Villardiegua de la Ribera

Villardiegua de la Ribera is a North Spanish municipality ( municipio ) in the province of Zamora, in the autonomous community of Castile -Leon.

Location

Villardiegua de la Ribera is located in the southwest of the province of Zamora at an altitude of about 730 meters above sea level. inst in the rocky landscape of the Natural Park Arribes del Duero near the Duero river formed by the border with Portugal. The remarkable Tudera village located about 15 kilometers to the south; to the Portuguese border town of Miranda do Douro is about 19 ​​km to the southwest. The provincial capital of Zamora is about 52 km ( driving distance ) in a north-easterly direction away.

Demographics

In the first half of the 20th century, the population of between about 530 and 670 fluctuated result of the mechanization of agriculture, the population has declined since the 1950s, continuously to the current low.

Economy

Agriculture, especially the cultivation of vines, olives and fruit trees, and traditionally plays the biggest role in the economic life of the community. In addition, the site functioned in the Middle Ages as a trade, craft and service center for the villages and hamlets in the region. Revenue from tourism in the form of the rental of apartments ( casas rurales ) have been added in recent decades.

History

Already settled in pre-Roman times here celtic tribal groups from the people of the Vettones who were conquered by the Romans in 193 BC. From Visigothic and Islamic periods hardly finds are known. The Reconquest ( Reconquista ) of sparsely populated and remote areas in the 11th and 12th centuries was largely without bloodshed; then began the re - - or better - resettlement ( repoblación ). The belonging to Kronbesitz country was partitioned in the 14th century to individual landowners ( señores ), which henceforth perceived the border security against Portugal.

Attractions

• The village is one of the pre-Roman Verraco figures, which are commonly the Celtic tribe of the Vettones assigned. In the present case, it is highly likely that a bull. The figure was originally in four kilometers southwest of the present-day village hamlet of San Mamede.
• Also from the hamlet of San Mamede come about 20 Roman grave steles, which were partially bricked up in the walls of the houses of Villardiegua.
• A castle ( castillo ), of the ruins are still preserved, arose once in the hamlet of San Mamede. Later also a hermitage ( ermita ) was established, which is also preserved as ruins.
• The single-nave parish church from the 16th century building features a bell tower in the style of the Renaissance to the input loose and otherwise completely unadorned western facade; there are also a porch ( portico ) on the south side.
• A erected four rough-hewn granite stones claw stand ( potro de herrar ) stands on the outskirts.