12 Months, 12 Stamp - Albacete
June kicks off with the sawdust carpets made by the residents of different communities in the province of Albacete, covering the streets with a spectacular multicoloured veil in celebration of Corpus Christi.
This month, the “12 months, 12 stamps” issue is dedicated to the province of Albacete, situated at a vital crossroads making it a strategic communication point between Andalusia, the Levante region and Spain's central massif. The few known facts of its origins talk of an old castle from the Caliphate period. It is the nucleus of the Arab Al-Basit that would give its name to the city, of which the only remains are some ceramics found next to the current County Council building. During Medieval times the zone was the scene of many battles between the Christians and the Muslims until Albacete castle was conquered in 1241. The following year, Pelayo Pérez would conquer Chinchilla, and Albacete would become a village under its jurisdiction.
The letter A is formed by several elements that, like a kaleidoscope, reveal different parts of the province.
The novel “Don Quixote” clearly shows Cervantes’ delight at the cuisine of Albacete. Today, the kitchens of Albacete still cultivate this tradition, producing an abundance of wonderful traditional Manchego dishes such as atascaburras: Popular on snowy days in Albacete, especially in the mountains, containing de-salted cod and olive oil; garlic, hard boiled eggs, potatoes and walnuts have since been added to the original recipe. This dish resembles a mousse, with the texture of mashed potatoes and a hearty flavour.
Miguelitos are sweets typical of the village of La Roda in Albacete province , carefully made by hand from fine puff pastry with a custard filling, dusted with icing sugar.
Nowadays they come with all sorts of different fillings: chocolate, white chocolate, and more, although the most popular is still the original custard version.
For centuries, Castilla-La Mancha’s steel production has been regarded as a benchmark, and people still refer to Toledo steel and Albacete knives. Their secret continues to be guarded zealously by the artisans and industries of Castilla-La Mancha. Knife production is one of the most important local trades, with artisans creating durable pieces which stay sharp for a long time.
Alcalá del Júcar Castle: From a distance, Alcalá del Júcar offers a spectacular view: the houses are arranged on terraces on top of an extremely high hill, around the fortress constructed by the Almohads in the 12th - 13th centuries. It is a fine example of Islamic architecture, with a pentagonal keep and two small, circular towers in three storeys. Remains of the old wall surround the fortress. It is interesting to consider that previously there Iberian and Roman settlements here, which also chose the hill as a point of vigilance and defence.
Chinchilla de Montearagón Castle: The colossal moat carved out of the rock that surrounds the castle is a dizzying 10 metres wide and 6 metres deep. Rebuilt in the 15th century, it allows us to experience a castle adapted to the use of artillery, which was introduced into warfare around that time. The castle grounds are surrounded by masonry walls, with narrow arrow slits, and cylindrical towers on the corners. We can still see the remains of these walls, from the Muslim era and later, and two gates: the Door of Devils and the Door of Traitors. Juan Pacheco, Marquis of Villena, ordered the castle built over the Arab fortress “Xerif El-Edrisi”. Chinchilla de Montearagón boasts other medieval wonders such as coats of arms and practically untouched mansions, as well as Iberian and Roman archaeological remains.
The stamp is completed by a strip of crimson, the colour of the provincial flag, along the lower edge.
