Soto del Real
Encyclopedia
Soto del Real, whose former name was Chozas de la Sierra, is a town and municipality
in the northern area of the autonomous Community of Madrid which had 8,294 inhabitants in 2009.
43 kilometers away from Madrid
, the capital city, it is located between the towns of Manzanares el Real
and Miraflores de la Sierra
.
attributed to shepherds.
During the 13th century the area encompasing Colmenar Viejo
, Chozas de la Sierra and Porquerizas (Miraflores de la Sierra
) was a source of legal conflict between the provinces of Madrid
and Segovia
, with John I of Castile
incorporating Chozas to the municipality of El Real de Manzanres in 1389.
In 1568 Philip II of Spain
exempted Chozas from El Real de Manzanares.
The name Soto del Real has been in use since a 1959 vote in which the local population chose the name over Alameda de la Sierra or its historic one, Chozas de la Sierra. The town's coat of arms makes reference to both of the town's names.
Soto makes reference to the numerous trees and forests surrounding (in Spanish Sotos), del Real referring to its historical ties to El Real de Manzanares from 1389 till 1568.
), patron of the municipality.
The 7th of October, day of the Virgin of the Rosary, is also celebrated, as is the 15th of May, day of San Isidro
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 the northern area of the autonomous Community of Madrid which had 8,294 inhabitants in 2009.
43 kilometers away from Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, the capital city, it is located between the towns of Manzanares el Real
Manzanares el Real
Manzanares el Real is a 7,250 inhabitant town in the northern area of the autonomous Community of Madrid. It is located at the foot of The Pedriza, a part of the Sierra de Guadarrama, and next to the embalse de Santillana ....
and Miraflores de la Sierra
Miraflores de la Sierra
Miraflores de la Sierra is a town and municipality in the northern area of the autonomous Community of Madrid, in central Spain, of c. 6,000 inhabitants, located 49 kilometers away from Madrid.-History:...
.
History
The first evidence of settlements in Soto del Real dates from the 10th century, with archeological remains of houses and ceramicsPottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
attributed to shepherds.
During the 13th century the area encompasing Colmenar Viejo
Colmenar Viejo
Colmenar Viejo is a town of about 44,000 inhabitants, located in the Community of Madrid, Spain, 30 kilometers north of Madrid on the M-607 motorway.-Main sights:The most important tourist attractions places in Colmenar Viejo are:...
, Chozas de la Sierra and Porquerizas (Miraflores de la Sierra
Miraflores de la Sierra
Miraflores de la Sierra is a town and municipality in the northern area of the autonomous Community of Madrid, in central Spain, of c. 6,000 inhabitants, located 49 kilometers away from Madrid.-History:...
) was a source of legal conflict between the provinces of Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
and 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:...
, with John I of Castile
John I of Castile
John I was the king of Crown of Castile, was the son of Henry II and of his wife Juana Manuel of Castile, daughter of Juan Manuel, Prince of Villena, head of a younger branch of the royal house of Castile...
incorporating Chozas to the municipality of El Real de Manzanres in 1389.
In 1568 Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
exempted Chozas from El Real de Manzanares.
The name Soto del Real has been in use since a 1959 vote in which the local population chose the name over Alameda de la Sierra or its historic one, Chozas de la Sierra. The town's coat of arms makes reference to both of the town's names.
Soto makes reference to the numerous trees and forests surrounding (in Spanish Sotos), del Real referring to its historical ties to El Real de Manzanares from 1389 till 1568.
Festivities
The first weekend of August Soto del Real celebrates its festivities in honour of the Virgen del Rosario (Our Lady of the RosaryOur Lady of the Rosary
Our Lady of the Rosary is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary in relation to the rosary....
), patron of the municipality.
The 7th of October, day of the Virgin of the Rosary, is also celebrated, as is the 15th of May, day of San Isidro
Isidore the Laborer
Isidore the Laborer, also known as Isidore the Farmer, , was a Spanish day laborer known for his goodness toward the poor and animals. He is the Catholic patron saint of farmers and of Madrid and of La Ceiba, Honduras....