Llerena, Badajoz facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Llerena
Church of Nuestra Señora de la Granada
Llerena, Badajoz Location in Extremadura Show map of Extremadura Llerena, Badajoz Location in Spain Show map of Spain
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Extremadura
Province	Badajoz
Municipality	Llerena
Area
• Total	162.7 km2 (62.8 sq mi)
Elevation	641 m (2,103 ft)
Population  (2018)
• Total	5,758
• Density	35.390/km2 (91.66/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Website	http://llerena.org

Llerena is a town in Extremadura, Spain. It is located in the province of Badajoz. In 2007, about 5,995 people lived there. Llerena is a very old and beautiful town. It was named a "Historical Artistic Site" in 1966.

The town is an important center for its region. It is found in southwestern Spain. Llerena is connected by two main national roads.

History

Arab Period

Long ago, when Arabs lived in Spain, Llerena was called Ellerina. It was a place that Arabs and Christians often fought over. In 1243, Pelayo Pérez Correa took control of Llerena. He was the leader of the Order of Santiago. Ferdinand III of Castile had asked him to take back the area of Sierra Morena.

Order of Santiago

Llerena was given to the Order of Santiago. This was to help protect the town and bring more people to live there. The leaders of the Order gave Llerena special laws in 1297.

It became a tradition for the leaders of the Order to live in Llerena for some time. Some important leaders who lived there were:

• Don Fadrique (1342–1358), who was the half-brother of King Peter I.
• Don Pedro Fernández Cabeza de Vaca (1382–1387).
• Don Enrique García Fernández of Villagarcía (1385–1387).
• Lorenzo Suárez de Figueroa (1387–1409), who is buried in the Church of Our Lady of Granada.
• Don Alonso de Cárdenas (1480–1493), who was the last leader of the Order of Santiago. His tomb is also in Llerena.

Llerena was the main home for the leaders of the Order of Santiago. This helped the city grow a lot in the 1400s. It became the capital of the Priory of the Hostal San Marcos de León. This made it the most important place in the area.

Llerena became the main administrative center for the Order of Santiago in Extremadura. It was the headquarters for the Order's main office. It also governed over 30 other towns.

In 1340, King Alfonso XI of Castile held a meeting of the Cortes (a type of parliament) in Llerena. In 1383, Pedro Fernández held a big meeting for the Order of Santiago there. All the Order's commanders attended.

Lorenzo Suárez de Figueroa, a leader of the Order, got permission to hold the San Mateo fair on September 21. He also built the Trinity chapel in the Church of Granada. He helped build other important buildings, like the Casa Maestral.

Enrique García Fernández of Villagarcía built a castle in the nearby town of Villagarcía de la Torre. He also supported the building of the chancel in the Church of Santa Maria. He chose to be buried there.

Alonso de Cárdenas built the Church of Santiago. It was built where an old church of Saint Peter used to be. He also added some important gates to the city's walls.

After Llerena was taken back from Muslim rule, people from León, Basque Country, and Cantabria came to live there. A large Jewish community also grew in the city. This made Llerena a very successful place with strong economy and culture.

Christians, Jews, and Muslims lived together peacefully for a time. In 1479, a Jewish leader named Rabí Mayr convinced Queen Isabella I to allow Jews to hold fairs and markets again. This helped the city's economy. It also led to the creation of a school for translators. At this time, about 600 Jewish families lived in Llerena. They lived near the synagogue.

In 1490, the last big meeting of the Order of Santiago was held. This happened before the Order's power was taken over by the Spanish Crown.

After Queen Isabella ordered all Jews to leave Spain in 1492, 125 Jewish families in Llerena chose to stay. They became Christians.

Inquisition Court

In 1508, a special court called the Tribunal of the Inquisition was set up in Llerena. This happened because there were many people who had converted from Judaism in the area. It was the third largest court of its kind in Spain. Its area covered 42,260 square kilometers. It included several bishoprics, like Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz.

The court had three different locations in Llerena over time. It finally settled in the Palace of the Zapata. This building is now used as a courthouse. The Inquisition court was closed in 1834.

Llerena was at its best in the 1500s. It had seven convents and a lot of cultural activity. The population grew a lot during this century. Some people moved to the New World, but Llerena still became the second largest city in Extremadura by 1591. By the end of the century, it had 8,300 people.

In 1594, a census showed that Llerena had 2,066 households. This included nearby areas like Maguilla.

In 1640, King Philip IV gave Llerena the title of "City." This was because of its growth and importance.

Decline

By the late 1600s, Llerena began to decline. This was due to several reasons. The Spanish Empire faced political problems. There was a war with Portugal. Local leaders were not always effective. The expulsion of the Moors (Muslims) also had an impact. There were also many outbreaks of disease, which kept the city isolated.

In the 1700s, two towns, Higuera de Llerena (in 1786) and Maguilla (in 1749), became independent. They had previously been part of Llerena's city council.

Independence

During the Spanish War of Independence (1808–1814), Llerena suffered a lot. The Battle of Cantalgallo in 1810 caused much damage to the city. Many buildings were destroyed. Part of the city's historical records were lost. Many artworks were stolen, including a part of the altar from the Church of Our Lady of Granada.

