Costitx
Costitx is a small town on the Spanish Balearic island of Mallorca.
- 5.1 Fixed
- 5.2 markets
- 6.1 Observatory and Planetarium
- 6.2 Education
Statistics
The municipality of Costitx covers an area of 15.35 km ² and the official population amounted on January 1, 2013 to 1192 inhabitants, so that the population density is 78 inhabitants per km ². In 2006, the proportion of foreigners was 12.2 % ( 119), the proportion of German population 5.7% (56). Even though in 1930 a certain demographic regression is being made, although the population has increased slightly in recent years. 656 inhabitants ( 2008 ) live in the same place, whereas 367 people live scattered outside the town.
The male inhabitants of Costitx call themselves in the Mallorcan native language " Costitxer " female " Costitxera ".
Geography
Location
Costitx is on the main road MA -3240 Inca - Sineu on the Balearic island of Mallorca. Administration Politically Costitx belongs to the comarca of Pla de Mallorca ( Association of Municipalities of level of Mallorca).
Landscape
The community Costitx represents the most typical features of the flat part of Mallorca is, ie with hills - do not achieve 200 meters above sea level - which alternate with valleys, interrupted by the mountain of Pina and Rafal Garces.
Climate
The average rainfall is in the region 500 to 600 liters per square meter as an annual average, which in September with about 66 liters per square meter covered the most rainfall. The driest period is in July with only about 11 liters.
History
The discovery of 18 archaeological deposits within the community testify to the fact that the area was inhabited in prehistoric times ( Talaiot culture). The talayotic bull heads of bronze Caps de Bou de Costitx are particularly valuable finds on the grounds of the country estate Son Corró. Later, during the Arab domination, Costitx belonged to the district of " Qanarusa " ( Canarrossa ). With the conquest of Mallorca by King Jaume I. The individual circles were the Viscount of Bearn, Gasto de Montcada transferred, which in turn ceded to the settlement Costitx to Arnau de Santacília. Following was Costitx parish for the whole community of Canarrossa until the parish was transferred to Sencelles in 1238.
In the 17th century the town experienced a significant rise in population. In 1812 begins a lengthy process, which has the independence from Sencelles goal and until 1855 with the loss of the settlements of Jornets, binifat and Ruberts comes to an end.
1895 almost no one knew in Mallorca from prehistoric finds Costitxer as the Caps de Bou, sparrows, eagles in bronze, ceramic and Punic necklaces. A Spanish archaeological Commission asked the owner of the property to allow further excavations and to block the area for unauthorized persons. At that time, the law said the owner of the locality to a payment for the discovered objects, which in this case prompt the then princely sum of 700 pesetas ( 3,500 Pts. ) Required for the Fund. A lot of money when you consider that the daily wage of a laborer was more than a peseta.
The three bronze Caps de Bou ( bull heads) are from the 6th to 5th century BC. One of which is as large as the natural model, the other two pieces are smaller. All are cast in one piece and have a striking detail and fidelity in common: eyes, horns, mouth and nostrils of the bull heads almost seem as if the artist a bull removed a mask. Large similarity with finds in Sardinia and Malta, in Persia, Portugal and Greece. This means that the Balearic natives, of which there are no written records and in the well-known descriptions of Greek and Roman writers were always referred to as primitive, even in the early days of close contact with other cultures must have maintained. The bull cult was known in the Mediterranean already in early times. Already in ancient Egypt bull cults, frescoes found in the palace of Knossos in Crete (ca. 1500 BC) show the connection.
The destitute archaeological society was not able to raise the sum. They turned one the Spanish press and succeeded, that the bull heads were not sold to art dealers and forever disappeared from the island and from Spain. Two Majorcan, both not Costitx, sat down with the central government in Madrid in connection and reached that the findings reached in the local National Museum.
Or so it seemed at the time, as had lost his landmark forever Costitx. Only the Mayor Maria Antónia Munar has not rest until they return these so important for the history of Mallorca prehistoric finds after Costitx. In 1995, the Sanctuary of Son Corró was restored, and replicas of the impressive bull heads adorn it ever since.
Policy
The mayor, Maria Antónia Munar, the autonomist -minded party UM ( Majorcan Union ), which has received in the last municipal elections 58.62 % of the vote. More seats in the municipal council have the social democratic PSM - EN with 28.02 % and the conservative PP with 11:27 % of the vote.
Culture and sights
In the higher part of the village you will find the center of the town as well as the most important mansions that make up an incomparable landscape along with some oak forests.
The center has achieved as the main building the church from the 17th century. On the outskirts, namely in places where there is most wind, are some windmills, for example, " Can Vallès " and " d' s Joi "; in contrast to other places in the Majorcan level focused in Costitx not everything to a single mill. Buildings of a religious nature complete the rural character of this community, the chapel "Mare de Deu de Costitx " and the crosses, which are found to the various local inputs. From these crosses is "sa Creu ", located at the entrance of the Inca to street to highlight.
From the time of Talayotic that comes on the road to Sencelles located Sanctuary Corró Son, which has been restored in 1995 thanks to the financial support of the City Costitx and the Govern Balear. Towards the end of the 19th century was found here three bronze, cast in one piece bull heads (caps de bou ), one of which is of natural size. Both because of the extents and because of its qualitative nature, these specimens are considered the most important examples of the bull cult of the Majorcan megalithic culture.
The water supply options in the past served several Sodbrunnen, the double wells in the village itself, the one on the access road to Cas Canar, or " Celat " called fountain at the entrance.
Other notable local points:
- Planetarium Mallorca with the observatory OAM Costitx
- Estate Son Corró
Festivals
- January 20th Feast of Sant Sebastià
- September 8, Feast of the Mare de Deu de Costitx.
- On the 1st Sunday after Easter procession of Trobada.
Markets
- Weekly Market: every Saturday at the Mare de Deu places and del Jardí.
Economy and infrastructure
Observatory and Planetarium
Inaugurated in May 1991, the observatory is the only astronomical center of the Balearic Islands. The funding from the Balearic Government ( Department of Culture, Education and Sports ), the savings bank La Caixa, the city administration Costitx and the Mallorcan organization for astronomy OAM pursued a double objective: on the one hand, to promote research within the framework of the GEA (Association for the Study of Astrophysics ) and the guidelines of the Canary Islands observatory and on the other hand, to make pupils, students and all who show interest, familiar with astronomy.
Education
Part of the population of the municipality Costitx has no education ( about 280 people) and about 45 inhabitants are illiterate. Primary education have about 180 people and about 140 people have the high school. Approximately 21 people have different vocational training degree. With grammar school there in the region Costitx about 43 people and about 23 with a Middle university degree. About 15 people carry a higher academic title.