La Alberca, Medieval mountain village in Sierra de Francia, Province of Salamanca, Spain
La Alberca is a mountain settlement built with stone and timber structures featuring wooden balconies in the Sierra de Francia. Cobblestone lanes weave between the buildings and form a compact network across the hillside terrain.
The village gained protection from King Alfonso IX of León during the 13th century. It received recognition as Spain's first National Historic Monument in 1940.
The name comes from Arabic and means "pool," referring to a water source that once supplied the settlement. Locals maintain annual festivals where masked figures parade through the streets during winter celebrations.
Vehicles cannot enter the central streets, so visitors walk through the alleys on foot. Local food specialties are available in traditional shops scattered throughout the village.
Every July, residents choose a young pig that roams the streets freely until January. On Saint Anthony's day, the animal becomes part of a charity raffle.
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