Santa Cilia
Encyclopedia
Santa Cilia is a municipality located in Jacetania
, province of Huesca
, Aragon
, Spain
. It is 14km from the town of Jaca between the River Aragon and the national highway N-240.
The church was rebuilt, replacing a medieval church with the addition of a bell-tower in 1646. Walls to protect the church from flooding were added in the eighteenth century.
The old medieval bridge is now broken, but once stretched 160m with eight spans and was an important toll bridge over the River Aragon.
Santa Cilia became a municipality in 1834 and attained its greatest population in 1920 with 520 inhabitants and about 90 houses. However emigration, mainly to Argentina, France and Barcelona reduced its size to the present day level.
who wish to explore the nearby Pyrenees
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Jacetania
Jacetania is a comarca in northern Aragon, Spain. It is located in the northwestern corner of the Huesca and Zaragoza provinces.The administrative capital is Jaca, with 13,374 inhabitants the largest town of the comarca. The area is famous for its ski resorts.Jacetania borders with France in the...
, province of Huesca
Huesca (province)
Huesca , officially Huesca/Uesca, is a province of northeastern Spain, in northern Aragon. The capital is Huesca.Positioned just south of the central Pyrenees, Huesca borders France and the French Departments of Pyrénées-Atlantiques and Hautes-Pyrénées...
, Aragon
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
, 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...
. It is 14km from the town of Jaca between the River Aragon and the national highway N-240.
History
Santa Cilia's history is linked to the Royal Monastery de San Juan de la Peña as far back as the tenth century. In 1336 "the town was deserted and destroyed by the instability, death and heavy burdens on its neighbours." At about the same time the present layout of the old town was created, consisting of a nearly six blocks, though its straight streets are reminiscent of a Roman camp.The church was rebuilt, replacing a medieval church with the addition of a bell-tower in 1646. Walls to protect the church from flooding were added in the eighteenth century.
The old medieval bridge is now broken, but once stretched 160m with eight spans and was an important toll bridge over the River Aragon.
Santa Cilia became a municipality in 1834 and attained its greatest population in 1920 with 520 inhabitants and about 90 houses. However emigration, mainly to Argentina, France and Barcelona reduced its size to the present day level.
Mayors
| Years | Name | Political party |
|---|---|---|
| 1979–1983 | Santiago Mañez Vivas | |
| 1983–1987 | Domingo Ascaso Acín | |
| 1987–1991 | José Lalana Serrano | |
| 1991–1995 | Angel Ascaso Torralba | |
| 1995–1999 | Manuel Mañez Vivas | Chunta Aragonesista |
| 1999–2003 | Manuel Mañez Vivas | Chunta Aragonesista |
| 2003–2007 | Manuel Mañez Vivas | Chunta Aragonesista |
| 2007–2011 | Manuel Mañez Vivas | Chunta Aragonesista |
Demographic data
Population data for Santa Cilia between 1842 and 2007:Modern times
Its airfield is a popular with glider pilotsGliding
Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sport in which pilots fly unpowered aircraft known as gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to remain airborne. The word soaring is also used for the sport.Gliding as a sport began in the 1920s...
who wish to explore the nearby Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
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Villages
- Santa Cilia
- Somanés is a hamlet with 14 inhabitants that has been part of the municipality since 1969. It has a baroque eighteenth-century parish church dedicated to San Ramon.
Festivals
- 30 April (Romería a la Virgen de la Peña)
- 15 May (San Isidro)
- 8 September (La Natividad de la Virgen)