Plaza de la Charquilla

If we listen closely, the name of this place whispers its true origin. It does not come from a small puddle (charco), but from a much deeper cultural heritage: La Axarquía.

This square is the living fossil of the old village of La Parrilla. Before Villafranca unified its identity through the Town Charter (Carta Puebla), this enclave was the heart of the Muslim quarter. Historians point out that the current name is a popular phonetic evolution: from the Axarquía (eastern zone) to the Jarquilla, and finally to the current Charquilla. It is a corner where words have traveled as much as history.

Located northeast of the town center, the square continues to form the backbone of the neighborhood that bears its name. Although it has undergone inevitable transformations over the centuries, it maintains its essence as a meeting point. Its most distinctive element, the central fountain, remains as a symbol of resistance and community, despite the scars left by old cleaning works.

Nowadays, visiting Plaza de la Charquilla is to sit down and rest in the same place where, centuries ago, cultures crossed paths. It is a quiet space that combines the memory of its medieval origins with the daily bustle of the current neighbors.