Tarazona

Tarazona is a municipality (pop. 10,667) in the Spanish province of Zaragoza, in the autonomous community of Aragon. It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tarazona.

History

During the Roman era, Tarazona was a prosperous city whose inhabitants were full Roman citizens; it was known as "Turiaso". The city declined after the fall of the Roman Empire, and later became a Moorish town after the early 8th century.

It was reconquered in 1119 by Alfonso I of Aragon and became the seat of the diocese of Tarazona. Construction on Tarazona Cathedral first began in the 12th century in the French Gothic style, and it was consecrated in 1232.

After the death of Alfonso I, Tarazona became a town situated on the frontiers between Castile, Navarre, and Aragon, and was thus of strategic importance.

During the Middle Ages, the city’s population was diverse, and Christians, Jews, and Muslims lived together. The Muslim presence was felt in the local architecture; the cathedral itself was later rebuilt in Mudejar style. The city suffered a terrible crisis when the Moriscos were expelled.

During the War of the Two Peters, the city was occupied by Castilian troops for nine years, and the cathedral was damaged during this time.

In the 20th century, Tarazona became an important producer of matches and textiles, but these industries were replaced by others from the 1980s onwards.

The city is now an important tourist destination with various restaurants and hotels.

External links

* [http://www.tarazona.org/ Comarca de Tarazona y el Moncayo] (in Spanish).
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14452a.htm Article on The Diocese of Tarazona] in The Catholic Encyclopedia.
* [http://www.spain.info/TourSpain/Destinos/TipoIII/Datos+Generales/B/VM/0/tarazona?language=en Tarazona entry] at a travel site.
* [http://www.heritagetoursonline.com/jewish_heritage/tarazona.html "Off the Beaten Path in Tarazona, Spain: Rescuing A Corner Of The Past"] by Walter Ruby, on Jewish Heritage.
* [http://www.donquijote.org/photocontest/rate.asp?id=144&cat=&des=Sevilla Photograph of Tarazona]