LA ALBERCA, Spain — Ham, oh glorious ham. This village — actually the whole region — 
is known for it. The best hams are the “black leg” — hocks of Iberian black pigs who only eat acorns. Slice it molecule thin and it wraps around your tongue — earthy, deeply flavored, mildy fatty, rich.
The whole town resonates as a collective homage to the pig. Word has it that La Alberca, whose name was derived from an Arabic word, was for centuries a place where people of all faiths and backgrounds lived in harmony. That was, until the Spanish Inquisition reared its murderous head. Then, as a sign of good faith to their Catholic neighbors, resident Jewish and Muslim residents raised money and donated a pig to the village — something their respective faiths forbade them from enjoying themselves.
Since then, it’s been a tradition in the village to have a pig roam freely for a year and for the locals to take responsiblity for it — to feed it and befriend it. Then they kill it at the new year and another pig is selected to be the lucky oinker for the next year. To this day, a pig roams the plaza at will, as well as sleeps there. I happened to catch himself one afternoon while he was napping.
Meanwhile, a stone pig sculpture awaits young lovers in the plaza. According to local legend, if a couple wishing to start a family touches the stone pig’s testicles at midnight they’re sure to conceive. Mmm hmmmm.
Pork, pork and more pork!
Quiet day in La Alberca
Carving the ham at the bodega
timwhistle
