Monforte de Lemos
Encyclopedia
Monforte de Lemos is a city and municipality
in northwestern Spain
, in the province of Lugo
, Galicia. It covers an area of 200 km² and lies 62 km from Lugo
. As of 2005 it had a population of 19,472. It is located in a valley between the shores of Sil River
and Miño River, in the area known as "Ribeira Sacra" (Sacred Shore), being the capital of the area. The city lies on the Cabe, a tributary of the Sil River
.
occupation, as testified by excavations of sites dating to the Bronze Age
. The Lemavi
, a tribe of Celt
ic origin from which the town derives its name, also predated Romanization, according to Pliny the Elder
. The Lemavi were centered on the hill of San Vicente, then known as Castro Dactonium, where now are the monastery and the castle. It is believed the town was destroyed in the 8th century by the Muslim
invaders. In the 12th century, the Count of Galicia granted the city to Fruela Díaz
, of the House of Lemos, who had the town rebuilt over the ruins. Monforte thenceforth flourished as an agricultural market.
During the Middle Ages
, a Benedictine
community established on the Monastery of San Vicente del Pino. Numerous monasteries were built around the city in that period, in the zone known as Ribeira Sacra ("Sacred Shore"), including the area between the shores of the Sil and Miño rivers, where they also run through canyons.
Both the capital tower and the fortified city's walls were demolished during the Irmandiño revolt
in the second half of 15th century. The rebels repressed by the Count of Lemos, the lord of the land, who made them work to rebuild the castle.
In 1883 the town was reached by a railroad, which helped Monforte to take place as a trade and communication center, due to its position as Galicia's entrance by train.
During the Spanish Civil War
, the last republican Major, Juan Tizon Herreros, escaped to Portugal, after trying to reorganize the resistance. His predecessor, major Rosendo Vila Fernandez, was killed by the rebels.
In the next decades the rail station was partially dismantled, the communication center was moved to the city of Ourense, the train factories were removed, causing a period of economic depression. Tourism business is one of the currently expanding activities in Monforte.
". The square in front of it was known as Plaza de la Compañía ("The Society Square"), when the building was occupied by the Society of Jesus
, which managed the school until their expulsion order from Spain, after which the Piarists
took it over.
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Inside the school's church is a altarpiece built by Francisco de Moure and finished by his son. Over the altarpiece is empty piece of wood from which the Society of Jesus
' symbol was erased, in order to clean every fingerprint they left on Spain.
The School treasures also a collection of pictures, by artists such as El Greco
and Andrea del Sarto
. The monumental stair, featuring and apparent lack of physical support, is made in one marble piece, and supported on air by a game of strengths. The praying statue of Cardinal Rodrigo The Castro is placed over his grave, inside the church, and in front of an image of Nuestra Señora de La Antigua; recent works have found that the grave of Cardinal Rodrigo's mother is hidden behind the picture.
A Railroad Museum has been created in the old train factory for the purpose of maintaining and displaying old locomotives and rail cars (including an operating steam driven locomotive).
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...
in northwestern Spain
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...
, in the province of Lugo
Lugo (province)
Lugo is a province of northwestern Spain, in the northeastern part of the autonomous community of Galicia. It is bordered by the provinces of Ourense, Pontevedra, and A Coruña, the principality of Asturias, the State of León, and in the north by the Cantabrian Sea .The population is 356,595 , of...
, Galicia. It covers an area of 200 km² and lies 62 km from Lugo
Lugo
Lugo is a city in northwestern Spain, in the autonomous community of Galicia. It is the capital of the province of Lugo. The municipality had a population of 97,635 in 2010, which makes is the fourth most populated city in Galicia.-Population:...
. As of 2005 it had a population of 19,472. It is located in a valley between the shores of Sil River
Sil River
The Sil is a river in León and Galicia, Spain, a tributary of the Miño. Its total length is 225 km. The source of the Sil is in the Cantabrian Mountains in the Leonese town of Villablino. It flows through the provinces of León and Ourense. The largest city on the Sil is Ponferrada...
and Miño River, in the area known as "Ribeira Sacra" (Sacred Shore), being the capital of the area. The city lies on the Cabe, a tributary of the Sil River
Sil River
The Sil is a river in León and Galicia, Spain, a tributary of the Miño. Its total length is 225 km. The source of the Sil is in the Cantabrian Mountains in the Leonese town of Villablino. It flows through the provinces of León and Ourense. The largest city on the Sil is Ponferrada...
