Berlanga de Duero
Berlanga de Duero is a municipality ( municipio ) with 994 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2013) and with a long history and major attractions in the northern Spanish province of Soria in the autonomous community of Castile -Leon. The whole place was declared in 1981 for the Cultural Property ( Cultural Bien of Interest ) in the category Conjunto histórico - artístico.
Location
Berlanga de Duero is located on a hill above the Río Escalote about 25 km ( driving distance ) southeast of Burgo de Osma; the provincial capital Soria is located about 40 kilometers north-east. Also worth seeing is the 13 km to the southeast distant neighboring community Caltojar.
Demographics
In the second half of the 19th century up to the year 1950, the place was always about 2,000 inhabitants.
Economy
Probably since Roman times wine production in the region. Also vegetables and crops of all kinds are grown. Due to the mechanization of agriculture, the population of the town has declined sharply in the second half of the 20th century.
History
Probably it was in pre-Roman times already a settlement at this point; The Romans called it Augusta Valeránica, hence the name Berlanga has developed. In the Muslim period was a fortress ( Alcazaba ). Following the Reconquista of the place came the Tovar family that henceforth Margrave ( marqueses ) of Berlanga called themselves the property. In 1480 married the daughter entitled to inherit María de Tovar y Vivero, the second Duke of Frías Íñigo Fernández de Velasco y Mendoza, so that the eminent family dynasty of Velasco y Tovar was built, which had lasted until the 1727 's. In the 16th century the couple both into her new palace built ( Palacio de los nuevo Marquis de Berlanga ) and the Collegiate Church of Santa María del Mercado.
Attractions
- The old castle ( castillo viejo ) originated prior to the connection of the two houses; it is a - surrounded by a wall - fortress in the forms of the late Middle Ages. Between far protruding round towers at the corners of the curtain walls span of the actual outward windowless, nuclear construction. The only access was angled and also on the square keep ( torre del homenaje ) at the end of the steeply rising atrium.
- The three-aisled collegiate church ( Santa María del Mercado ) is a late Gothic building with high stellar vaults, which was fertiggesetellt after only four years of construction under the supervision of the architect Juan de Rasines in 1530. The church with its tall houses a stellar vaults - large parts of the central nave engaging - choir area ( coro ), a towering baroque altarpiece in chur Riger esque style and a highly revered Romanesque statue of the Madonna ( Nuestra Señora del Mercado ).
- The remains of the south wall of the beginning of the 16th century, built in the Herrera style new castle act strictly and repellent. Large parts of the palace were destroyed during the Spanish War of Independence in 1812.
- A late Gothic Court column ( picota or rollo de justicia ), in their sphere of influence once held court sessions and wrongdoers were punished, has been transferred to the center of the outskirts.
- A just outside the town hermitage ( ermita ) was taken in the 17th century by Franciscan monks. The resulting Convention at this time (Santa María de Paredes Albas ) was dissolved in the 19th century; the building served for some time as a school until these early 20th century was closed - since they are engaged in ARGEM decay.
- A late medieval stone bridge over the Río Escalote is also in ruinous condition.
Environment
About nine kilometers southeast of Berlanga de Duero is located in Casillas de Berlanga that arose in the 11th century Mozarabic hermitage ( ermita ) San Baudelio de Berlanga, which is worth seeing for its palmette pillar. More Romanesque churches are also located within the Comarca (see web link).
Famous people
- Tomás de Berlanga (around 1487-1551 ) was a Dominican monk and later became the fourth Bishop of Panama. Following a lull his ship was driven off during a trip in the Pacific - as he and the crew were involuntarily discoverers of the Galapagos Islands.