Soria
Encyclopedia
Soria is a city in north-central Spain
, the capital of the province of Soria in the autonomous community
of Castile and León
. , the municipality
has a population of c. 39,500 inhabitants, nearly 40% of the population of the province. Situated on the Rio Duero in the east of the autonomous community, the city is noted for its walls and a number of architecturally distinctive churches.
, who merged with the Celts to form the Celtiberians
around the 4th century BC.
During the Roman conquest of Iberia, Soria was besieged and its population committed a collective suicide in order to escape slavery. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire
, the rebuilt city was occupied by the Suebi
. Later, after the Arab conquest of Spain, it grew in importance due to its proximity to the border of the Christian lands, which in the 8th century had settled along the Duero river.
In 869 Soria was the centre of the rebellion of Suleyman ibn-Abus against the caliph of Córdoba, who sent his son Hakan
to quench it. In the early 12th century the city was conquered by Alfonso I the Battler, being absorbed into the Kingdom of León
in 1134. Due to its strategic placement at the borders of the Kingdoms of Castile
, Aragon
, Navarre
and León, Soria in the Middle Ages was at the centre of several conflicts between them. Alfonso VIII of Castile
, in reward for its support, gave the city several privileges which it maintained until modern times. In 1195 the town was stormed by Sancho VII of Navarre
, but later recovered and continued to develop its splendour and trades, mostly held by a community of Jews
.
Soria lost most of its importance after the unification of Aragon and Castile in 1479, and above all after the decree of exile issued against the Jews in 1492. In the War of Spanish Succession (early 18th century), Soria sided for Philip V
. In 1808 it was captured and set on fire by the French troops.
The economical and social crisis of Spain in the early 20th century, and the Spanish Civil War
with Francisco Franco
's dictatorship which followed, had negative effects on Soria and its neighborhood, which became depopulated due to strong emigration.
The policy of the current authorities aims to strengthen the local economy pivoting on Soria's tourism potential, and has also launched a program of reconstruction for the neighbouring villages.
A few kilometres north of the town are the ruins of Numantia
, a Celtiberian
town whose inhabitants destroyed it rather than let it fall to Scipio
. In Soria is the Museo Numantino, devoted to the archaeological remains of this site.
spent five years in Soria teaching French
in a secondary school
in the early part of the century, before spending 12 years in the neighbouring town of Segovia
. These years were to prove essential to his further literary development. He married and lost his wife there and discovered much about the nature of the Castilian people
– a subject the Generation of '98
authors were very interested in.
club is called CD Numancia
.
Two of Spain's foremost runners of the late 20th century lived and trained in Soria: Fermín Cacho
, a gold medallist at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, and Abel Antón
, a two-time World Champion in the marathon
. The area in which they trained, Monte Valonsadero, is now host to the annual Cross Internacional de Soria
meeting – one of Spain's most prestigious cross country running
competitions.
The European Youth Orienteering Championships were held in Soria in July 2010.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, the capital of the province of Soria in the autonomous community
Autonomous communities of Spain
An autonomous community In other languages of Spain:*Catalan/Valencian .*Galician .*Basque . The second article of the constitution recognizes the rights of "nationalities and regions" to self-government and declares the "indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation".Political power in Spain is...
of Castile and León
Castile and León
Castile and León is an autonomous community in north-western Spain. It was so constituted in 1983 and it comprises the historical regions of León and Old Castile...
. , the municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
has a population of c. 39,500 inhabitants, nearly 40% of the population of the province. Situated on the Rio Duero in the east of the autonomous community, the city is noted for its walls and a number of architecturally distinctive churches.
Geography
Soria sits on the banks of Douro river, in its upper course. Its municipality is formed by the city, Barrio Las Casas and three locations: Oteruelos, Pedrajas and Toledillo.Climate
Winters in Soria are cold by Spanish standards (2.9 °C (37 °F) in January) with almost 90 frost days. Summers are dry and warm (average 20 °C (68 °F) in July and August) with the daytime temperature usually around 28 °C (82 °F) (and regularly reaching 35 °C (95 °F) on the hottest days) but sometimes dropping all the way to 10 °C (50 °F) at night. It has scant rainfall (570 mm per year) and spring is the rainiest season. It is the coldest provincial capital in Spain.Name
It is claimed that in Roman times there was a castle called Oria, purportedly named after a Greek knight called Doricus. Based on this folk etymology, some historians guessed that the first inhabitants of this city might have been the Dorians. Archaeology has not confirmed that story. Instead it has suggested that the first inhabitants were the Suebi, whose kings (as reported by Tutor and Malo in their Compedio historial de las dos Numancias) established one of their courts in Soria. These two hypotheses have been abandoned because of lack of evidence. It seems more likely that the name Soria may have its origin in the word dauria from the river Durius (Duero).History
The area of Soria was inhabited by the IberiansIberians
The Iberians were a set of peoples that Greek and Roman sources identified with that name in the eastern and southern coasts of the Iberian peninsula at least from the 6th century BC...
