Alcañices

Alcañices is a North Spanish municipality ( municipio ) in the province of Zamora, in the autonomous community of Castile -Leon. The municipality also includes the hamlet Alcorcillo, Santa Ana and Vivinera.

Toponym

The name Alcañices is derived from the Arabic word الكنائس (Al- Kanā'is ) and means something like "churches". Another derivation of the word Al- Qannis ( " sugar " ) seems hard to understand, given the altitude of the area and its rather cool and dry climate.

Location

Alcañices lies in the west of the province of Zamora at an altitude of about 890 meters above sea level. inst near the border with Portugal. The provincial capital of Zamora is about 60 km ( driving distance ) away in a southeasterly direction. The northern Portuguese city of Bragança is, however, only about 42 miles northwest.

Demographics

In the first half of the 20th century, the population fluctuated between about 1,550 and 1,700 always. Due to the mechanization of agriculture, the population has declined since the 1950s, continuously on the lows in recent decades.

Economy

Agriculture (mainly livestock and vegetable cultivation ) has traditionally played the largest role in the economy 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

There is evidence of a Roman settlement in the area; by the Visigoths and Moors, however, no traces have been preserved. After already by Alfonso I of Asturias middle of the 8th century initiated and completed by others in the early 10th century reconquest ( Reconquista ) and shift the border to the Duero peopled the place only slowly. He was from 1126 until the year 1312 under the control of the Knights Templar, who fixed it - from this period may have been made nor the Torre de Reloj and the south porch of the parish church. The border between the two countries is - In 1297 the border between the kingdoms of Castile and León and Portugal in the Treaty of Alcañices set, which since then - only interrupted in the period of personal union ( 1580-1640 ). From the 16th to the 18th century, the place of Margrave ( marqueses ) was ruled.

Attractions

• The parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción is one -nave building of the 13th century, but was completely redesigned in the 16th century. Designed in the style of the Renaissance portal of the west facade is of a bell gable ( espadaña ) from the same time excessive; the south side of the church is of a porch ( portico ) dominates in which there is also the old portal from the 13th century. The domed interior houses a monolithic baptismal font and a carved altar screen.
• The Torre de Reloj and called the Cubo tower stump are some Zigen remains of medieval fortifications.
• In 1547 the Franciscan order founded in the place a unadorned monastery, which was dissolved in the 19th century as part of the confiscation of church property by the state ( desamortización ). The church is now used as a cultural center; the cloister of the monastery is badly damaged.
• From the 16th century, the ruins of the Castillo de Alcañices come.
• The Palacio de los Marquis de Alcañices shows a stone escutcheon.
• Several houses show open or glazed balconies, as they are more common in northern Spain.
• In the vicinity of the town there are several - of the source houses, walls or slabs framed - sources that can be on a loop trail ( paseo por las fuentes ) explored. However, some of them have in the summer and autumn months on no water.
• Approximately one and a half kilometers southeast of the hamlet Vivinera are the ruins of about 110 feet square measured pre-Roman fortification ( Cerco de los Moros ), which is possibly attributed to the Celtic tribe of the Vettones.