“Gacía” is a peculiar word, we must not confuse it with “García” as the surname. It is the name of two small districts of Sorbas (Almería) called Gacía Alto and Gacía Bajo. There are hardly any registered people there, there is usually only bustle in the summer months due to tourism.
In reality, both are linked to another broader population group called “Gafarillos”. In fact, it is the reference district that includes other small town (or groups of houses, due to depopulation).
Small districts of sorbas
Without further ado, i will focus on the two villages to which i feel most attached.
Gacía Bajo and Gacía Alto (not to be confused with Villa Arriba and Villa Abajo from Fairy’s announcement) are two districts, almost uninhabited, embedded in Sierra Cabrera. They belong to the municipality of Sorbas (Almería) and border the municipality of Turre (Almería). Both are surrounded by almond and olive groves formed by small family farms (as is my case) and by the occasional cattle farm and small apiaries.
The most abundant flora is the scrub (albaida, broom), but there is another shrub that caught my attention: the teline stenopetala or commonly called gacía (a term used in the Canary Islands).
By logic I deduce, without going into historical matters, taht the name of these two districts may come from this Canarian plant. Later, in future posts, I will try to delve a little more about this topic.
Pista de los Murtales and The Limera:
The two districts adjoin the only green lung that remains in Sierra Cabrera, called Pista de los Murtales where La Limera is located (it is a well-known picnic area or recreational area in the area). My parents are linked to that small forest, since they worked during the 50s and 60s to repopulate it.
In G. Bajo there is a small church founded in 1957. In it worship work is carried out on November 13 (San Diego). A small mass is celebrated and the image is taken in procession through the streets of the district.
In G. Alto the most characteristic thing is a ruined mansion that is located on the same top, owned by the landowner of the district. At the entrance is an old school now converted into a picnic area. On September 14, the Feast of the Cross takes place (although today it has been moved to August).