Zamora(Spanish pronunciation:[θaˈmoɾa]) is aprovinceof westernSpain,in the western part of theautonomous communityofCastile and León.It is bordered by the provinces ofOurense,León,Valladolid,andSalamanca,and byPortugal.
Zamora | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms | |
 Map of Spain with Zamora highlighted | |
| Coordinates:41°45′N6°00′W/ 41.750°N 6.000°W | |
| Country | Spain |
| Autonomous community | Castilla y León |
| Capital | Zamora |
| Government | |
| • President | Fernando Martínez Maillo |
| Area | |
• Total | 10,559 km2(4,077 sq mi) |
| • Rank | Ranked 22nd |
| 2.2% of Spain | |
| Population (2018)[1] | |
• Total | 174,544 |
| • Rank | Ranked 45th |
| • Density | 17/km2(43/sq mi) |
| 0.45% of Spain | |
| Demonym | Spanish:Zamorano/a |
| Official language(s) | Spanish(Galicianis spoken in areas close toGalicia) |
| Parliament | Cortes Generales |
| Website | Official website |
The present-day province of Zamora was one of three provinces formed from the formerKingdom of Leónin 1833, whenSpain was reorganized into 49 provinces.[2]Of the 174,549 people (2018) in the province, nearly a third live in the capital,Zamora.This province has 250 municipalities.
Geography
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The Province of Zamora is in northwestern Spain where it borders on Portugal, which lies to the southwest. To the west lies theprovince of Ourense,to the north liesLeón,to the east liesValladolid,and to the south liesSalamanca.TheRiver Eslarises in theCantabrian Mountainsin the north and flows southwards through the province before joining theRiver Douro(Spanish: el Duero) which then forms part of the boundary with Portugal.[3]The Esla is the largest tributary of the Duero and where they join, discharges a greater quantity of water than that discharged by the Duero. The capital of the province isZamorawhich is situated in the south of the province on the banks of the Duero.[4]
The province has a total area of 10,620 square kilometres (4,100 sq mi). Its economy is largely agricultural and it has a tradition of sheep rearing, producing a large proportion of Spain'smerinowool.[5]
Population
editThe historical population is given in the following chart:
History
editA megalithic culture developed in this region of Spain, particularly aroundAliste,and there are many remaining signs of the presence of various cultures over the years. Salt mining took place atVillafáfila,stone forts were built on fertile plains and near rivers, and others were built in the vicinity of mines wherevarisciteandironore were extracted. Rock paintings have been discovered and artefacts found include everyday pottery, tools, and gold and silver jewellery. In theIron Age,Celtic tribes built forts surrounded by moats but they were pastoral people, living in small villages, and did not build cities. They leftstanding stonesanddolmens.[6]
The Romans first came to Spain in 218 BC, and over the next three centuries there were various conflicts as the Romans advanced into Celtic lands. The Romans built roads across the territory and in 1978 the Roman town of Requejo inSanta Cristina de la Polvorosawas revealed after erosion occurred following flooding of the area by the RiverÓrbigo.In 197 BC, Spain was divided into two provinces,Hispania CiteriorandHispania Ulterior,controlled by two separate Roman military forces. Zamora was in the latter region. Peace reigned until 155 BC when the Lusitanians attacked Hispania Ulterior. Two Roman defeats followed, and many other rebellions were sparked in the peninsula.[7]The Romans eventually prevailed, and in 27 BC, subdivided the province of Hispania Ulterior intoHispania Baetica(modern-day Andalusia) andLusitania,which included Zamora. When theVandalsinvaded the province in the 5th century AD, the Roman EmperorHonoriussent his brother-in-law, theVisigoths' king, to defeat the Vandals. The Visigoths seized control of most of Hispania and madeToledothe capital, while theSuevioccupied the northwestern part of the Peninsula and made their capital cityBracara.By 585 the Suevi had been conquered by the Visigoths who then controlled the whole peninsula.[8]
Tourism
editZamora has many fine historic churches and buildings. These include a twelfth century Romanesque cathedral, many other churches, city walls, ancient houses and a castle. Pottery, textiles and wine are manufactured here.[5]
70 km (43 mi) further north liesBenavente.It is famous for its Santa María church and the Castle of La Mota (now the Parador of Benavente). TheParadorwas the home ofFerdinand II of Leónwho died here while returning from a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. The Parador occupies the Caracol Tower, a sixteenth-century castle, part of the former walled enclosure of the town.[9]
The ancient town ofTorolies beside the Duero 39 km (24 mi) to the east of Zamora.Ferdinand III of Castilewas crowned King of León in the town in 1230 and his wifeElisabeth of Swabia(Beatriz) died here. Notable features include the façade of the 'Palacio de las Leyes' and also theSanta María la Mayor collegiate church(known in Spanish asLa Colegiata). Legend has it that the wines of Toro were the first to reach America, being taken there byChristopher Columbus.[10]
The region ofSanabria(or Senabria) is in the northwest of the province near theSanabria Lake,one of the few large natural lakes in Spain, on the border with Galicia. It has been declared a Historic and Artistic centre. The lake is now part of Sanabria Lake Natural Park, having been declared a Natural Park in 1978.[11]
Fermoselleis a medieval village located on the border withPortugaland on the edge of theArribes del Duero Natural Park.Arribesis the name for the gorges through which the Duero and other rivers in this region flow. The steep slopes have long been terraced for the production of grapes, olives and other fruit.[12]
Near the municipality ofVillafáfilaare lagoons that now form part of a nature reserve. They were formed by the historic mining of salt which started in the copper age and Bronze Age. Pottery items found here are similar to artefacts found in Mesopotamia, Turkey, Bosnia, Romania and Poland.[13]The lagoons are home to numerous species of birds, and this is the second largest wetland reserve in Spain afterDoñana National Park.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^Municipal Register of Spain 2018.National Statistics Institute.
- ^Spanish Real Decreto of November 30, 1833
- ^Philip's Modern School Atlas.George Philip & Son. 1973. p. 37.ISBN0-540-05278-7.
- ^Fernández-Aláez, M.; Fernández-Aláez, C.; de Luis Calabuig, E. (1992)."The Esla River Basin: From the Cantabrian Mountain to the Duero"(PDF).Limnetica.8:131–40.
- ^abBozman, E.F. (1966).Everyman's Encyclopaedia: Volume 11.J.M. Dent and Sons. p. 575.
- ^Ursicino, Álvarez Martínez (1965).Historia General Civil y Eclesiástica de la Provincia de Zamora.Editorial Revista de Derecho Privado.
- ^"The Celtiberian War".Roman Spain.Nexus.Retrieved4 October2015.
- ^Cameron, Ward; Perkins and Whitby.The Cambridge Ancient History - Volume XIV. Late Antiquity: Empire and Successors, A.D. 425–600.pp. 122–124..
- ^"Benavente".Turespaña.Retrieved5 October2015.
- ^Hoffman, Ellen (1992).Columbus' Spain.TimeTraveler Press. p. 109.ISBN978-0-9628576-2-1.
- ^Royal decree that established the park (in Spanish)Archived2009-05-07 at theWayback Machine,Junta deCastilla y Leónwebsite
- ^"Fermoselle".Disputacion de Zamora.Retrieved1 October2015.
- ^Martin-Ramos, P.; Martin-Gil, J.; Martin-Gil, F.J.; Delibes-de-Castro, G."Investigations on the Prehistoric salt exploitation in Villafáfila (Zamora, Spain) salinas: evidences on the low fired earthenware pottery used".Montealeku.Retrieved1 October2015.
External links
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Media related toProvince of Zamoraat Wikimedia Commons
