Xinzo de Limia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Concello de Xinzo de Limia
Image:Xinzo de Limia Flag.gif
Flag
Image:Xinzo de Limia Shield.jpg
Seal
Nickname: Xinzo
Situation of Xinzo de Limia within Galicia
Parroquias ?
Government
 - Alcalde (Mayor) ? (?)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 - Summer (DST) CET (UTC+2)

Xinzo de Limia (elevation 620 metres; population 3,912 hab.), is a town in the province of Ourense, Autonomous Community of Galicia, Spain. It lies on the important Autovia das Rias Baixas in the fertile valley of Antela, approximately 33 km from Verín and 43 km from Ourense. The Límia (Lima in Portuguese) river passes through the town on its way south towards the Portuguese border.

Xinzo is a town of services and an important stopping point on the main Vigo-Madrid highway. There are several small industries, including a glass factory, and many pig and dairy farms in the surrounding area. The drained lakebed of Antela, once Spain's largest freshwater lake until the 1950s, produces cereals, hay, and especially potatoes. Xinzo is in fact one of Spain's largest producers of potatoes.

There is a legend connected to Xinzo. Several classical authors of antiquity reproduce the myth of the loss of memory connected to crossing the Límia River, referred by them as Lethes or Oblivionis (compare the river Lethe of Greek mythology). In 138 BC the Roman chieftain Decimus Junius Brutus put an end to the myth told by the Galicians when, on crossing the river, he began to call each one of his legionnaires by their names from the opposite bank. Seeing the Límia today it is difficult to imagine this tiny river provoking such a fear.

Xinzo has few monuments but is famous for hosting one of Galicia's most typical carnivals. The characteristic figure is the pantalla, which symbolizes the devil. The pantalla is the guardian of the carnival, and runs through the streets in groups of two or three with two swollen pig bladders in the hands making huge noise. If the pantallas finds a male relative or neighbour of Xinzo de Limia not dressed with carnival clothes, they will take him into a bar, to pay the fee for not been dressed properly, which is a glass of wine.

[edit] External links


edit Municipalities of Ourense Flag of Galicia

Allariz | Amoeiro | A Arnoia | Avión | Baltar | Bande | Baños de Molgas | Barbadás | O Barco de Valdeorras | Beade | Beariz | Os Blancos | Boborás | A Bola | O Bolo | Calvos de Randín | Carballeda de Avia | Carballeda de Valdeorras | O Carballiño | Cartelle | Castrelo de Miño | Castrelo do Val | Castro Caldelas | Celanova | Cenlle | Chandrexa de Queixa | Coles | Cortegada | Cualedro | Entrimo | Esgos | Gomesende | A Gudiña | O Irixo | Larouco | Laza | Leiro | Lobeira | Lobios | Maceda | Manzaneda | Maside | Melón | A Merca | A Mezquita | Montederramo | Monterrei | Muíños | Nogueira de Ramuín | Oímbra | Ourense | Paderne de Allariz | Padrenda | Parada de Sil | O Pereiro de Aguiar | A Peroxa | Petín | Piñor | A Pobra de Trives | Pontedeva | Porqueira | Punxín | Quintela de Leirado | Rairiz de Veiga | Ramirás | Ribadavia | Riós | A Rúa | Rubiá | San Amaro | San Cibrao das Viñas | San Cristovo de Cea | San Xoán de Río | Sandiás | Sarreaus | Taboadela | A Teixeira | Toén | Trasmiras | A Veiga | Verea | Verín | Viana do Bolo | Vilamarín | Vilamartín de Valdeorras | Vilar de Barrio | Vilar de Santos | Vilardevós | Vilariño de Conso | Xinzo de Limia | Xunqueira de Ambía | Xunqueira de Espadanedo