Viana (Navarre)

Viana municipality
coat of arms	Map of Spain
Basic data
Autonomous Community :	Navarre
Province :	Navarre
Comarca :	Estella Occidental
Coordinates	42 ° 31 ′  N , 2 ° 22 ′  W Coordinates: 42 ° 31 ′  N , 2 ° 22 ′  W
Height :	469  msnm
Area :	78.87 km²
Residents :	4,209 (Jan 1, 2019)
Population density :	53.37 inhabitants / km²
Founding:	1219
Postal code :	31230
Municipality number  ( INE ):	31251
administration
Mayor :	Gregorio Galilea Arazuri ( PSN-PSOE ) (2007)
Website :	www.viana.es

Viana is a city on the Camino de Santiago in the autonomous community of Navarre . It was founded in 1219, received town charter in 1630 and has the historical title Muy Noble y Leal Ciudad de Viana Cabeza del Principado de Navarra ("Very noble and faithful city of Viana, capital of the (Crown) Principality of Navarre"). The city's patron saint is St. Mary Magdalene .

Local situation

The place is located in the Estella valley and has a height difference of almost 400 meters in the municipality: while the city center is 469 m, the Bojes height (Alto de los Bojes) does not reach twice as much at 836 meters. The landscape in the north is accordingly mountainous, while the southern part towards the Ebro is flat. All the streams in the area follow this gradient and flow to the Ebro and thus into the Mediterranean.

climate

1929-2004	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec	year
Average temperature ( ° C )	5.8	7.2	10.2	11.6	15.8	19.8	22.6	22.9	19.1	14.5	9.4	6.5	13.8
Average maximum temperature (° C)	9.3	11.5	15.4	17.0	21.8	26.4	29.8	29.8	25.0	19.3	13.1	9.8	19.0
Average low temperature (° C)	2.2	3.0	5.0	6.2	9.9	13.2	15.5	16.0	13.1	9.6	5.6	3.3	8.5
Precipitation (mm)	37.0	27.4	26.7	46.2	45.0	39.0	29.3	27.3	30.9	41.5	49.5	42.5	442.1

Source: Navarra Meteo Archives

The climate is a transitional climate from the continental to the Mediterranean climate of the Ebros.

Origin of name

The origin of the name Viana is not clear, Mikel Belasko summarizes the most important theses in his book on the place names of Navarre:

• Named after a prominent model - In Europe there are various similar sounding cities: Vienna , Viana do Castelo , Vienne (this temporarily also Vianna and Viana ). The latter was - although hardly known today - an important city in the Middle Ages. King and city founder Sancho the Strong could have named Viana after her and thus would have corresponded to one of the usual customs of the time. Belasko rates this thesis as the most likely, and it is also supported by Julio Caro Baroja , one of the most important Spanish historians and anthropologists of the 20th century who also dealt with toponyms.
• Subsequent naming - Viana could have been the name of a settlement that existed before the city was founded. It would thus join the group of Navarres and Alavesian places that end in the syllable -ana . Julio Caro Baroja sees the ending as a reference to a Roman settlement, the first part of the name would refer to the pre-Roman name. There are remains of Roman settlements in the area around Vianas, the existence of the other "Vianas" in Europe and the fact that Viana was founded in the 13th century. is (see story), let Caro Baroja attach less weight to this thesis.
• Situation on a road - Julio Caro Baroja considers that the name could come from the location on a Roman trunk road ( via ) .
• Basque Origin - The place name could come from Basque : for example, from bi anai (two brothers), a suggestion by Juan Antonio Frago García, Professor of History of the Spanish Language at the University of Zaragoza .
• Pre-Roman origin - Due to the discovery of a Celtiberian tessera with the inscription ueniakum (the one from Uenia) in Custodia (part of the municipality of Viana), the philologists Juan Cruz Labeaga and Jürgen Untermann propose that the Uenia mentioned is the origin of the current place name could. However, they point to the phonetically difficult transition to today's place name.
• Named after agricultural products of the area - The local folk etymology leads the name back to Vino (wine) and Viñedos (vineyard) . The starting point of these considerations are reports that the Romans, who came over the mountainous zones of the north, immediately recognized the good cultivation conditions of the area on their arrival and therefore baptized it Vinetum (Spanish: Viñedo) .

history

Early history and antiquity

There is evidence that people lived in the area of ​​today's Viana as early as the lower Paleolithic (around 200,000 BC). This is concluded from archaeological finds in the settlement of La Custodia, the chronology of which may begin in the Paleolithic and lead through the Bronze and Iron Ages to the beginning of the Roman period of the Iberian Peninsula. The prehistoric finds at this place are: worked axes, hand axes, scrapers, tools made of flint, up to the bones of the extinct forest elephant Palaeoloxodon antiquus .

