Siurana (Tarragona)
Encyclopedia
Siurana is a village of the municipality
of the Cornudella de Montsant
in the comarca
of Priorat
, Tarragona
, Catalonia
, Spain
.
Located just outside the Montsant
region, it is just east of main town of the municipality Cornudella de Montsant
and consists of a small village at the top of an escarpment
in the Prades Mountains
overlooking the Siurana Reservoir and is often visited by tourists to the area for its historical piquancy and its excellent views of the Embalse
and surrounding valley. Cliffs around the village are popular among climbers
due to the abundance of sport climbs up to the grade of 9b. The development of Siurana as one of the world's best climbing destinations is often attributed to Toni Arbones.
name of La Seviriana, but was changed to Xibrana after being conquered by the Islamics
. A memorial cross
was erected in 1953 to commemorate the reconquest of Siurana by the Christians in 1153, 800 years before.
Municipalities of Spain
The municipalities of Spain In other languages of Spain:*Catalan/Valencian , sing. municipi.*Galician or , sing. municipio/bisbarra.*Basque , sing. udalerria. are the basic level of Spanish local government...
of the Cornudella de Montsant
Cornudella de Montsant
Cornudella de Montsant is a municipality in the comarca of the Priorat inCatalonia, Spain. It is situated in the north-west of the comarca below the Montsant range and the...
in the comarca
Comarca
A comarca is a traditional region or local administrative division found in parts of Spain, Portugal, Panama, Nicaragua, and Brazil. The term is derived from the term marca, meaning a "march, mark", plus the prefix co- meaning "together, jointly".The comarca is known in Aragonese as redolada and...
of Priorat
Priorat
Priorat is a comarca in Catalonia, Spain. The central part of the comarca, "Priorat històric," produces the famous and prestigious wine of the Denominación de Origen Calificada Priorat. Wines from elsewhere in the comarca are denominated as Montsant...
, Tarragona
Tarragona (province)
Tarragona is a province of eastern Spain, in the southern part of the autonomous community of Catalonia. It is bordered by the provinces of Castellón, Teruel, Zaragoza, Lleida, Barcelona, and the Mediterranean Sea....
, Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, 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...
.
Located just outside the Montsant
Montsant
*Montsant mountain range*Montsant River*Montsant DO, a certain wine quality from the Montsant region...
region, it is just east of main town of the municipality Cornudella de Montsant
Cornudella de Montsant
Cornudella de Montsant is a municipality in the comarca of the Priorat inCatalonia, Spain. It is situated in the north-west of the comarca below the Montsant range and the...
and consists of a small village at the top of an escarpment
Escarpment
An escarpment is a steep slope or long cliff that occurs from erosion or faulting and separates two relatively level areas of differing elevations.-Description and variants:...
in the Prades Mountains
Prades Mountains
Prades Mountains, also known as Muntanyes de Prades, is a large calcareous mountain massif straddling the comarcas of Alt Camp, Baix Camp, Conca de Barberà, Garrigues and Priorat, in Catalonia, Spain. These mountains have characteristic large and rounded rocky outcrops...
overlooking the Siurana Reservoir and is often visited by tourists to the area for its historical piquancy and its excellent views of the Embalse
Embalse
Embalse is the Spanish word for "reservoir". It is found in many place names. If otherwise unqualified, it might refer to:* Embalse, Córdoba, a town in Argentina.* Embalse nuclear power plant, located near the above....
and surrounding valley. Cliffs around the village are popular among climbers
Climbing
Climbing is the activity of using one's hands and feet to ascend a steep object. It is done both for recreation and professionally, as part of activities such as maintenance of a structure, or military operations.Climbing activities include:* Bouldering: Ascending boulders or small...
due to the abundance of sport climbs up to the grade of 9b. The development of Siurana as one of the world's best climbing destinations is often attributed to Toni Arbones.
History
La Siurana is the Christian name for the town. Originally, it was known by the LatinLatin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
name of La Seviriana, but was changed to Xibrana after being conquered by the Islamics
Islam in Spain
Islam in Spain has had a fundamental presence in the culture and history of the nation. The religion was present in modern Spanish soil from 711 until 1492 under the rule of the Arabs and Moors of al-Andalus. For key historical dates, see Timeline of the Muslim presence in the Iberian peninsula...
. A memorial cross
Memorial Cross
The Memorial Cross , often known as the Silver Cross, is a Canadian medal awarded to the mother, widow, widower, or next of kin of any member of the Canadian Forces who loses his or her life in active service, including peacekeeping, and other such international operations.-Design:The Memorial...
was erected in 1953 to commemorate the reconquest of Siurana by the Christians in 1153, 800 years before.