Mainar facts for kids
Mainar is a small town in Spain, located in the province of Zaragoza, which is part of the Aragon region. In 2004, about 162 people lived there. It's found near the Sierra de Algairén mountains, in an area called Campo de Daroca.
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Where is Mainar?
Mainar sits on a small hill at the edge of a flat area. It's surrounded by several mountain ranges like Algairén, Bodegones, Pilones (also called Modorra), and Peco.
Rivers and Streams
The Huerva river flows through Mainar, forming a border with the nearby town of Villarreal de Huerva.
There are also two streams, the Villarroya stream (sometimes called Valsáuco) and the Villarpardo stream. These streams are a bit special because they were actually created by people a long time ago, in the 12th and 13th centuries. They were made as drainage channels to dry out very wet land so it could be used for farming. You can see this because parts of them are very straight, almost like canals.
The Villarpardo stream was partly dug out by people and partly shaped by nature. It gets water from other small streams and ravines like the Rambla, Valdelacebo, Carralanga, and Carramanchones.
The Villarroya stream gets water from the Sisones gorge and several "Cañadas" (small valleys or ravines) like Alegría del Tío, Cañada del Moro, and Cañada del Gordo.
There are also irrigation canals, like "Los Ojos" and "El Reajo," which are small channels that help drain water. Another old irrigation canal, called Agua Somera or Vega, was likely built in the Middle Ages to bring water to fields.
Many ravines (called "Barrancos") also run through Mainar. The most important ones flow into the Huerva river. These include Barranco de la Fuente del Piojo, Barranco del Ontazo, Barranco del Pozo Ropera, Barranco del Despeñadero, and Barranco de Valdefrasno. Most of these used to carry a lot of water, but now they are often drier, especially after spring.
Mainar's Climate
Mainar has a continental Mediterranean climate. This means it has very strong seasons. Winters are very cold, especially in February, with temperatures often dropping to 13 or 14 degrees Celsius below zero. Summers are hot, but not as extreme as in some other parts of Spain.
Mainar's History
Mainar existed before the 12th century. The first time Mainar is mentioned in history is when King Alfonso the Battler and Pamplona helped people move back into the area.
From 1248 until 1833, Mainar was part of the Community of Daroca Villages. This was a group of towns that shared a common history and faced similar events.
The town was affected by the Carlist Wars in the 19th century. These were civil wars in Spain, and the mountains around Mainar were good places for fighters to hide. Mainar also experienced difficulties during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939).
More recently, Mainar became part of a new regional area called Campo de Daroca. The mayor of Mainar for a very long time has been Esmeraldo Marzo. He has been mayor since 1979, staying in power through many changes in government.
Places to See
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The most important building is the Parish Church of Santa Ana. It was built in the 16th century. It has one of the best Moorish-style towers in Aragon, which is a beautiful type of architecture. Inside, you can see old altarpieces from the 17th and 18th centuries, and statues from the 15th and 16th centuries. Some valuable pieces were taken from the church in the 1980s, but luckily, some of them were later found and brought back.
You can also find several old stone crosses called "peirones," like the peirón San Antón and the peirón of the Virgin of Pilar. There is also the hermitage of San Andrés, and the ruins of the Romanesque hermitage of Santo Domingo. You can even see some very old Celtic ruins and a Roman bridge that dates back to the 2nd century AD!
Famous People
- Felix Monge, a linguist (someone who studies language).
- Lamberto Funes, a musician.
- Joaquín Gómez "El Chato", a musician.
Local Government
The mayor of Mainar has been Esmeraldo Marzo Marín for many years. He belongs to the Aragonese Party (PAR). Here's a list of his terms as mayor:
- Esmeraldo Marzo Marín (UCD): 1979-1983
- Esmeraldo Marzo Marín (PAR): 1983-1987
- Esmeraldo Marzo Marín (PAR): 1987-1991
- Esmeraldo Marzo Marín (PAR): 1991-1995
- Esmeraldo Marzo Marín (PAR): 1995-1999
- Esmeraldo Marzo Marín (PAR): 1999-2003
- Esmeraldo Marzo Marín (PAR): 2003-2007
- Esmeraldo Marzo Marín (PAR): 2007-2011
- Esmeraldo Marzo Marín (PAR): 2011-2015
- Esmeraldo Marzo Marín (PAR): 2015- Today
See also
In Spanish: Mainar para niños