, who merged with the Celts to form the Celtiberians
Celtiberians
The Celtiberians were Celtic-speaking people of the Iberian Peninsula in the final centuries BC. The group used the Celtic Celtiberian language.Archaeologically, the Celtiberians participated in the Hallstatt culture in what is now north-central Spain...
around the 4th century BC.
During the Roman conquest of Iberia, Soria was besieged and its population committed a collective suicide in order to escape slavery. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire
Western Roman Empire
The Western Roman Empire was the western half of the Roman Empire after its division by Diocletian in 285; the other half of the Roman Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire, commonly referred to today as the Byzantine Empire....
, the rebuilt city was occupied by the Suebi
Suebi
The Suebi or Suevi were a group of Germanic peoples who were first mentioned by Julius Caesar in connection with Ariovistus' campaign, c...
. Later, after the Arab conquest of Spain, it grew in importance due to its proximity to the border of the Christian lands, which in the 8th century had settled along the Duero river.
In 869 Soria was the centre of the rebellion of Suleyman ibn-Abus against the caliph of Córdoba, who sent his son Hakan
Hakan
Hakan is a common Turkish forename. The name is produced by using two Turkish titles for rulers: Han and Kağan . Therefore by joining Han and Kağan, a new title which is higher than Kağan is achieved: Han Kağan...
to quench it. In the early 12th century the city was conquered by Alfonso I the Battler, being absorbed into the Kingdom of León
Kingdom of León
The Kingdom of León was an independent kingdom situated in the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula. It was founded in AD 910 when the Christian princes of Asturias along the northern coast of the peninsula shifted their capital from Oviedo to the city of León...
in 1134. Due to its strategic placement at the borders of the Kingdoms of Castile
Kingdom of Castile
Kingdom of Castile was one of the medieval kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula. It emerged as a political autonomous entity in the 9th century. It was called County of Castile and was held in vassalage from the Kingdom of León. Its name comes from the host of castles constructed in the region...
, Aragon
Kingdom of Aragon
The Kingdom of Aragon was a medieval and early modern kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula, corresponding to the modern-day autonomous community of Aragon, in Spain...
, Navarre
Kingdom of Navarre
The Kingdom of Navarre , originally the Kingdom of Pamplona, was a European kingdom which occupied lands on either side of the Pyrenees alongside the Atlantic Ocean....
and León, Soria in the Middle Ages was at the centre of several conflicts between them. Alfonso VIII of Castile
Alfonso VIII of Castile
Alfonso VIII , called the Noble or el de las Navas, was the King of Castile from 1158 to his death and King of Toledo. He is most remembered for his part in the Reconquista and the downfall of the Almohad Caliphate...
, in reward for its support, gave the city several privileges which it maintained until modern times. In 1195 the town was stormed by Sancho VII of Navarre
Sancho VII of Navarre
Sancho VII Sánchez , called the Strong or the Prudent, was the King of Navarre from 1194 to his death...
, but later recovered and continued to develop its splendour and trades, mostly held by a community of Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
.
Soria lost most of its importance after the unification of Aragon and Castile in 1479, and above all after the decree of exile issued against the Jews in 1492. In the War of Spanish Succession (early 18th century), Soria sided for Philip V
Philip V of Spain
Philip V was King of Spain from 15 November 1700 to 15 January 1724, when he abdicated in favor of his son Louis, and from 6 September 1724, when he assumed the throne again upon his son's death, to his death.Before his reign, Philip occupied an exalted place in the royal family of France as a...
. In 1808 it was captured and set on fire by the French troops.
The economical and social crisis of Spain in the early 20th century, and the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
with Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
's dictatorship which followed, had negative effects on Soria and its neighborhood, which became depopulated due to strong emigration.
The policy of the current authorities aims to strengthen the local economy pivoting on Soria's tourism potential, and has also launched a program of reconstruction for the neighbouring villages.
Main sights
- The Renaissance Ayuntamiento (Town Hall, 16th century), in the Plaza Mayor (main square)
- Palacio de la Audiencia (theatre), from 1739
- Nuestra Señora de la Mayor (16th century), with a Romanesque portal
- Iglesia del Espino (16th century)
- PlateresquePlateresquePlateresque, meaning "in the manner of a silversmith" , was an artistic movement, especially architectural, traditionally held to be exclusive to Spain and its territories, which appeared between the late Gothic and early Renaissance in the late 15th century, and spread over the next two centuries...
