San Bartolomé de Pinares
San Bartolomé de Pinares is a municipality located in the province of Ávila, Castile and León, Spain, with a population of 627 inhabitants (2011 census, INE). Only 20 km from Ávila, it has long been important for its livestock.
San Bartolomé de Pinares | |
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View of San Bartolomé de Pinares | |
Flag Seal | |
San Bartolomé de Pinares Location in Spain. San Bartolomé de Pinares San Bartolomé de Pinares (Spain) | |
Coordinates: 40°32′33″N 4°32′33″W | |
Country | Spain |
Autonomous community | Castile and León |
Province | Ávila |
Municipality | San Bartolomé de Pinares |
Area | |
• Total | 74 km2 (29 sq mi) |
Population (2018)[1] | |
• Total | 553 |
• Density | 7.5/km2 (19/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Website | Official website |
Named for St. Bartholomew, the village is often associated with the local Herrerian style church Iglesia de San Bartolomé Apóstol.
The teacher and journalist Juan Grande Martín (January 12, 1914 – November 13, 1981) was born here.
Festival
Each year on January 16, the eve of the festival of Saint Anthony, the town celebrates the traditional Luminarias festival.[2] Purportedly held for five centuries, the origins of the festival trace back to a ritual purification to preserve the health of the horses in the village.[3] Bonfires are lit in the central streets, and horses jump through the flames, with the smoke intended to protect the animals from disease.
References
- Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
- Perez, Sergio (2013-02-01). "Riding through flames and fury". Reuters. Retrieved 2019-01-29.
- Wohlwender, Mark (2016-01-17). "Las Luminarias: a Spanish festival of fire and horses". the Guardian. Retrieved 2019-01-29.