.
History
The area around the town has been inhabited since long before the RomanAncient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
occupation, as testified by excavations of sites dating to the Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
. The Lemavi
Lemavi
The Lemavi were an ancient Gallaecian Celtic tribe, living in the center-east of the modern Galicia, in the Monforte de Lemos's county.-External links:*...
, a tribe of Celt
Celt
The Celts were a diverse group of tribal societies in Iron Age and Roman-era Europe who spoke Celtic languages.The earliest archaeological culture commonly accepted as Celtic, or rather Proto-Celtic, was the central European Hallstatt culture , named for the rich grave finds in Hallstatt, Austria....
ic origin from which the town derives its name, also predated Romanization, according to Pliny the Elder
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
. The Lemavi were centered on the hill of San Vicente, then known as Castro Dactonium, where now are the monastery and the castle. It is believed the town was destroyed in the 8th century by the Muslim
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
invaders. In the 12th century, the Count of Galicia granted the city to Fruela Díaz
Fruela Díaz
Fruela Díaz , known in contemporary sources as Froila Didaci or Didaz, was a nobleman in the Kingdom of León, the dominant figure in the centre of the realm during the late reign of Alfonso VI and the early reign of Urraca...
, of the House of Lemos, who had the town rebuilt over the ruins. Monforte thenceforth flourished as an agricultural market.
During the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, a Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
community established on the Monastery of San Vicente del Pino. Numerous monasteries were built around the city in that period, in the zone known as Ribeira Sacra ("Sacred Shore"), including the area between the shores of the Sil and Miño rivers, where they also run through canyons.
Both the capital tower and the fortified city's walls were demolished during the Irmandiño revolt
Irmandiño
The Irmandiño Wars were two revolts that took place in 15th-century Kingdom of Galicia against attempts by the regional nobility to maintain their rights over the peasantry and the bourgeoisie...
in the second half of 15th century. The rebels repressed by the Count of Lemos, the lord of the land, who made them work to rebuild the castle.
In 1883 the town was reached by a railroad, which helped Monforte to take place as a trade and communication center, due to its position as Galicia's entrance by train.
During 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...
, the last republican Major, Juan Tizon Herreros, escaped to Portugal, after trying to reorganize the resistance. His predecessor, major Rosendo Vila Fernandez, was killed by the rebels.
In the next decades the rail station was partially dismantled, the communication center was moved to the city of Ourense, the train factories were removed, causing a period of economic depression. Tourism business is one of the currently expanding activities in Monforte.
Main sights
Nuestra Señora de La Antigua's School, an monumental school and church, in Herrerianian Style is known as the "Galician EscorialEl Escorial
The Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a historical residence of the king of Spain, in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, about 45 kilometres northwest of the capital, Madrid, in Spain. It is one of the Spanish royal sites and functions as a monastery, royal palace, museum, and...
". The square in front of it was known as Plaza de la Compañía ("The Society Square"), when the building was occupied by the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, which managed the school until their expulsion order from Spain, after which the Piarists
Piarists
The Order of Poor Clerics Regular of the Mother of God of the Pious Schools or, in short, Piarists , is the name of the oldest Catholic educational order also known as the Scolopi, Escolapios or Poor Clerics of the Mother of God...
took it over.
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
' symbol was erased, in order to clean every fingerprint they left on Spain.
The School treasures also a collection of pictures, by artists such as El Greco
El Greco
El Greco was a painter, sculptor and architect of the Spanish Renaissance. "El Greco" was a nickname, a reference to his ethnic Greek origin, and the artist normally signed his paintings with his full birth name in Greek letters, Δομήνικος Θεοτοκόπουλος .El Greco was born on Crete, which was at...
and Andrea del Sarto
Andrea del Sarto
Andrea del Sarto was an Italian painter from Florence, whose career flourished during the High Renaissance and early Mannerism. Though highly regarded during his lifetime as an artist senza errori , his renown was eclipsed after his death by that of his contemporaries, Leonardo da Vinci,...
. The monumental stair, featuring and apparent lack of physical support, is made in one marble piece, and supported on air by a game of strengths. The praying statue of Cardinal Rodrigo The Castro is placed over his grave, inside the church, and in front of an image of Nuestra Señora de La Antigua; recent works have found that the grave of Cardinal Rodrigo's mother is hidden behind the picture.
Notable people
- Pedro Fernandez De Castro, Seventh count of Lemos
- Cardinal Rodrigo de Castro