Santo Domingo de la Calzada

Parish of Santo Domingo de la Calzada
Santo Domingo de la Calzada - Plaza de España
coat of arms	Map of Spain
Basic data
Autonomous Community :	La Rioja
Province :	La Rioja
Comarca :	Santo Domingo de la Calzada
Coordinates	42 ° 26 ′  N , 2 ° 57 ′  W Coordinates: 42 ° 26 ′  N , 2 ° 57 ′  W
Height :	640  msnm
Area :	40.09 km²
Residents :	6,238 (Jan 1, 2019)
Population density :	155.6 inhabitants / km²
Postal code :	26250
Municipality number  ( INE ):	26138
administration
Website :	Santo Domingo de la Calzada

South portal of the cathedral

Santo Domingo de la Calzada is a northern Spanish town and municipality ( municipio ) with 6,238 inhabitants (at January 1, 2019) at St. James Camino Francés in the autonomous region of La Rioja .

Its name is identical to that of its founder, who - according to tradition - built a bridge and a hospital for the pilgrims who passed by, as well as paving and paving roads. The city is also known for the chicken miracle , in memory of which a chicken coop (inhabited by a pair of chickens) was installed in the cathedral. The city coat of arms refers in part to the legends that have been handed down.

Location and climate

The small town of Santo Domingo de la Calzada is located north of the Sierra de la Demanda on the Río Oja , a tributary of the Río Tirón , at an altitude of about 640  m . The next largest city is Haro (approx. 20 kilometers to the northeast); Logroño , the capital of the province of Rioja , is about 48 km to the east; on the way there is the lovely town of Nájera . The climate in winter is harsh, but in summer it is dry and warm; Rain (approx. 615 mm / year) falls mainly in the winter half-year.

Population development

year	1857	1900	1950	2000	2018
Residents	3,835	3,826	5,027	5,724	6.231

The mechanization of agriculture and the abandonment of small farms in the 20th century led to immigration from the rural areas in the area and to a significant increase in the population.

economy

Agriculture, which also included a little cattle breeding (e.g. pigs, chickens), has always played the most important role for the population of the region; Crafts, trade and service industries developed in the village itself. In the 19th and 20th centuries, smaller industrial companies were added. Several houses in the village are now rented out as holiday apartments (casas rurales) .

history

Finds from the Celtic , Roman , Visigothic and even from the Islamic-Moorish period have not yet been made in the municipality. The establishment of the place is probably still on the 9th or. 10th century back, but Domingo García , known as Santo Domingo de la Calzada (1019–1109), who was born in the neighboring village of Viloria de Rioja about 15 km to the west , is the actual founder. The first written mention of the place name comes from the year 1136. In the years 1187 and 1207 Alfonso VIII granted considerable rights and privileges ( foros ) to the town, which was then in the border area between the kingdoms of Navarre and Castile . Henry II of Castile died here in 1379. In the 14th and 15th centuries, a city ​​wall (muralla) was built .

Attractions

Cathedral tower (18th century)

• The late Gothic cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada was built with the inclusion of an older, Romanesque predecessor building, which was started in 1068 and consecrated in 1106. The Romanesque apse with rich sculptural decorations has been preserved from him.
• The pilgrimage route in the heart of the old town is lined with houses from the 18th and 19th centuries. Some of the houses have heraldic shields made of stone.
• The main square (Plaza de España) with the town hall (ayuntamiento) is well worth seeing and is surrounded by arcaded houses.
• The multi-arched stone bridge over the Rio Oja also dates from the 18th century; however, it has been restored repeatedly.

Celebrations and holidays

• Santo Domingo (May 1-15). (April 25, La Gaita ; May 1, Los Molletes ; May 10, Los Ramos ; May 11, La Rueda ; May 12, El Santo Domingo ; May 15, San Isidro )
• Gracias y Hermosilla (September 17 Gracias; September 18 Hermosilla).
• Feria de la Concepción ( Virgin Mary's Conception ) and Medieval Market, between December 4th and 8th

Personalities

• Domingo de la Calzada (around 1019–1109), city founder
• Henry II (1334–1379), died in Santo Domingo de la Calzada
• Damià Forment (around 1480 – around 1540), sculptor
• Gustavo Bueno (1924–2016), philosopher, exponent of philosophical materialism

Twin town

• Winnenden , Baden-Wuerttemberg

literature

• Cordula Rabe: Spanish Way of St. James. From the Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela. All stages - with variants and height profiles. Bergverlag Rother, Munich 2008, ISBN 978-3-7633-4330-0 ( Rother hiking guide ).
• Bert Teklenborg: Cycling along the Camino de Santiago. From the Rhine to the western end of Europe. (Cycling guide, route planner). 3rd revised edition. Publishing House Tyrolia, Innsbruck 2007, ISBN 978-3-7022-2626-8 .

Web links

Commons : Santo Domingo de la Calzada  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Information about the Camino Francés
• Website about Santo Domingo de la Calzada (Spanish)
• Spanish info

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Cifras oficiales de población resultantes de la revisión del Padrón municipal a 1 de enero . Population statistics from the Instituto Nacional de Estadística (population update).
2. ↑ Santo Domingo de la Calzada - climate tables
3. ^ Santo Domingo de la Calzada - population development
4. ↑ Santo Domingo de la Calzada - History

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