After the old system ended, the Order of San Marcos in León disappeared. The governor's office in Llerena also closed. The Inquisition court was officially abolished in 1834. Llerena then became the capital of its own judicial district.

Schism

After a new law changed how religious power worked for military orders, Llerena had a "schism". This was a disagreement caused by a priest named Don Francisco Maesso. He questioned the power of the bishopric of Badajoz. There were several arguments for over a year. These stopped when Alfonso XII became king. The new king removed the law that caused the problem for Llerena.

Reposessions

Changes in land and building ownership caused problems for Llerena's economy. Laws passed by Juan Álvarez Mendizábal in 1837 and Madoz in 1855 left Llerena with very few resources. The town lost its dehesas (pasture lands). These lands had been used by the town for centuries and brought in a lot of money.

Some convents in Llerena disappeared. These included convents dedicated to Santa Isabel, San Francisco, La Merced, San Sebastian, and La Concepción. Only the Santa Clara convent remained.

In the 1800s, some industries stayed in the city. The construction of the railway line from Mérida to Sevilla also helped. The last part of the railway, between Llerena and El Pedroso, was finished in 1885. This helped the region's economy grow.

Climate and Geography

Llerena is in the south of the province of Badajoz. It is part of the "The Countryside South" region. The town is 114 kilometers from Badajoz. It is located at an altitude of 638 meters.

The area of Llerena is 162.3 square kilometers. It stretches from the lower parts of the Sierra Morena mountains. It is located where the Guadalquivir and Guadiana rivers meet.

The land is varied. In the north, there are flat areas with deep clay soils. Towards the southeast, the land becomes more rocky and hilly. This area ends at the Sierra de San Miguel mountains.

Llerena has a subtropical Mediterranean climate. The average temperature each year is 15.3°C. Winters are usually mild, with an average temperature of 7.3°C. Summers are hot and dry, with an average temperature of 24.2°C. The average rainfall is 586mm per year. Most rain falls in winter (227.6mm).

The forests in the area are made up of oak trees. Other plants include scrub, broom, lavender, and rock rose.

Monuments and Places of Interest

• Plaza of Spain: This main square used to be a place for bullfights and markets. On the south side is the Church of Our Lady of Granada. It has a beautiful balcony with two stories of arches. On the north side is the portal of Casinet. This portal has white brick arches and stone columns. The City Hall is on the east side. The painter Francisco de Zurbarán and his wife lived in some houses nearby. A fountain designed by the painter in 1617 is also close by.
• Our Lady of Granada: This church is in the Town Hall Square. Its front has a baroque style with a two-story balcony. This balcony was added in the 1700s. It allowed people to watch events in the main square. The church also has a magnificent brick tower.
• Convento de Santa Clara: This convent is located across from the slide street. It has a veranda with a stone lattice. Inside its church, you can see a sculpture of St. Jerome by Juan Martínez Montanes. There are also old wall paintings and baroque altarpieces.
• Zapata Palace: This palace is in the Plaza of the Inquisition. It is a great example of old noble architecture with its patio. It used to be the headquarters of the Inquisition court.
• Palacio Episcopal: This palace was the home of the Priors of the Order of Santiago. Its entrance is decorated with an alfiz (a type of frame) and symbols of the Order.

Local Festivities

• Madonna of the Pomegranate: This festival is celebrated on August 15.
• San Miguel Fair: This fair takes place in September.
• Matanza teaching: This event happens in early March.
• Tour "La Morolla": This is not a local festival, but it attracts more people each year during Easter Weekend.

Notable People

• Luis Zapata de Cárdenas (1515–1590): He became an archbishop in Bogotá, Colombia.
• Miguel Sánchez de Llerena (1518–1601): He helped found Bogotá and Tunja in Colombia.
• Pedro Cieza de León (1520–1554): He was a writer who wrote about the Americas. He is known for bringing the potato to Europe.
• Luis Zapata (1526–1595): He was a writer and worked for King Philip II.
• García López de Cárdenas (16th century): He was the first European to discover the Grand Canyon.
• Lorenzo Suárez de Figueroa (1530–1595): He was a governor of Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
• Catalina Clara Ramírez de Guzmán (1618–1684/5): She was a poet.
• Juan de Zurbarán (1620–1649): He was a painter, and the son of Francisco de Zurbarán. He is known for his still life paintings.
• José de Hermosilla (1776): He was an architect and city planner. He helped design the Salón del Prado in Madrid. He also worked on the Basilica San Francisco el Grande in Madrid.
• Don Pedro Gómez Durán y Chaves (1626): He was an important member of an expedition to establish a capital city for New Spain in New Mexico. This city was founded in 1610 and is now known as Santa Fe, New Mexico. It is the oldest capital city in the United States.
• Miguel del Barco Gallego: He was an organist.

Sister City

Llerena has a sister city relationship with Sombrerete. Sombrerete is located in the state of Zacatecas, Mexico. This partnership began on May 5, 1992.

See also

In Spanish: Llerena para niños