Puntos de Interés
Municipality
Villarino de los Aires
Villarino de los Aires (from villar, village, together with the diminutive leonese-inu) is a town and municipality in Salamanca situated where the Duero and the Tormes meet, known as Ambasguas, flanked by two riverbeds and bordering on both sides with Zamora and Portugal.
A significant proportion of its surface area is encompassed by the Arribes del Duero Natural Park, which serves as a gateway to the southernmost region of this natural space.
As is the case with numerous other settlements in the region, Villarino was established because of the Christian repopulation programme initiated by the Kingdom of León on this side of the Duero River. This initiative, which commenced at least as early as the 13th century, was initially overseen by the council of Ledesma. By the end of the Middle Ages, Villarino de los Aires had become one of the most prosperous enclaves in the region, largely due to its expansion through the purchase of land and the increase in its population. This growth was largely driven by the cultivation of olive trees (Olea europaea) and vines (Vitis vinifera). However, as would be expected of most Castilian villages, by the end of the 19th century, and with the advent of industrialisation, Villarino's population began to decline. This trend was reversed in the middle of the last century with the construction of the Almendra reservoir, but above all with the hydroelectric power station that was to be built just a few metres from the town. A significant proportion of the workforce that arrived at that time would ultimately settle permanently in two adjacent settlements, which would subsequently be transformed into neighbourhoods. Nevertheless, Villarino was unable to reverse the negative demographic trend.
The historic streets of the region are imbued with the essence of its people, the microclimate of Los Arribes and the tradition of the sub-region of La Ribera. The typical riverside house is characterised by an exposed lime or granite masonry façade and a balcony protruding from the first floor. This architectural feature is regarded as the most characteristic component of this style. It is not uncommon to observe balconies adorned with floral motifs and the inclusion of various furnishings beneath them. Amongst the distinctive architectural features of Villarino is the Parish Church of Santa María la Mayor, which was constructed from a smaller 13th-century temple. The church underwent a series of renovations, resulting in a complex architectural composition that incorporates elements from various historical periods, including Romanesque, late Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles.
A peculiarity of the Villarino locals is that they have a rich repertoire of legends and pagan beliefs that they combine with their religious devotion. It is common to find laurel (Laurus nobilis), Apollo’s plant, protecting the houses from the vileness of the witches who, according to legend, lived and celebrated covens in the Zarapaya valley. In 1591, there is evidence of the burning of witches in Villarino, which was officially declared a village of witches by the Inquisition. Against this malevolent force, the village placed its trust in San Juan de Sahagún, who had previously saved the village from a plague of aphids. This is the reason why the bonfire of San Juan is held every 12 June in Villarino, in honour of this saint, rather than the traditional night of the 24th. The village's patron saint is San Roque, whose festivities commence in the second week of August with bull runs in the village square. The festive panorama is ended on Easter Monday, when the Día del Hornazo is celebrated, and on 10 July, when San Cristóbal is honoured.