Calatayud

Calatayud - Arabic: قلعة أيوب Qalʻaḧ ʼAyyūb (2005 pop. 20,263) is a city and municipality in the province of Zaragoza in Aragon to shores of Jalón river, Spain. It is the second-largest city in the province after the capital, Zaragoza, and the largest town in Aragon other than the three provincial capitals. It is the seat of the comarca of Comunidad de Calatayud.

The city has the title "Muy noble, leal, siempre augusta y fidelisima ciudad de Calatayud"

History

It was founded by the Romans with the name "Augusta Bilbilis". The site of the ruins of Augusta Bibilis are approximately four kilometers to the north of Calatayud. The modern town was founded by Muslims around the Ayyub castle. Its name came from Arabic "Qal`at 'Ayyūb" = "Ayyub's fort". This name dates from the period when Muslims ruled most of Spain.The ancient inhabitants of Bilbilis moved to the new place and the city was conquered for Christians by Alfonso I of Aragon in 1120.The city was the capital of its own province for three years in the XIX century

ites and curiosities

This city contains the tallest Mudéjar tower of Aragon in the church of "Santa María".

The Muslim fortress is the biggest and oldest of the Muslim fortresses of the Iberic peninsula.

The church of "San Pedro" was named Ferdinand II of Aragon ("Fernando el catolico") and it was there that the first courts of Aragon in the XX century presided.

Calatayud was the first democratic municipality in 1977, because elections were held one day before all the rest of Spain, to prepare for a visit by King Juan Carlos I.

The famous Roman writer called Martial was born very near here.

The AVE high-speed train line from Madrid to Lleida (and eventually Barcelona) stops in Calatayud.

Calatayud had a wealthy and powerful Jewish community traced from as early as the 10th century until the 15th century.

Wine Production and D.O. Status

See Calatayud (DO) page.

ee also

* Spanish wine
* Mudéjar

References

http://www.docalatayud.com

http://www.winesfromspain.com