Almazán (Soria) (0)

Did you know that... Almazán

It is located in the center of the province of Soria, on top of a hill and bathed by the Duero River. Although of uncertain origin it is believed that there was population in the area since the Bronze Age. The Romans also passed through it, but everything points to the fact that it was the Arabs who founded, occupied and fortified it with a castle and walls. After the Reconquest, King Alfonso el Batallador garrisoned it and rebuilt its fortifications, a fact that would undoubtedly be needed, since disputes between kingdoms and lords were continuous.

A little more history

In Almazán, the kingdoms of Navarre, Castilla and Aragon followed one another. Enrique IV donated it, together with other squares, to Hurtado de Mendoza. It was in the 14th century that the so-called Peace of Almazán between Aragon and Castilla brought calm to Almazán but it was only at the hands of the Catholic Monarchs, who turned it into a place of rest and where they spent some time, when the town achieved its historical prominence that it retained well into the 19th century. During the War of Independence Almazán was set on fire by the French in order to make Don Jerónimo Merino and his 1600 men who offered resistance from there give in. Nowadays Almazán is a prosperous town in which its rich historical and monumental, landscape and industrial heritage coexist perfectly, for this last it is known as the " Town of furniture".

What to see in Almazán?

Amongst the pine forests, where the deer and roe deer roam freely, and worked fields, the town of Almazán, an artistic complex in which the Romanesque style stands out, but which also offers samples of Baroque, Renaissance and Gothic, can be visited by the curious visitor who, on strolling through its streets and squares, discovers the years of history that have impregnated and given character to the medieval urban development of this town. Three of the four gates in its medieval wall prevail over time, the Herreros, the Market and the Town Gates, all dating from the 12th and 13th centuries. When you go through the Town Gate you enter the Main Square where you will find the church of San Miguel, Romanesque from the 12th century, and the palace of the Hurtado Mendoza family, from the 15th century, although its main façade is from the 16th century. Between the church and the palace is the shutter of San Miguel through which you can access a magnificent viewpoint over the Duero River.

To discover

The church of San Pedro from the 17th century, the church of Santa María de Calatañazor from the 16th century, the now uninhabited convent of the Clarisas with a 17th century façade, the church of Nuestra Señora del Campanario from the late Romanesque period of the 13th century, the convent of La Merced, the hermitage of Jesús, which houses a carving of the patron saint of Almazán, Jesús Nazareno, are all remnants of the splendour of Almazán during the Middle Ages, when it had ten parishes, nine hermitages, two hospitals and four monasteries. From the walls of Almazán a medieval tower known as Rollo de las Monjas and the shutter of Santa María are also preserved. To enjoy the open air in peace and quiet is the Arboleda Park, which is accessed by the medieval bridge with thirteen eyes that crosses the Duero River, sports facilities, gardens, trees, walks where beautiful sculptures are also exhibited, make the delight of locals and visitors. Almazán also shares with other localities in the area interesting cultural, historical and artistic routes as well as itineraries and hiking trails such as the route of Transhumance, the routes of the Way of Saint James, the Duero route or the long-distance route of the Soriano Iberian Path, Gr-86.​

Festivities

Almazán celebrates its patron saint festivities in honour of Jesús Nazareno on the first Sunday of September. This celebration is known as the Fiestas de la Bajada de Jesús. San Pascual Bailón is celebrated on May 17.

Traditions

Tradition and folklore come together in the festivity of El Zarrón, for San Pascual, a fundamentally pastoral tradition in which the main protagonist is the Zarrón, a character who is dressed like a shepherd of yesteryear, wearing white shoes and covered with a black hat adorned with vulture feathers and lamb tails and in his hand a zambomba made of a leather bladder, he dances in front of the image of San Pascual that in procession goes through the streets of the town while he beats up all those who try to approach the image, or bother the dancers. On a horn with a silver cover, colodra, carries the soparra, bread soaked in wine with sugar and cinnamon. The Zarrón has a thick beard, like the shepherds who used to shave when they returned to their homes after spending long periods of time away from home. The barber will shave him once the festivities are over, and he will pay the barber with a portion of soup.

Curiosities

In the convent of the Mercedarians, Fray Gabriel Téllez, a playwright better known as Tirso de Molina, died in 1648 and his body is supposed to lie in the convent cemetery. That is why the remains of the convent have been declared a Property of Cultural Interest. And the enclosure has been converted into an open-air auditorium.

The Legend

Adnamantine means inhabitant of Adnumantia, as it was called by the Romans and it means "towards Numancia" since the town is in the middle of the route of the Roman road that led to Numancia.

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