Manchones

Situation

Manchones is a small settlement situated at the base of a hill in the valley of the river Jiloca, between Calatayud and Daroca. The pueblo lies on an ancient route between the Meseta Central, the Ebro and the coast of the Levante, which was certainly established in Roman times.

History

Prehistoric remains have been found in the area and there is some evidence of Celtiberian settlement in Manchones. It has been suggested that the name of the pueblo derives from mancusos, gold coins in circulation in Aragon during the 11th century.

Diego López de Lobera, who served under Alfonso the Battler during the Reconquista, was given the castle of Manchones in 1152. In 1248, by grant from Jaime I of Aragon, Manchones was freed from its dependence on Daroca, becoming part of the Community of Daroca Villages, which was dissolved in 1838.

Fiestas

The festivities in honour of St. Vincent and St. Paul are held in the last weekend of January, coinciding with the feast of St. Valero in Zaragoza, while those in honour of San Roque usually last five days, ending with the feast of the saint on 16 August. On August 15 they celebrate with a pilgrimage and a feast in the town square.

Buildings

The parish church of the Conversion of St Paul was built in the eighteenth century on the site of a medieval church and was restored in 2004–2005. Its chapel is dedicated to the Virgen del Pilar which contains a late 17th-century baroque reredos. A 15th century wooden crucifix is housed in the sacristy.

Surviving remains of defensive walls and towers indicate that Manchones was part of the defensive system for Daroca.

Famous residents

• Jesús Ángel Bernal Julián – actor and founder of Teatro de la Estación in Zaragoza.
• Antonio Palacios Rodrigo – (1932–1958) bullfighter.
• José Luis Roca Millán – (born 1934) past president of the Spanish Football Federation.

References

References

1. (2011). "Manchones". Comarca del Campo de Daroca.
2. (2011). "Manchones, Zaragoza". Instituto Nacional de Estadística. (Spanish Statistical Institute).
3. (2011). "Camino del Cid: Manchones". caminodelcid.org.
4. "Río Jiloca". Centro de Cálculo de la Universidad de Zaragoza.
5. Crespo Vicente, Pascual. (2007). "El baile procesional de Munébrega en honor de San Cristóbal. El Ton de San Cristóbal". Cuadernos.
6. Corral Lafuente, José Luis. (2007). "Daroca y su Comunidad". Comarca de Daroca.
7. (2011). "Manchones". xiloca.com.
8. (2011). "Manchones – Comarca de Campo de Daroca". Turismo en Aragón - RedAragon.com.
9. (2009). "Gótica". Comarca de Campo de Daroca.
10. (2011). "Bernal Julián, Jesús Ángel". xiloca.com.
11. Staff. (27 April 2008). "Toreros aragoneses - Página de voz - Gran Enciclopedia Aragonesa OnLine". DiCom Medios SL.
12. Staff. (30 November 1984). "Los seis candidatos". ELPAÍS.com.