Viniegra de Abajo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Viniegra de Abajo
Municipality
Location in La Rioja
Viniegra de Abajo Location in La Rioja, Spain Show map of La Rioja, Spain Viniegra de Abajo Location in Spain Show map of Spain
Country	Spain
Province	La Rioja
Comarca	Anguiano
Area
• Total	30.9 km2 (11.9 sq mi)
Population  (2018)
• Total	78
Time zone	UTC+1
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Area code(s)	34 (Spain) + 941 (La Rioja)
Website	www.lasviniegras.es

Viniegra de Abajo is a small town, also called a municipality, in La Rioja, Spain. It's located between two areas: the Camero Nuevo and the Sierra de la Demanda. This region is known as the High Najerilla.

The Urbión river flows through Viniegra de Abajo. This river starts in the Picos de Urbión, which are mountains found right within the town's area.

Population Changes Over Time

This section looks at how the number of people living in Viniegra de Abajo has changed.

• In the early 1900s, the population was around 400 to 500 people.
• Over the years, the number of residents slowly decreased.
• By 1981, it had dropped to 113 people.
• In 2000, the population was 121.
• As of 2018, there are 78 people living in Viniegra de Abajo.

This information comes from the National Institute of Statistics of Spain.

A Look at History

Viniegra de Abajo has a long history! People found old tombs and a Visigothic (an ancient European group) burial site right in the town. This shows that the town was founded a very long time ago.

In 1366, the town was known as Viniegra de Yuso. It was part of the Lordship of Cameros. A king named Enrique II of Trastámara gave this land to Juan Ramirez de Arellano. This was a reward for his help in a fight against another ruler, Pedro the Cruel.

Later, the town belonged to the counts of Aguilar and Inestrillas. They were the heirs of the Cameros region. This is written in a document from 1751 called the Cadastre of the Marquis of Ensenada.

In 1811, the old system of lordships in Spain ended. Viniegra de Abajo then became a free town in the province of Soria. On November 30, 1833, it became part of the new province of Logroño.

What People Do for a Living

The main way people make money in Viniegra de Abajo is through farming and raising animals.

• People mostly raise sheep, goats, cattle, and horses.
• For a long time, they practiced transhumance. This means moving their animals to different pastures depending on the season. This tradition was very important in the 1500s and later centuries.
• The town also has forests where trees like poplars, pines, and oaks are cut down.
• The rivers, like the Najerilla and Urbión, are famous for their delicious trout.
• Hunting is also popular here. People hunt wild boar and deer, and there are also dove passages.
• People also grow their own food in small gardens near the town. This is mostly for their families to eat.

Fun Festivals and Traditions

Viniegra de Abajo has two main celebrations: one in winter and one in summer. But there are other fun events too!

• San Ildefonso: This is the winter festival, celebrated on January 23. It's a tradition to give out a special bread called "bodigo" to anyone who wants it. There's usually a party with music and dancing in a big tent in the town square.
• Celebration of the Canoes: This event happens on the first Sunday of May. It's when canoeists gather to paddle down the Najerilla river, starting from a place called Sale of the Goyo.
• Santiago: This is the biggest summer festival, celebrated on July 25. On the evening before, a statue of Saint James is brought down from the hermitage (a small church) to the main church. It stays there until the last weekend of August, when it's carried back up in a procession. There's also a big party with music and dancing in the town square.
• Romería of San Millán: In the middle of August, people go on a romería (a religious pilgrimage or outing) to the hermitage of San Millán, which is in the mountains. After a church service, everyone eats and drinks together. On the way back to town, they stop at a place called the Plantation for tea.
• Ascent of San: Usually on the last weekend of August, the statue of the Saint is carried back up to the hermitage. In the evening, everyone in town has dinner together in the square, with music from "the Orquestina."
• Fair of the Cattle: This is on September 9 and is a celebration for cattle farmers. Even though they don't sell animals on this day anymore, the tradition continues.
• Night of the Souls: This is on November 1. During the night, people sing "rosaries" (religious songs) through the streets of the town. In the past, there were two groups, one of men and one of women, but now there's usually only one group because there are fewer people.
• Chozo: On New Year's Eve, a tall pile of firewood is built and set on fire.

Famous People from Viniegra

• Domingo Izquierdo (born 1745): He became a general in 1794. He was known for bravely defending a place called Roses from the French. Later, he was in charge of defending Pamplona and then became a commander in Valencia.
• Martín Matute Pérez (1781-1868): He studied in Gerona and helped the people there by publishing a newspaper during a difficult time. He later became a historian and wrote several books about the history of Gerona.
• José Santos Tornero
• Antón Martín Saavedra

Buildings and Landmarks

• Church of Our Lady of the Assumption: This church was built in the 16th century.
• Hermitage of the Solitude: A small, quiet chapel.
• Hermitage of Santiago: This hermitage is located on top of a nearby mountain.
• Wake of Santa Marina: An old burial site.
• Monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus: A monument also found on a nearby mountain top.
• The Nowi and Roci´s place

Places for Fun and Relaxation

• Pool of the Frogs: This is a place next to the river where people can camp.
• The Fertile Valley: A spot along the Urbión river with a shelter.

Images for kids

• 

  A view of Viniegra de Abajo

• 

  Map showing Viniegra de Abajo in La Rioja

See also

In Spanish: Viniegra de Abajo para niños