Masueco

Template: Infobox church in Spain / Maintenance / Province Masueco (or Masueco de la Ribera ) is a North Spanish municipality ( municipio ) in the province of Salamanca in the autonomous community of Castile -Leon.

Location

Masueco is in the northwest of the province of Salamanca, at an altitude of about 690 meters above sea level. inst in the rocky landscape of the Natural Park Arribes del Duero. The Río Uces flows in about two kilometers east past the place; he places forms the border with the neighboring communities of Cabeza de Caballo, La Peña and Pereña de la Ribera. The provincial capital Salamanca is about 97 km ( driving distance ) away in a southeasterly direction.

Demographics

In the first half of the 20th century the place had constant around 1,000 inhabitants. As a result of the loss of jobs due to the mechanization of agriculture, the population has since declined to the current low.

Economy

Agriculture ( crop production, viticulture and animal husbandry ) has traditionally played the largest role in the economy of the community. Revenue from tourism in the form of the rental of apartments ( casas rurales ) have been added in recent decades.

History

After the largely bloodless reconquest ( Reconquista ) and resettlement ( repoblación ) of the nearly deserted mountain region from the hands of the Moors in the 11th and 12th centuries was the first region to the territory of the Leonese and Castilian kings; latter handed it over, however, in about 1300 in the care of individual landowners ( señores ), who had henceforth deal with occasional attacks of Portuguese rulers.

Attractions

• The parish church (Iglesia de San Nicolás de Bari) dates from the 15th century; the cross-axis bell tower was added in the 16th century. Between the tower and the church can be seen inside a clear wall crack, allegedly caused by the earthquake of Lisbon ( 1755). The church was built by the architect Lanestosa family, whose members also created the churches in the neighboring towns of Vitigudino, Vilvestre, Pereña, Saucelle and Aldeadávila.
• The municipal area are four hermit churches; the Ermita del Santo Cristo del Humilladero has a spacious pillared porch ( portico or atrio ).
• The main attraction in the vicinity of the place is the waterfall Pozo de los Humos. The Río Uces crashes here - especially in the time of the winter rains in the months of January to March or for the rare but violent thunderstorms in summer and autumn - about 45 meters in depth.
• In the wooded area are still some few field stone huts.