In the Neolithic Age there was a change from nomadic to agrarian way of life, in addition to farming there is animal breeding. A spiritual awareness develops, the dead are buried in graves. Evidence for this change is the hypogeum discovered near Viana from approx. 2850-2500 BC, which has been preserved intact to this day. It is located on the "Alto de los Bojes" about nine kilometers north of Viana.

The Celtiberian custodia, which dates from around 600 BC. Some historians associate it with Uarakos , capital of the Berons and predecessor of the Roman settlement Vareia . It also deserves special attention because hospitality tiles ( tesseras ) with Iberian inscriptions were found there, the oldest texts known for Navarre.

From the first century onwards, Viana became heavily Romanized after the land was distributed to veterans of Roman campaigns. The orientation in organization and administration took place in the direction of Vareia, the most important center of the area due to the stationing of the Legio IIII Macedonica at this location. The settlements took place on very fertile soils, near smaller bodies of water or the Ebros and a main road, the Pompaelo – Vareia / Ebro valley highway. The numerous settlements in this area, which is agriculturally determined by olive, wheat and wine growing, became hamlets up to the Middle Ages. Their Romanesque churches - mostly Ermitas today - have been preserved to this day. An example of this is the Romanesque church of San Martín de Tidón.

7-15 century

Coat of arms of Emperor Karl V / King Karl I on the city wall

Sancho VII, the strong, founded Viana in 1219 as a fortress on the border with Castile. The new city, fortified with four gates, fortified churches and a castle, needed people who received it in times of peace and defended it in times of war. The king populated it with the residents of the surrounding places Longar, Tidón, San Andrés de Perizuelas, Cuevas, Piedrahíta, Soto, Cornava and Goraño. To support this process, he granted the place a Fuero , which is also known under the name "Privilegio del Aguila". At the same time he wanted to promote a trade route and participate in the stream of people on the Camino de Santiago. The Fuero created conditions that encouraged the rapid development of the city. The trading activities of the Jewish population group also played an important role in the economic rise. The Fuero dates from April 1219, was issued in Tudela and is now in the city archives.

The Camino Francés of the Way of St. James soon shifted and now passed through Viana. The pilgrims had numerous hospitals here, where they found food and shelter or were cared for: San Julián, La Alberguería (at the foot of the city), Santa Catalina, Nuestra Señora de Gracia (in the city) as well as Benedictine and Jewish institutions in the direction of Logroño from Torreviento, in Cuevas, finally, a hospital of the Trinitarian order and one that was under the monastery of Roncesvalles .

One of the most glorious events for Viana was the elevation to crown princehood " Principado de Viana " by Charles III. of Navarre , the noble. This was done in favor of his grandson Karl von Viana , born in Peñafiel in 1421 , son of Blanca de Navarra and John II of Aragón. The corresponding document dates from January 20, 1423, issued in Tudela , and lists various towns, castles and income that are available to the heir to the throne and should clarify his rank and dignity. The title was borne by the firstborn of the Navarre kings and later the Spanish kings, currently the Spanish Crown Princess Leonor .

Due to its border location, Viana was repeatedly attacked and looted by Castilian troops. For this reason, Queen Eleanor of Navarre awarded the city the title "Muy Noble y Muy Leal (very noble and loyal)" in 1467.

Viana Town Hall

16.-18. century

In 1507 the Count of Lerín rose against Doña Catalina and Jean d'Albret , the kings of Navarre. To put down the uprising, they sent Cesare Borgia , d'Albret's brother-in-law. Borgia was the son of Pope Alexander VI. , Cardinal, generalissimo of the papal and Navarre troops and the Renaissance prince who is said to have inspired Niccolò Machiavelli for his book “ The Prince ”. He tried in vain to take Larraga as part of the campaign and then died in an ambush near Mendavia, which he recognized but is said to have ignored. He was first buried in the church of Santa María, but then reburied in front of the main portal so that he - the excommunicated - might be trampled underfoot by the common people. In 2007 he was buried again inside the church by a decision of a commission. A marble slab on the church commemorates his death on March 11th of that year.

The surrender of Pamplona to Castilian troops on July 25, 1512 and the annexation of Navarre left Viana with no choice but to follow the capital. This happened on August 15, 1512. In 1515, Cardinal Cisneros ordered the administrative incorporation of the fortress and the surrounding villages under Logroño. It was not until 1523 that Charles V returned to the Kingdom of Navarre.

On July 22, 1599, when the plague raged in Viana and elsewhere, the citizens elected St. María Magdalena to be the city's patroness because no one had died of the disease on her day of remembrance. Between the 16th and 17th centuries, Viana experienced an era of economic development and prosperity based on agriculture and the large output of wine. The prosperity is reflected in various religious and secular buildings in the Renaissance and Baroque styles. The nobility developed and provided their middle and younger sons with high posts in the military or in the colonies, because the traditional system of the mayorazgo did not allow the inheritance to be divided. The façades of the houses were decorated with impressive family coats of arms and significant renovations were carried out in both parish churches.

