Bolaños is situated in the geographical centre of the Campo de Calatrava, bordered by Almagro, Daimiel and Moral de Calatrava. There is certain controversy over the origin of its name as there are several villages and places with this same name. The name comes from the cannonballs or stone balls crafted to be used in the most primitive cannons.

The existence of a Bolaños de Tierra de Campos, which was accountable to the Order of Calatrava in the 13th century has lead to confusion over the origin and primitive privileges of this village, causing a feeling of frustration in this respect since 1540.

Records from 1575 state” that there is a new church, of Santiago and another which is known as ‘the old one’ “ which must be that of Santa María; the present church is a renaissance style building. Records also reveal “that it was a town when the Queen Berengüela gave it privileges...;...it was common knowledge that Queen Berengüela gave birth to the King Fernando.”

In the 17th century in Bolaños there was a large number of Moslems converted to Christianity as well as people from Granada.

In the Order of 1652, it can be read that, according to Hervás, the village only had 100 inhabitants and consequently its curacy was annexed to the parish of la Madre de Dios in Almagro.


Amongst its cultural traditions, one of the most outstanding is its Easter celebrations, involving a spectacular representation of the arrest of Jesus on Easter Thursday and other scenes of the Passion of Christ performed by the “Cofradía (Brotherhood) de los Armaos”. This Roman company wears eye-catching costumes with brass breastplates and accessories, tall headdresses, and red and white tunics. The Brotherhood of the Holy Burial, as it is called , was founded in 1880.

Also worthy of mention is the Pilgrimage of La Virgen del Monte which is held on the last Sunday of April and brings together over 20 000 pilgrims at the Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is a modern construction  but the original chapel dating back to the 13th or14th century has been preserved.

In September, the popular festivities of El Cristo de la Albahaca take place in which there is a traditional draw with prizes of the best agricultural products which the local farmers  give as an offering to the Patron Saint of the village.

Nowadays, Bolaños is a town of 13 000 inhabitants with important agricultural and industrial activity and produces 50% of the Almagro Aubergines.