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The village and district of La Grajuela is about 2 kilometres from the town of San Javier, to the north-east of the town centre and close to the boundary with the municipalityof San Pedro del Pinatar. It is one of the agricultural communities of San Javier and les within the Campo de Cartagena.
Unfarmed land in this area is dry and flat, covered with rough scrubland, in marked contrast to the area covered with crops, some of which are under plastic and others in the open air. The implementation of modern drip-system irrigation techniques allows various crops to be grown, including melons, peppers, artichokes and flowers, which are grown and harvested throughout the year.
There are no known references to the existence of settlements in the district before the 19th century, when much of the population explosion across the Mar Menor took place as infrastructures improved and families spread from Murcia capital into the countryside.
Geographical surveys refer to La Grajuela in the 19th century as belonging to the jurisdiction of Murcia, and it is known that this was the case until 1820-23, when new municipal boundaries were defined. Notary documents show that the village was already inhabited in the 18th century, when the population was scattered among different farming concerns, each with a large farmhouse and its own water deposit or well.
It is still possible to see the remains of buildings from this time, such as two flour mills, a water mill in the Finca Los Pérez and a windmill on the Finca del Molino. These remains are a part of the historical heritage of daily life in the small villages around the Mar Menor in the 19th century.
Today agriculture is still the main motor of the local economy. There are various large farming estates in La Grajuela, including Los Gallos, Los Hondos, Los Jiménez, Los Escuderos, Los Hernández and Los Pérez. Many are fruit and vegetable growing concerns, with the main crops being those mentioned above.
There is a small industrial estate which is home to a few manufacturing businesses, mainly related to agriculture, including seeds, pesticides and nurseries, as well as some service industries. The large Dos Mares shopping centre is very close and attracts numerous shoppers from both San Javier and San Pedro del Pinatar.
Fiestas in La Grajuela
The village fiestas are held in April and May over various weekends, and a number of celebrations and events are included. One of the main events is the procession of the Virgen de Fátima, to whom the church of La Grajuela is dedicated, which includes a floral offering to the village’s saint.
Centro Social La Grajuela
The civic centre of La Grajuela is in the area known as Paraje Los Matas. Like the church, it is dedicated to the Virgen de Fátima, and a Mass in her honour is held in the centre’s small chapel once a month.
Click here for map: La Grajuela, San Javier
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