On May 14, 1630, King Philip IV granted Viana town charter and bought the fortress, the Casa Real, the walls and the Soto Galindo for 28,000 silver ducats. Philip IV gave Viana city rights.

On June 2nd, 1808, the citizens of Vianese demanded the issue of weapons to defend King Ferdinand VII and the Holy Catholic Religion . A few days later, the Napoleonic troops took the city and installed their headquarters in the Church of San Pedro. The Vianesians suffered from the excesses of the French troops, which forced them to hand over large quantities of food and money, as well as their own resistance fighters. These were among others Juan Hernández "El Pelao" and "El Tuerto" (no real name known). The latter was declared a "monster in human form - monstruo de la Humanidad" by the city administration because of his actions.

Entrance to the Iglesia de San Pedro church

19th century until today

On October 9, 1818, the most famous romantic writer of Navarre was born in Viana: Francisco Navarro Villoslada.

The Carlist Wars (1832-1839 and 1872-1875) made the 19th century a fatal century for Viana because it was located exactly between the Carlist Estella and the liberal Logroño. The city suffered from the devastation on both sides: the church treasury was confiscated to buy food for the troops, the city was shot at, the church windows were broken, the San Pedro church was permanently damaged and collapsed a few years later. Another event of these years was a large prisoner exchange that took place on June 16, 1875 in the fields of La Alberguería at the gates of the city.

In 1893, in Viana, as in other Navarre cities, there was a popular uprising against the budget law, which had been presented by the then Finance Minister Germán Gamazo and which tried to abolish the traditional tax peculiarities. The street name “Plaza de los Fueros”, which is often found in other Navarres towns, dates from this time.

At the beginning of the 20th century a phylloxera plague ruined attempts at economic recovery. The Spanish Civil War resulted in repression and heavy emigration. In 1964 an economic development program (Programa de Promoción industrial de Navarra) was decided in Navarra, which facilitated the settlement of companies and also laid the basis for Viana's current prosperity.

Viana is currently enjoying a prosperity based on a renewed agriculture, a thriving industry in three commercial areas with 70 companies and a large retail center. There are also social services and sporting and cultural offers such as a senior citizens' residence and center, health center, multi-sports facility, pilgrim hostel and cultural center.

Despite the short duration of the new century so far, one can still speak of a period of socio-economic prosperity. Private and public clients are investing in the city's heritage, and some socio-cultural improvement measures have also been implemented: the municipal kindergarten, the “Príncipes de Viana” sports and outdoor swimming pool complex and the “Centro Cultural Navarro Villoslada”. The appreciation, protection and rehabilitation of the old town center as well as the reconstruction of the city wall are now intended to bring Viana back step by step the splendor that emanated from it for many centuries.

Iglesia de Santa María church

politics

Historical development in the municipal council of Tudela

Political party	2011		2007
	Be right %	Seats	Be right %	Seats
PSOE	31.11%	5	47.82%	8th
UPN	22.80%	4th	16.78%	2
Na-Bai	11.62%	2	7.52%	1
Other	4.91%		3.71%
Abstentions / Invalid	29.56%		24.17%

Source: Spanish Ministry of the Interior

mayor

The democratically elected mayor

Term of office	mayor	Political party
1979-1983	José María Los Arcos Martínez	UPN
1983-1986	José María Los Arcos Martínez	UPN
1986-1987	Pedro Matute Arina	UPN
1987-1991	Patxi Aramayo Bernechea	PSN-PSOE
1991-1995	José Luis Collado Nicolás	UPN
1995-1999	José María Los Arcos Martínez	UPN
1999-2003	Gregorio Galilea Arazuri	PSN-PSOE
2003-2007	Gregorio Galilea Arazuri	PSN-PSOE
2007-2011	Gregorio Galilea Arazuri	PSN-PSOE
2011-	Gregorio Galilea Arazuri	PSN-PSOE

Attractions

High altar of the Church of Santa María in Viana (Navarra)

The entire old town has been declared an artistically and historically valuable ensemble of national value, as has the parish church of Santa María de la Asunción. Within the partially preserved city center from the 13th century, houses adorned with coats of arms, parts of the old city wall, the medieval church of Santa María and the ruins of the church of San Pedro, the old pilgrims' hospice (15th century, today cultural center) and from the 17th Century the Franciscan monastery, the town hall and the palaces of the Urras and the Cerecedas.

