Puntos de Interés
Municipality
Madridanos
The etymology of the term "Madridanos" is closely aligned with that of the city of Madrid. Some authors posit that this settlement may have been established in the year 932 by Mozarabs, Christians who had settled in the territory of Al-Andalus and who subsequently relocated from Madrid following the conquest of the city by the troops of Ramiro II of León.
Nevertheless, the area currently encompassed by the municipality of Madridanos was populated long before that period. Celtiberian communities, such as the Vacceans, are known to have settled on the banks of the Duero. This is evidenced by the hillfort discovered near Madridanos, which is known as the Viso hillfort. The Iron Age site is situated in the vicinity of the Bamba annexe on a conical hill. According to some historians, this may have been the pre-Roman city of Arbucala, which was besieged at the end of the 3rd century BC by the troops of the Carthaginian Hannibal Barca during his campaign for control of Hispania. The site has been designated an archaeological site of cultural interest since 2013.
After the region of Madridanos, the landscape undergoes a sudden and significant transformation, giving way to the replacement of holm oak groves and unirrigated crops with irrigated plantations. Crops of maize (Zea mays), sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) are interspersed with vast fields of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) in the summer months. The inhabitants of Madrid are dedicated to maintaining the optimal conditions for their crops, as most residents derive their livelihood from the countryside, particularly from this form of agriculture that is so dependent on the Duero river. Since 2012, Madridanos has been engaged in an experimental project dedicated to organic farming. This project is designed to facilitate the transition to a more modern model of farming that is committed to tradition. The "Madridanos" Farm maintains a livestock reserve comprising three indigenous breeds native to Zamora: the Alistana-Sanabresa cattle breed, the Sayaguesa breed, and the Zamorano-Leonesa donkey breed.
In addition to its rich archaeological heritage, Madridanos is home to several emblematic buildings and stately homes that exemplify traditional architectural styles. However, the most notable edifice is situated on the periphery, at the intersection with the route leading to the Castro del Viso. This is the parish church of San Esteban. The church contains several valuable artefacts, including an 18th-century Gothic altarpiece with Baroque paintings. The oldest pieces in the church are an image of San Roque from the 16th century and a crucifix from the same period. On the main altar, there are carvings of San Joaquín and Santa Ana, with a San Antonio de Padua from the 18th century. The chapel houses several side altars, each bearing the figure of a saint. These include Santa Teresa de Jesús, San Isidro, San Atilano, San Idelfonso, San Antonio Abad and Santa Águeda.
The festivities of Madridanos are held during the first week of August in honour of San Esteban. In common with the inhabitants of other villages in the area, the inhabitants of Madridanos embark on pilgrimages to the hill of El Viso at the end of May. According to legend, the Virgin of Aviso appeared to a shepherd there, instructing him to locate the remains of San Idelfonso.