Puntos de Interés
Municipality
Baniel
Baniel is a municipality in the district of Arcos de Jalón, located in the city of Viana de Duero.
During the Middle Ages, the property was owned by the Community of Villa y Tierra del Almazán, which was part of the Sexmo de La Sierra. Following the dissolution of the Ancien Régime, Baniel was established as a constitutional municipality in the Castilla la Vieja region. In the 19th century, the municipality was incorporated into the municipality of Viana de Duero.
The village comprises a total of eight dwellings, all of which face south to make the most of solar energy. The Gothic church of San Esteban Protomartyr, with its slender tower, stands between the eight houses.
The municipality's primary sources of income were derived from agriculture, with wheat, barley and, to a lesser extent, potatoes representing the most significant crops. Additionally, the livestock sector, comprising sheep, goats and cows, also contributed to the municipality's revenue.
The nearby town of Almazán served as the regional capital, with Baniel residents shopping there when street vendors did not come to the village.
Gradually, residents began to relocate, primarily to Almazán, in search of enhanced economic stability and a superior quality of life that the modest Baniel could not offer. In 1975, the town was left deserted.
The traditional festivities were scheduled for June, but due to the significant workload in the fields on that date, it was decided to change the date. From then on, the Holy Trinity was celebrated on the last weekend of September.
The celebrations, which lasted two days, included the customary activities observed in most Spanish villages: a procession, family meals and musical entertainment. The village tradition was to hold a "gallofa", during which musicians would perform in the village houses and villagers would bring out sweets accompanied by a glass of anisette or muscatel.
In June, a pilgrimage was held at the chapel of the Virgen de Velacha. The pilgrimage was known as the Concordia de Los Ocho Pueblos. To reach each of the villages, you had to cross the Duero in a boat to reach the chapel, displaying their banner.