• Santa María Church

Important sacred building from the 13th and 14th year. Due to the temporarily positive economic situation of the city, structural changes and art objects can be found in the church. The church is built in the Gothic style, it is structured with three naves, divided by four cross vaults, the space between the abutments is filled by chapels, and in the apse there is a polygonal ambulatory. The 14th century portal zone is adorned by three archivolts and a holy virgin with child, adored by two angels. The main retable was made in the 17th century by Pedro Margotedo and shows depictions of Mary with apostles.

• town hall

The building was erected in the 17th century on the Plaza de los Fueros, the year of completion is mentioned in the facade decoration as 1688. The facade above the arcades is designed in the Renaissance style, the portal zone in the Baroque style, two towers close off on the sides. The facade crowns the coat of arms of the Spanish monarchy in 1688. The construction was carried out by the builders Domingo y Juan Descobaza from Calahorra , their fee was 4000 silver escudos .

• Casa de Cultura

The cultural center is housed in the old pilgrims' hospice, on the lower floor of which, in Gothic style, a second floor made of brick was added during the Baroque period.

• Ruins of the San Pedro Church

Gothic Cistercian church from the 13th century, three aisles with a remarkable apse comparable to that of San Saturnino in Pamplona. The portal zone dates from the 18th century. During the first Carlist War , the church was occupied by liberal troops and afterwards showed such severe damage that it almost completely collapsed in 1844.

Local specialities

In Viana there is a typical Basque-Navarre-Riojan cuisine with fine roasts and vegetable side dishes according to the local production (paprika, asparagus). Well-known desserts are cuajada or cream cheese with nuts.

There are three wine presses in the village that produce quality wines and cava under the designation of origin Rioja. Two important producers of the Navarre sloe liqueur Patxaran are also based in Viana.

Fiestas

• Fiesta in honor of Saint Felix of Bilibio on February 1st
• Fiestas in honor of Mary Magdalene and Jacob on July 21st and 25th.
• Fiesta in honor of the virgin Virgen de Nieva , on the first Sunday after September 8th every year.
• Carnival, on the night of the first Sunday of Lent.

economy

Viana's economy is divided into 80% industry and 20% agriculture. It is so successful that 30% of the employees commute here from nearby Logroño.

Agricultural products are wheat, barley, corn, olives and wine. The annual wine yield is 9,500 tons, the area belongs to the DO Rioja .

The manufacturing industries are represented by the following branches:

• Wood processing industry (furniture, boards / panels, fitted kitchens)
• Metal processing (art forge, drop forge)
• Food industry (baked goods, convenience food , meat products, liqueurs, canned goods).
• Electricity generation (three hydropower plants on the Río Ebro, Las Llanas wind farms, two photovoltaic farms)
• Textile industry (wool and cotton clothing)
• Packaging industry (corrugated cardboard)

Population development of the municipality

0000Source: INE archive - graphic processing for Wikipedia

Personalities associated with the city

• Cesare Borgia (1475–1507) - Italian prince, killed in Viana and buried
• Matías Goñi (1647–1712) - Jesuit priest and missionary
• Francisco Navarro Villoslada (1818–1895) - writer
• Pablo Antoñana (1927) - writer

literature

• Míllan Bravo Lozano: Practical pilgrim guide. The Camino de Santiago. Editorial Everest, Léon 1994, ISBN 84-241-3835-X .
• Klaus Herbers : The Way of St. James: With a medieval pilgrim guide on the way to Santiago de Compostela , Tübingen, 1986, ISBN 3-87808-312-2 .
• Werner Schäfke : Northwest Spain , Dumont Buchverlag, Cologne, 3rd edition. 1989, ISBN 3-7701-1589-9 .
• Heinz Schomann: Art Monuments of the Iberian Peninsula, Part 1 - Portugal and Northern Spain. Scientific Book Society Darmstadt, special edition 1996 for the members of the Scientific Book Society

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. ↑ Location information from the regional government of Navarre (Spanish)
3. ↑ The title Principe de Viana was given to the Crown Prince in the Kingdom of Navarre .
4. ↑ Valores climatológicos normales ( Spanish ) navarra.es. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
5. ↑ Mikel Belasko, Diccionario etimológico de los nombres de los pueblos, villas y ciudades de Navarra, Pamplona-Iruña, 1996, ISBN 84-7681-239-6 .
6. ↑ cf. the place name Dos Hermanas
7. ↑ Vareia was destroyed in the war between Pompeio and Sertorius (80–72 BC).
8. ↑ cf. General Roman Calendar # July
9. ↑ Viana ( Spanish ) elecciones.mir.es. May 22, 2011. Accessed November 21, 2019.
10. ↑ Hermit from the Haro area , see WP: es - San Felices

Web links

Commons : Viana (Navarra)  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Information about the Camino Francés
• Viana in the Bernardo Estornés Lasa - Auñamendi Encyclopedia (Euskomedia Fundazioa) (Basque / Spanish / English)
• City portal Viana (Spanish)

Navigation bar St. James " Camino Francés "

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