picking huge green plums which they insisted we try.

Ceramica

The two remaining pottery ovens are still worked by women who turn the clay manually.  The men fire up the ovens and collect the wood.  Until recently this local skill was the livelihood for the villagers, but the skills have died out, and the demand for ceramic goods had fallen with mass-production.

One of the remaining pottery outlets in Moveros.
One of the remaining pottery outlets in Moveros.

 

That’s about it about Moveros.

It looks as if this blog will be more about a few photos than about much real news, but you never know.

Read more about Moveros here (in Spanish)

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Villages of Spain – finding the heart of the Iberian Peninsular.

Village walls, La Olmeda de Jadraque, Albacete
Village walls, La Olmeda de Jadraque, Albacete

Villages in Spain

The Raft of Corks offers some reflections and photos on an unplanned selection Spanish villages.  I hope this will give a flavour of the beautiful diversity of lifestyles to be found in the regions of Spain away from the tourist routes.

Simplicity and plenty of time.

Most young people have moved from the villages to the city where work is easier to find.  However in the past few years many have returned to live with their parents, especially as the economic crisis has taken hold and the abundant construction work has disappeared.

The village population is usually elderly with few families and young children.  Many of the villagers continue working for as long as they are able, sometimes into their nineties and many villages boast of neighbours who are over 100 years old.

Miguel, who hosts pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago in his village, Alatoz, Albacete.
Miguel, who hosts pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago in his village, Alatoz, Albacete.

Life is traditional and simple based on agriculture and basic farming. The pace of life is unrushed with plenty of time for conversation and patience.  People are usually delighted to tell you about their lives and their families, show you their gardens and ask you many personal questions because,  above all,  the Spanish want to know everything about a visitor.  They are open and friendly people who accept everyone.   Even if you don’t speak Spanish they will talk to you at length and try to make sense of what you are trying to say.

Click on the names in the archive list on the left.  There will be a map to show you where the village is.