ZAMORA (by Manuel Bona)

ZAMORA

Zamora is in the north-west of Spain in “Castilla y León”. It was populated by the “vacceos” and conquest by cartaginests and romans. The legend says that Viriato was born in Sayago, he fought against romans.

The most important period for Zamora was the Middle Age. It´s firts walls were constructed in 893 a.C although one century later, Al-Mansur conquered the city.

It was reconquered by Christian´s definitely in the XI century by Fernando I. From this century there are three castles which nowadays only one is left and from the XII century the cathedral and the romanesque churches.

Fernando I divided his kingdom for his five sons:

He gave Zamora to Urraca. Castile for Sanco II. The kingdom of Leon for Alfonso VI. Galicia for Garcia. Toro to Elvira.

Sancho II wanted his brother´s possessions (his vassal was Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, “El Cid Campeador”).

Sancho II attacked his sister Urraca and after a siege which left seven months Bellido Dolfos finished with Sancho´s II life and finished the siege.

Two important sentences:-“Zamora la bien cercada”.Inhonor to Fernando I who reconstructed the walls.

The second sentence was:-“Zamora no se ganó en una hora”.

Concerning to the siege of Sancho II to his sister Urraca.

It´s medieval structure is copound by solid walls, narrow streets and small squares, one castle castle and the cathedral with it´s dome with it´s Romanesque churches, also it´s Romanesque bridge above the river Duero.

Around Zamora exists locations of the Middle Age with importance:

-“Monasterio de Santa María de Moreruela”.

-“El Scriptorium de la Torre del Monasterio de San Salvador de Tábara”.