Almazán facts for kids
Almazán is a city in Castilla y León, Spain. Its name comes from the Arabic language and means "The fortified place". About 5,700 people live there today.
The city is located about 32 kilometers (20 miles) south of Valladolid, which is the capital of the province. It is also about 192 kilometers (119 miles) from Madrid, the capital of Spain.
Contents
A Look Back: Almazán's History
Almazán has a very long and interesting history. Many important events happened here.
Royal Agreements and Gifts
A long time ago, in Almazán, two kings signed an important agreement. These kings were Pedro IV of Aragon and Enrique II of Castilla. They signed a truce, which was a stop to fighting between their kingdoms, Castilla and Aragon.
Later, King Enrique IV of Castilla gave the city of Almazán to a man named Juan Hurtado de Mendoza. Juan Hurtado de Mendoza was a very important helper, called a majordomo, to King Enrique III. He was also given the job of looking after the city. Over time, the land around Almazán was divided into two different parts.
How Almazán Was Governed
The city of Almazán was managed by a leader called the Alcalde Mayor. This leader got help from a group of people from the city. This group included three noblemen and three people from the Hidalgo class, who were also important families.
Almazán was also part of a larger area known as the county of Altamira. The counts of Altamira were descendants of Hernando de Mendoza.
Famous People: Diego Laínez
One very important person born in Almazán was Diego Laínez. He was a Jesuit monk. He was a close friend and helper of San Ignacio de Loyola, who started the Society of Jesus.
After Ignacio de Loyola, Diego Laínez became the next leader of the Society of Jesus. This is a Catholic religious group. Laínez also played a big role in the Council of Trent, which was a very important meeting for the Catholic Church.
Almazán's Beautiful Buildings
Most of the buildings in Almazán are built in the Romanesque style. This style uses round arches and strong, thick walls. You can also find examples of other styles like Baroque, Renaissance, and Gothic art.
Some of the most famous buildings in Almazán include:
- St. Michael's Church: This church is a great example of Romanesque architecture.
- St. Vincent's Church: Another Romanesque building, this church has been changed and is now used as a culture hall for events.
- The Hermit's Place of Jesus of Nazareth: This is a special religious building.
Images for kids
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Church of San Miguel, built in the 12th century
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See also
In Spanish: Almazán para niños
