Astorga

Astorga is a Spanish city, place chief of comarque the Maragatería, located in the Province of León, autonomous community of Castille and Leon. It counts approximately 12.207 inhabitants. Evêché.

Old Asturica Augusta , capital of the conventus of Asturum in the province of Gallaecia, it was taken by the French in 1810, and was taken again in 1812.

Geography

City more than bimillenary located on the route of the " road of the argent" (Via Plata) of the Pilgrimage of Saint-Jacques-to-Compostelle in the western north of Spain, on the plate (meseta) at an altitude of 850 Mr. Entourée of a powerful wall, it is located on a headland. Rich person in Roman archaeological vestiges.

Archeology:

Many a Archeological sites is put at the day during the rebuilding of buildings in the enclosure. An astute policy makes it possible to preserve certain vestiges in the basements of the rebuilt houses (cf minor thermal baths e.g.). These vestiges can be visited (see town hall).

The most important vestiges are those of the Villa of the bear and the bird (near to the convent of the “redentoristas”. The remainders of the villa are covered with a structure allowing of apprecior of the splendid tops the Fresques (of which a bear and a bird).

To also see the major thermal baths, the minor thermal baths, the Forum (of which the representation on the spot lets suppose a splendid building), the Roman door,…. What surprises it is that it is not more known for its acheologic Fouilles.

History:

Its existence was already known at the II century before JC, but only dominates the certainty of the Roman presence. Probable place of quartering of a Roman Legion charged to lock this zone in prey with disorders with the Astures. It was the seat of a Roman Villa (administrative structure) known under the name of " Asturica Augusta" , probable place of collection of gold extracts from the very close mines.

The city knew many seats (410, 459,714 (by Arabic). Was one of the first Spanish cities to raise itself in 1808, reinforced by the British troops of Moore, the city fell afterwards a few months vis-a-vis the Napoleonean Troupes, which gave up it then took again it successively. Napoleonean Victore being reproduced on the triumphal arch. The presence (for a few days only) of Napoleon is nearly certain, although it did not certainly direct the battle.

Famous characters

Among the most important personalities of Astorga, let us note:

Leopoldo Panero
Manual García Prieto
Ricardo Gullón
Jose María de Santocildes.

Monuments

religious Monuments

Imposing cathedral whose tower was rebuilt after being itself ploughed up at the time of the Earthquake of Lisbon.

On the top of the cathedral a statue called by the inhabitants " is reproduced; pedro mato". One can see with the binocular that it misses a finger. That gives place to two commonly widespread interpretations in the population. A Napoleonean soldier would have taken it for an insurrectionist and a ball (1st int.) would have drawn to him. The finger would have fallen and killed one or two French soldiers (a whole symbol) (2nd int.).

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