Sucina

Coordinates: 37°53′N 0°56′W / 37.883°N 0.933°W / 37.883; -0.933

Sucina is a village in the Region of Murcia of southeastern Spain.^[1] The village is fifteen kilometers northwest of San Javier.

Amenities

The village center consists of a church called ‘Nuestra Señora del Rosario' and was renovated due to its age. On one side of the church lies a bank, while the other side holds a restaurant. Two roads go up from the church, along a row of tiny, terraced houses dating to the 18th century. The local ‘Panaderia,’ otherwise known as the bakery is located there. Pasteles or cakes, are made there. These support a vital part of Spanish tradition on birthdays, saints' days, and Sundays. New houses and resorts are under construction.

Sucina has two town halls. The older one is deep in the old town. Inside is a small theatre and a hairdresser, plus information regarding activities, courses and events. Outside the town hall is a play area for children. long the benches, the older townsfolk seek refuge from the sun under the shade of the trees, keeping guard whilst their children play. A small platform stage can also be found outside the Ayuntamiento, where the steps of the town hall are utilised as makeshift seats, for any outdoor staged events. A few hundred yards away, just on the cusp of the town, one may discover the second and newer town hall, with a far more modern feel and almost clinical design. Several meters adjacent, there is a petrol station and a tobacconist. On one corner is a kiosk selling crisps, salted popcorn (palomitas - little doves or pigeons if you prefer) and sunflower seeds.

History

Around the 16th or 17th century, Murcia’s countryside population began to grow. Sucina’s appointment was known as ‘El Pozo de Sucina’, translated as ‘Sucina’s Well’ and also known as Cañada de Sucina - Sucina’s canyons.

At the beginning of the 18th century during Murcia’s agricultural period, Sucina was a dependent town within Murcia’s jurisdiction. Shortly thereafter, a local parish in Sucina was formed in 1744 by Don Balthazar Artega y Gamba, with the parish represented by a priest from La Orden de Los Clérigos Menores (The order of the young clergy), Don Juan Matheo. In 1768, 919 parishioners were recorded. In the early 19th century, between 1820-1823, Sucina’s Ayuntamiento was erected.^[2] Around this era, construction was under way for the inhabitants of the town, whereby 50 terraced houses were built including 400 semi-detached homes, purely for the town's labourers.

Geography

The land is dry with no river or lake nearby. Therefore, the source of water is rain.

Economy

Produce, such as almonds, olives, wheat, artichokes, green beans, melons, lemons and tomatoes are grown there for export. These products are the main agriculture activity. Their biggest commercial enterprise is the cultivation, transport and export of almonds. Wildlife such as foul and rabbits are scattered about these lands also claiming this region as their own.

Demographics

In the 20th century, Sucina witnessed vast changes, especially from its population decline. Its 1,714 inhabitants in 1960 declined to 1,005 by 1970 and in 1991 to 985. However, in 1996 population recovered to 1,054.

References