CASTILLA Y LEÓN

GEOGRAPHY

• Encircled by mountains and plateaus on all sides, except at the border w/ Portugal.
• Castilla y león is drained mainly by the Duero River that flows east to west and bisects the region.

CUIDADES EN CASTILLA Y LEÓN

• Palencia
• Burgos
• León
• Segovia
• ☆Valladolid☆
• Soria
• Zamora
• Avila
• Salamanca

Castilla y león is the magical " Land of the castles", as Walt Disney's castle is based off castles here.

LA HISTORIA

• This area takes its name from the many castles built by Christians as a defense against moorish invaders in the 8th and 9th centuries.
• In 1479, Ferdinand of Aragon married Isabella of Castile. They were cousins.
• By 1492, the moors were expelled from Spain.
• Spain's oldest university is located here in Salamanca. It is approximately 800 years old.

MAIN CURRENCY

LA COMIDA

• Cordero Asado is roast lamb and is the most famous main dish of the region.
• Sopa De castillana is a favourite. Which is garlic and bread soup.
• Tapas
• Garbanzo beans are a basic food and main ingredient in Castilian stews. Their stews have cabbage, morcilla (blood sausage) and meat.
• To end the meal, traditional desserts are lazos de San Guillermo (bow-shaped pastries), yemas de Santa Teresa (a sweet made with egg yolk), and virutas de San Jose (fritters)

Saint Teresa of Avila was born in 1515 to a Jewish father. Through her devotion, she led a group of nuns to reform the Spanish church. She spent nine years traveling thru Spain and establishing 12 convents. In 1617, the Spanish parliament proclaimed her the patroness of Spain.

EXPORTS OF SPAIN

• Salamanca is known for exporting beef.
• Segovia is known for their pork.
• Zamora exports lamb, mutton, and goat meat.
• Soria exports rubber products.

LA INDUSTRIA

• Dams in Salamanca And Zamora generate 1/4 of Spain's hydroelectricity.

LAS COSTUMBRES

• Castilians follow the major Christian holidays. Heir Holy Week celebration has about 16,000 people process thru the streets in near silence with hoods on. it is a solemn tradition visited by the world. during the summer COncierto de las VEleshappens on the 1st and2nd Sunday inJUly. tHe electricity is shut down and live music plays in a village by lit candles. They also include events like bull fighting, fútbol matches, and fireworks. Parades in the streets have papier-mâché gigantes, and cabezudos ("big heads" or "fat heads") of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. tHis region holds many pilgrimages-a journey full of churches, cathedrals, and hospitals. Raditions of pilgrimages are a key role in Castillian life.