Sigüenza: An Introduction to 900 Years Since the Reconquista

By Cristina Berna and Eric Thomsen

Sigüenza is celebrating 900 years since the Reconquista from the Muslims 12-14 July 2024. The town is also putting in a candidature for World Cultural Heritage and is working to develop the town and environs as a tourist destination. The town has special significance for the authors, who wish Sigüenza a great future.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BoD - Books on Demand
• Release date: Jun 21, 2024
• ISBN: 9788411749527

Cristina Berna

Cristina Berna liebt das Fotografieren und Schreiben. Sie schreibt, um ein vielfältiges Publikum zu unterhalten.

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Indice

Introduction

Early history

The creation of Spain

Muslims in Spain

Reconquista

Castle and Parador

La Virgin de la Mayor

The forest

Photo Crédits

About the authors

Contact the authors

Also by the authors

Introduction

Sigüenza is celebrating 900 years since the Reconquista from the Muslims 12-14 July 2024. Since then it has basically been a Christian city under the direction of the bishops. It was a Christian city under the Visigoths during 292 years (419-711) and one should probably also include the 39 years when Christianity was the state religion in the Roman Empire (380-419), with a total of 1221 years. The town is also putting in a candidature for World Cultural Heritage and is working to develop the town and environs as a tourist destination. The town has special significance for the authors, who wish Sigüenza a great future.

Early history

Sigüenza is a little known gem among the historical cities in Spain, situated in the province of Guadalajara about hundred and thirty kilometers north of Madrid. Sigüenza can be one of the oldest cities in Spain, much older that the 900 years celebrated in 2024. Sigüenza like other towns in the region is unique as it did not experience the industrial revolution. That is why visiting it is a great opportunity to discover almost intact Medieval and Renaissance architecture. Sigüenza has also been the scene of many battles throuhout its history. The region was populated since the Paleolitic. Very rich water sources attracted people from early on. The river Henares runs through Sigüenza. Two other rivers flow on its flanks, Rio Dulce and Rio Salado. Rio Salado (the Salted River) makes it very rich in natural salt, extracted in salt pans. Situated on the high plateau of Castille, Sigüenza is about over 1000 meters above sea level.

Rio Dulce at La Cabrera south of Sigüenza.

Rio Dulce at La Cabrera south of Sigüenza.

The use of salt became indispensable in the Neolithic period. Until then, the high intake of meat covered the daily requirements for salt consumption. It was during the Neolithic that man started developing methods of preserving food, due to the seasonal nature of food production associated with permanent settlements. (Weller, 1996).

The author visited the salt pans with her father when she was a little girl when some of the salt pans still belonged to the Gamboa family.