Behold La Cruz de la Atalaya. This unassuming stone cross stands as a silent sentinel a testament to centuries past.
La Cruz de la Atalaya is Pozuelo de Alarcón’s oldest monument. Erected in 1731 it marks a significant point on the ancient Camino Viejo the old road connecting Pozuelo and Húmera. Before the 19th century these were separate towns. The cross stood roughly halfway between them.
Imagine the many footsteps that have passed this spot. Villagers from both towns walked this path. They journeyed to Húmera for festivities. Today’s residents continue this tradition. They walk to Húmera for picnics celebrating San Gregorio Nacianero.
The inscription on the cross’s granite base reads “A la devoción de Don Antonio Latorre Caballero de la Orden de Santiago del Consejo de Vecinos de Madrid año de 1731”. This translates to “To the devotion of Don Antonio Latorre Knight of the Order of Santiago of the Council of Neighbors of Madrid year 1731”.
Don Antonio Latorre was a Basque nobleman a Knight of Santiago. He served on the Tribunal of the Royal Court of Accounts and managed the revenues of military orders. His son Antonio Julián was a councilman of Madrid. He too was a Knight of Santiago. It is believed that his daughter Agustina erected the stone monolith as a memorial to her father. She married Ambrosio José Negrete who later became the 1st Count of Campo Alange and Lord of Aravaca.
Before the current stone cross a wooden one marked this same place. Records from the 17th century mention this. This older cross stood along the Camino Real. This royal road linked Madrid and Valladolid. The cross was also a boundary marker between Húmera Pozuelo de Aravaca (its name until 1932) and Aravaca.
La Cruz de la Atalaya was beautifully restored in 2006 thanks to Pozuelo de Alarcón’s city council. Today it remains a poignant reminder of the past. A symbol of community and a quiet tribute to a remarkable family. Stand here and feel the weight of history under your feet. Let the whispers of the past carry you through time.