Abadiño

Abadiño
Abadiano
Municipality
Abadiño town hall
Abadiño town hall

Flag

Coat of arms
Abadiño
Location of Abadiño within the Basque Country
Abadiño
Abadiño (Spain)
Coordinates: 43°09′09″N 2°36′27″W / 43.15250°N 2.60750°W / 43.15250; -2.60750Coordinates: 43°09′09″N 2°36′27″W / 43.15250°N 2.60750°W / 43.15250; -2.60750
Country  Spain
Autonomous community  Basque Country
Province Biscay
Comarca Durangaldea
Founded Unknown
Government
  Mayor José Luis Navarro Donaire (Abadiño Independienteak)
Area
  Total 36.06 km2 (13.92 sq mi)
Elevation 144 m (472 ft)
Population (2014)
  Total 7,504
  Density 210/km2 (540/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Basque: abadiñarra
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
  Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code 48220
Website Official website

Abadiño (Basque: Abadiño; Spanish: Abadiano) is a town located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, in the north of Spain, about 35 km from the provincial capital of Bilbao. The area of the municipality is about 36 km2 (13.9 sq mi) and according to the 2014 census, the population is 7504.[1] The original name of the town was Abadiano Celayeta.

Geography

Urkiola Natural Park viewed from Abadiño

Abadiño is located on the N-636 road a few kilometres to the southeast of Durango in the province of Biscay in northern Spain. The town is in a broad valley formed by the Ibaizabal and Urkiola Rivers. Livestock farming is practised here on the flat valley floor, and to the south the land rises to form the Urkiola mountain range. The lower slopes are clad in natural woodland of oak, beech and pine, and the higher parts consist of limestone peaks with gullies, cliffs and caves and are included in the Urkiola Natural Park.[2]

Tourism

The town of Abadiño has a number of historic buildings. The Muntsaratz Tower is a good example of ninth century Renaissance architecture. The Sanctuary of San Antonio is a church inside the Urkiola Natural Park.[2] The Astola Manor House was one of the political and administrative centres of the Merindad de Durango region. It was purchased by the Merindad in 1576 and was subsequently used as a courthouse, as the residency of the local lieutenant, as the local gaol and as the district archive. The Gederiaga Complex is on a hill overlooking the town and includes the Chapel of San Salvador. This was an ancient "oath chapel" in which general assemblies of the authorities of Merindad de Durango valley were held; there are twelve stone seats arranged in a semicircle, and nearby is a sandstone cross in the Renaissance and Gothic style dating from 1633, part of a series of crosses in the district.[3]

There are hiking trails, mountain bike riding and horse riding facilities near the town. There are several festivals, the main one being that of the patron saint, Santa Domingo. This takes place on May 12th and the succeeding days and there is much music and dancing in the town. The Festival of San Blas takes place on February 3rd, and at this event there is a livestock fair. Another festival, that of San Antonio, is celebrated on June 13th near his sanctuary in Urkiola.[2]

Notable people

References

  1. Nomenclátor: Población del Padrón Continuo por Unidad Poblacional
  2. 1 2 3 "Abadiño". Basque Country. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  3. "Abadiño". Abadiño and Urkiola. Anteiglesia de Abadiño Town Council. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.