We enjoy a common history that configures an almost identical idiosyncrasy for thousands of citizens.
It is a reality that we have to put in value.
We share past, present and future, common demands (communications, infrastructures, water ...), as well as extraordinary potentials and synergies.
The Mayor of Lorca, Fulgencio Gil, together with the First Edil of Huércal-Overa, Domingo Fernández, announced that the Town Councils of both cities have begun the procedures for their twinning.
It is a decision that responds to the mutual recognition of Lorca and Huércal, populations that enjoy a common history, which, at present, is reflected in a collective imagination and shared idiosyncrasy, which translates into strategic needs, especially communications and economic growth, similar.
The links of Lorca and Huércal Overa are based on strong historical ties that go back in time.
To make a little history, in 1452 a large contingent of Muslims had made a ride against the fields of Cartagena;
on the way back, Alonso Fajardo the "Bravo", governor of Lorca, along with Diego de Ribera, king's magistrate in Murcia, and Alonso de Lisón, Aledo's commander, defeated the people of Granada in the vicinity of the city in the famous battle of the Alporchones.
The victory gave glory to its participants and the city: the erection of the schoolboy of San Patricio, saint of the day of the battle (March 17), a century later, and the concession of Huércal and Overa by the Catholic Monarchs are reflections of the deep memory left in those men.
The Lorca asked the Spanish Crown benefits, privileges and exemptions.
The council of the town finally got (among other privileges of a fiscal nature) the extension of the municipality (Huércal and Overa) and the designation of Lorca as "Noble City".
Throughout history the municipality of Lorca, and with it the most direct area of ​​influence in this city, gradually expanded.
At the end of s.
XV depended on Lorca a large area that included Mazarrón, Cope and Águilas on the coast, as well as Tirieza, Coy and Xiquena.
In 1488, the conquest of the eastern part of the kingdom of Granada made it possible for the Catholic Kings to grant him the Almerian villas of Huércal and Overa, in the current province of Almería.
From that moment the Lorca Council appointed the rulers of Huércal.
At the beginning of 1511 between Lorca and Vera began a lawsuit over the ownership of the fields surrounding Huércal, a process that lasted until the very moment of its independence in the mid-seventeenth century.
The circumstance of the repopulation caused that the Christians destined to Overa were concentrated in Huércal, being configured the new enclave like Huércal-Overa in 1571 like a unique urban nucleus.
The city continued to appoint officers until its independence in 1668.
The relationship between both municipalities due to this geographical and historical proximity is still very remarkable.
Commercial links continue to be very narrow, including economic, cultural, educational, and social ties.
In the decade of years 60 Lorca registered a considerable immigration of Huércal-Overa, as well as of other municipalities of Almeria.
In fact, in 1892 some processional groups of Lorca participated in Huércal Overa, the fruit of family, social and economic ties between both municipalities, a relationship that continues today.
It should be noted, as a curiosity, that the current Bishop of Getafe, Ginés Ramón García Beltrán, is from Lorca and Huercalanse residence, an anecdote that exemplifies those historical and emotional ties that have always existed between both populations.
The Mayor of Lorca, Fulgencio Gil, has stated that erroneous decisions already parked had as a consequence that Lorca lived almost with his back to the regions of Almanzora and Los Vélez.
Now is the time to strengthen links and synergies.
It is evident that Lorca, as subregional capital and unquestionable county seat, is the reference for the municipalities of three regions, as is the case of those corresponding to Guadalentín, Almanzora and Los Vélez.
We enjoy a common history that configures an almost identical idiosyncrasy for thousands of citizens throughout this area of ​​Spain.
It is a reality that we have to put in value.
We share past, present and future, common demands (communications, infrastructures, water ...) and extraordinary potential.
The development of common projects and the multiple possibilities of common growth offered by our cities are a stimulus to strengthen the bonds that unite us.
Lorca and Huercalenses are more than similar.
Fulgencio Gil has indicated that what for Lorca is San Patricio or the Virgen de las Huertas, for the people of Huercalenses is the Parochial Church of La Asunción.
We are sister cities also for the baroque, with an artistic history of similar trajectory that has sculptural works by the image makers Francisco Salzillo, Roque López, and José Sánchez Lozano, among others.
The Mayor of Huércal-Overa, Domingo Fernández, recalled that this year marks the 350th Anniversary of the Villazgo de Huércal-Overa Exemption, specifically on March 3, as the Villa's shield recalls.
Fact that supposed the independence of the huercalense municipality of the city of Lorca.
For the First Edil huercalense "although 350 years have passed, our roots, customs and traditions remain the same and in this significant event, we wanted to further strengthen this relationship and work so that both populations benefit."
"But not only do we share the past, but because of our geographical situation we have the very closely related economic sectors, and working closely together, we will do more to guarantee the resources that our businessmen and our citizens need," added the councilor from Huerca.
Therefore, Fernandez has announced that next Saturday, March 3, on the occasion of the festivity of Villazgo, the City of Huércal-Overa will approve in Extraordinary Plenary the twinning with the city of Lorca.
And after the act, we will proceed to the celebration of Villazgo Day at the Teatro Villa de Huércal-Overa and different points of the municipality, with activities for all ages to be announced in the coming days.
We must remember that the twinning with Huércal-Overa joins those already established with the French municipalities of Saint Fons (in the Rhône-Alpes region) and Mauguio (Languedoc-Roussillon), the Almerian city of Vera, the Barcelona of Molins de Rey, and with Wilaya del Aaiún (El Aaiún-Bojador-Saguia el Hamra) in Western Sahara.
The ordinary session of the Plenary of the Municipal Consistory that is celebrated next Monday includes within its order of the day a motion to constitute a commission of work that establishes the events to realize for such effect.
Source: Ayuntamiento de Lorca