Grazalema

Grazalema is a village located in the northeastern part of the province of Cádiz, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Situated in the foothills of the Sierra del Pinar mountain range, Grazalema had, as of 2009, a population of 2,205.

History

The Roman villa of Lacidulia or Lacidulerium, situated in an estate near to the present village, has been traditionally considered the ancestor of Grazalema.
Traditional theories emphasised a Berber settlement of the area, and thus a relation of the placename with the groups Ṣaddīna and Salīm. This theory failed to explain convincingly the early Latinate form Çagrasalema/Zagrazalema, which has led to an alternative theory connecting the placename to Ṣajrat Salāma. The settlement is presumed to have increased considerably its population in the 13th century under the Nasrid sultanate. The territory passed to Christian control and was annexed to the territories of the Marquis of Cádiz towards 1483–85.
It became economically important as of the 17th century thanks to the drapery industry which produced the famous shawls of Grazalema. In the first years of the 19th century, during the War of Independence, Grazalema suffered attacks and sieges from the Napoleonic troops who partially destroyed the village.