In ancient times, when the Romans ruled, Alcalá de Henares was called Compultum, which means Compultense, the place which joins two rivers.
Later, Christianity arrived with the Visigoths from Northern Europe. Barbarians was what the Romans called them.
In 711, from North Africa, the Arabs arrived and brought Islam. Judaism, Christianity and Islam coexisted here until the Middle Ages.
From Arabic, came Al-Qalá, which means the castle. Hence the current name derives from the Arabic for castle by the river.
During 800 years, a period called La Reconquista, The Reconquest, the Christian population fought back for power.
The end of this period marks the Middle Ages, the period which would bring Miguel de Cervantes to Alcalá, arguably the most famous resident ever.
From all this history, have come many different traditions and festivities.
The Patron Saint of Alcala de Henares is shared with many parts of Spain and South America, Nuestra Señora del Val, or, Our Lady of the Valley. Devotion to her came as result of various appearances of her holy ghost to various Catholic believers between the years 1618 and 1620.
Nowadays, the people of Alcalá celebrate her every September. The festival in her honour, begins in el Salón de Actos de la Virgen de la Universidad Cisneros on the 4th of September, continues through until the 14th in the the famous church/ cathedral Magistral of Alcalá, and ends with a community procession on Cervantes Square.
195,907 people now call Aclalá de Henares home and take part in all the community fun.
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