Puntos de Interés
Municipality
Torregamones
Torregamones is a well-known village and municipality in Zamora, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Duero and Tormes. It is located on the natural border created by the Duero River in this stretch between Portugal and Spain, at the height of Miranda do Douro.
The origin of its name suggests that it was an outpost or tower of the neighbouring Gamones, the meaning of which is none other than that of a type of southern European ornamental plant also known as asphodelus(Asphodelus albus), used in the past during funeral rites and to prepare medicinal ointments for the treatment of warts and eczema.
Evidence of human habitation in the region dates to the Palaeolithic period. The first inhabitants of the area settled in the caves that had been carved out by the Duero River over millennia, such as Valcueva. They later organised themselves into forts during the Neolithic period. A considerable number of archaeological sites have been discovered in the area, including a dolmen at El Picón, which is now only represented by its foundations. With the arrival of the Romans, Torregamones became a strategically important location, situated at the intersection of two significant Roman routes: the Mirandesa and the route connecting Ledesma with Pino de Oro. This positioning contributed significantly to the region's subsequent development.
Centuries later, the town of Torregamones was definitively founded on the site we know today because of the repopulations encouraged during the Middle Ages by the kings of León. From that point until the conclusion of the Portuguese Restoration War, the history of Torregamones was characterised by its position at the border between the kingdoms of Castile and Portugal. The Forte Novo, a 17th-century bastion constructed on the Raya (border) in proximity to Medina do Douro, is believed to have been erected during the period of conflict between the two countries.
The economy of Torregamones has historically been dominated by agricultural and livestock farming. Wheat, barley and rye crops alternate with vineyards that produce the Arribes wines, which have been granted a protected designation of origin. In the livestock sector, the Sayago breed of cattle, one of the oldest in Europe and indigenous to this region, is worthy of mention. Furthermore, in recent times, the influx of tourists has led to the emergence of a multitude of businesses in the town, which provide services to facilitate the stay of visitors and to disseminate information about the town's rich historical, cultural and natural heritage.
Among the numerous attractions of Torregamones, the Arribes de Duero Natural Park, renowned for its canyons formed by the river. The area is also home to a significant number of watermills, particularly along the Moriegos river, which has been designated the 'route of the mills'. Among these, the mills of Los Payeros, Los Domingos, Nuevo, Matarranas, La Azurera and Los Luciés stand out for their remarkable state of preservation. The parish church of San Idelfonso, in Romanesque style, was constructed from stone by an unidentified group of Templars. The chapel of Nuestra Señora del Templo and the Fuerte Nuevo are also worthy of note.
The patron saint of Torregamones is San Idelfonso, whose relic is enshrined in the church that has been erected in his honour. The saint is honoured on 23 January, but also on 26 May, when the saint is taken in procession through the countryside to bless the harvests. Conversely, the Virgen del Templo is the patron saint of the area, with a carving of the saint having been discovered on a threshing floor situated between Moralina and Torregamones. It is said that the village that completed the construction of a chapel in the town centre first would be permitted to take the image of the Virgin. Torregamones was the village that won the longed-for prize. The third weekend of October is marked by the celebration of the Virgin of the Temple, a traditional ceremony that includes processions, the "Baile del Ramo" (Dance of the Bouquet), and a handball game.