La Aljufía Irrigation Ditch and Casianos Windmill

Acequia de La Aljufía

 

La Aljufía, also called "del Norte", is a 27-kilometer irrigation ditch on the left bank of the Segura River. La Alquibla is the name of the irrigation ditch on the right bank, with a length of 22.5 kilometers.

 

After irrigating the towns of Javalí Viejo, La Ñora, La Albatalía and La Arboleja, La Aljufía changes its name to Benetucer, Benefiar and Benizar, before merging to the Raal Viejo/Beneluz irrigation ditch to water the orchards at Orihuela. Some smaller irrigation ditches spring off this one, including Regaliciar, Beniscornia, Arboleja, Caravija, Churra la Vieja, Alfatego, Rueda de la Ñora, Bendamé mayor, Bendamé menor, Nácar, Zaraiche, Chorro de San Diego, Roncador, Santiago, Casteliche, Nelva and Aljada.

 

In order to make the irradiation system more efficient and reach a larger territory, a watermill system was used to elevate and transfer the water to other canals irrigating different cultivation areas. La Noria or Rueda de la Ñora is a 15^th century watermill that stands out above the rest. 

 

Molino de Los Casianos

 

This windmill, next to La Aljufía, was used back in the day to grind flour and cereal by means of three large stones. In time, it was also used to grind paprika, a product largely exported and produced in this and other districts of Murcia.

 

Although the windmill is known as "Molino de los Casianos", referring to the family that owned it between 1919 and 1970, the first owners were actually the Puxmarín's, a family that gave it to the Hieronymite monks who thanks to a large number of donations, owned many assets in this little village in the 16^th century.