Concatedral de San Pedro, erected in the 12th-13th centuries, rebuilt in the 16th century, and its cloister. - San Juan de Rabanera, Romanesque church from the 12th century
- San Polo, a former monastery of the Knights TemplarKnights TemplarThe Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , commonly known as the Knights Templar, the Order of the Temple or simply as Templars, were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders...
. The churches of San Nicolás and San Ginés are from the same age. - the Romanesque convent church of Santo DomingoSanto Domingo, SoriaSanto Domingo is a church in Soria, Castile and León, Spain. It was built in the late 12th century above a pre-existing church dedicated to San Tomé, although it was partially renovated in the following centuries, including the century transept and choir area, added in the 16th century when a...
(12th century)
- San Juan de Duero with its 12th century ruined cloisters located on the other side of the river from the old town.
- sanctuaries of Ermita de San Saturio (18th century) and Ermita de la Soledad (17th century)
- Palacio de los condes de Gomara (Judiciary Palace, 1592)
- remains of the medieval castle, commanding the town from the eponymous hill, and of the walls
A few kilometres north of the town are the ruins of Numantia
Numantia
Numantia is the name of an ancient Celtiberian settlement, whose remains are located 7 km north of the city of Soria, on a hill known as Cerro de la Muela in the municipality of Garray....
, a Celtiberian
Celtiberians
The Celtiberians were Celtic-speaking people of the Iberian Peninsula in the final centuries BC. The group used the Celtic Celtiberian language.Archaeologically, the Celtiberians participated in the Hallstatt culture in what is now north-central Spain...
town whose inhabitants destroyed it rather than let it fall to Scipio
Scipio
-Classical:* Scipio, a representation of the Cornelii Scipiones, branch of the illustrious Cornelii family from Ancient Rome.* Scipio Africanus, Roman general who defeated Hannibal at Zama, the final battle of the Second Punic War....
. In Soria is the Museo Numantino, devoted to the archaeological remains of this site.
Culture
The 20th century Spanish poet Antonio MachadoAntonio Machado
Antonio Cipriano José María y Francisco de Santa Ana Machado y Ruiz, known as Antonio Machado was a Spanish poet and one of the leading figures of the Spanish literary movement known as the Generation of '98....
spent five years in Soria teaching French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
in a secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
in the early part of the century, before spending 12 years in the neighbouring town of Segovia
Segovia
Segovia is a city in Spain, the capital of Segovia Province in the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is situated north of Madrid, 30 minutes by high speed train. The municipality counts some 55,500 inhabitants.-Etymology:...
. These years were to prove essential to his further literary development. He married and lost his wife there and discovered much about the nature of the Castilian people
Castilian people
The Castilian people are the inhabitants of those regions in Spain where most people identify themselves as Castilian. They include Castile-La Mancha, Madrid, and the major part of Castile and León. However, not all regions of the medieval Kingdom of Castile think of themselves as Castilian...
– a subject the Generation of '98
Generation of '98
The Generation of '98 was a group of novelists, poets, essayists, and philosophers active in Spain at the time of the Spanish-American War ....
authors were very interested in.
Sport
The city's professional footballFootball (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club is called CD Numancia
CD Numancia
Club Deportivo Numancia de Soria, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Soria, in the autonomous community of Castile and León. Founded on 9 April 1945, it plays in Segunda División, holding home games at Nuevo Estadio Los Pajaritos, with a 10,200-seat capacity.Besides football it has other...
.
Two of Spain's foremost runners of the late 20th century lived and trained in Soria: Fermín Cacho
Fermín Cacho
Fermín Cacho Ruiz is a Spanish athlete, winner of the 1500 metres at the 1992 Summer Olympics.Born in Ágreda, Spain, Cacho had an enviable competitive record in the 1500 m, but it wasn't until late in his career that he produced a time of corresponding quality.Cacho's first notable result came in...
, a gold medallist at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, and Abel Antón
Abel Antón
Abel Antón Rodrigo is a Spanish long-distance runner. He won gold medals in the marathon at the 1997 and the 1999 World Championships in Athletics. In 1998 Antón became the first Spanish runner to win the London Marathon...
, a two-time World Champion in the marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
. The area in which they trained, Monte Valonsadero, is now host to the annual Cross Internacional de Soria
Cross Internacional de Soria
The Cross Internacional de Soria, also known as the Campo a Través Internacional de Soria, is an annual cross country running competition that takes place in Soria, Spain. First held in 1994, it usually takes place in late November and gained IAAF cross country permit meeting status in 2007...
meeting – one of Spain's most prestigious cross country running
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
competitions.
The European Youth Orienteering Championships were held in Soria in July 2010.
See also
- List of Spanish cities
- List of municipalities in Soria
- NumantiaNumantiaNumantia is the name of an ancient Celtiberian settlement, whose remains are located 7 km north of the city of Soria, on a hill known as Cerro de la Muela in the municipality of Garray....