San Quirce de Riopisuerga facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
San Quirce de Riopisuerga
|
|
---|---|
![]() View of the Ermita del Cristo Santo, 1982
|
|
Country | Spain |
Autonomous community | ![]() |
Province | ![]() |
Municipality | Alar del Rey |
Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
San Quirce de Riopisuerga is a small village located in Spain. You can find it at the base of the Cantabrian Mountains. This area is in the northern part of the province of Palencia, within the region of Castile and León. In 2020, about 51 people lived there.
Contents
About San Quirce
In 2006, San Quirce de Riopisuerga had 115 residents. It is only about 3 kilometers south of Alar del Rey, which is the main town of its municipality. The village is also close to the Canal de Castilla, a historic waterway. Major roads and railway lines also pass nearby.
A Look Back: History of San Quirce
San Quirce has a long and interesting history. It was once part of a larger area called Cuevas de Amaya in Villadiego. This region was one of fourteen places that made up the Province of Burgos. From 1785 to 1833, the village was under the control of the Dukes of Frías. You can even see a symbol from the Duke's family on the town's coat of arms.
How San Quirce Got Its Name
The name San Quirce first appeared in records in 1181. King Alfonso VIII mentioned it as "in sancto Quirico." The name "Quirce" comes from Saint Cyricus. It means "sir" or "lord" in Greek. Another way to say this name is Ciriaco.
Ancient Times: Early Settlers
Like many old towns, San Quirce is built near rivers. People lived in this area a very long time ago, even in the Middle Pleistocene period. This is known from digs at a place called "Los Llanos." Here, archaeologists found old tools and carved stones. These findings suggest that a fortress once stood on a nearby hill. This fortress was a meeting point for different ancient groups, including the Cantabrian, Vaccaei, and Turmodigi peoples.
The Monastery and Its Influence
San Quirce began as a settlement protected by a monastery. This monastery was dedicated to Saints Cyricus and Julitta. In 1181, King Alfonso VIII gave the monastery to the Monastery of Santa María la Real in Aguilar de Campoo. This made San Quirce a priory, which is like a smaller monastery, connected to the abbey of Santa María de Sotovellanos. Today, you can still see parts of the old monastery walls and garden. The Romanesque entrance to the current Church of San Miguel is also from this time.
Changes Over Time
In 1842, a census showed that San Quirce had 77 homes and 310 residents. However, by 2018, the number of homes had dropped to 57. In 1973, San Quirce officially became part of the municipality of Alar del Rey. At this time, it also moved from the province of Burgos to the province of Palencia.
Population Changes
The table below shows how the number of people living in San Quirce has changed over many years.
1842 | 1857 | 1860 | 1877 | 1887 | 1897 | 1900 | 1910 | 1920 | 1930 | 1940 | 1950 | 1960 | 1970 | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
310 | 499 | 493 | 460 | 466 | 480 | 503 | 490 | 526 | 581 | 594 | 683 | 604 | 406 |
See also
In Spanish: San Quirce de Riopisuerga para niños