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San Quirce de Riopisuerga
View of the Ermita del Cristo Santo, 1982
View of the Ermita del Cristo Santo, 1982
Country Spain
Autonomous community  Castile and León
Province  Palencia
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.

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.

Iglesia de San Miguel Arcángel (07)
This is the Gothic entrance of the Church of the archangel Saint Michael.

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.

Demographic evolution
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

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: San Quirce de Riopisuerga para niños

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