In the Interrogarorios de la Real Audiencia, in 1792, it says that in Alía “there is a hospital in the said town, with an endowment of sixteen maravedies for each will”.
The street called “Hospital” gives us the definitive clue to locate this important place. In almost every town there was a house with these characteristics. Their mission was to collect the sick and cure them to the best of their ability. They stopped poor and homeless people. Occasionally it was also used by travelers who passed through the town and found no other shelter.
The hospital operated with alms and patronage, or mandates, as in this case, that for each will that was signed, a part of the tax that was paid, sixteen maravedíes, went to the institution’s funds.
