Chipiona

Chipiona
Municipality

Coast of Chipiona with the lighthouse at background

Coat of arms

Location of Chipiona
Chipiona

Location in Andalusia

Coordinates: 36°44′N 6°26′W / 36.733°N 6.433°W / 36.733; -6.433Coordinates: 36°44′N 6°26′W / 36.733°N 6.433°W / 36.733; -6.433
Country  Spain
Autonomous community  Andalusia
Province Cádiz
Comarca Bajo Guadalquivir
Commonwealth Municipios del Bajo Guadalquivir
Government
  Alcalde Antonio Peña Izquierdo
Area
  Total 32.92 km2 (12.71 sq mi)
Elevation 4 m (13 ft)
Population (2012)
  Total 18,849
  Density 570/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Chipionero, ra
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 11550
Website Official website
Sanctuary of Our Lady of The Rule, Chipiona.

Chipiona is a town and municipality located on the Atlantic coast in the province of Cádiz, Spain. According to the 2012 census, the city has a population of 18,849 inhabitants, but this amount increases greatly during the summer holiday period. The town covers an area of 33 km². Being in the lower valley of the River Guadalquivir it is very flat with a maximum terrestrial height of 4 metres. It is bordered on the north-west by Sanlúcar de Barrameda and on the south-east by the port of Rota.

It is the town of birth of singer Rocío Jurado and where her body now rests.

Chipiona is also home to the tallest lighthouse in Spain and the third tallest lighthouse in Europe. The town is also well known for several varieties of Moscatel.

Places of Interest

History

Antiquity

According to the geographers Strabo (Strabo, III, 1, 9) Pomponius Mela (Mela III, 4), of Ancient Greece and Rome, respectively, a lighthouse existed at the mouth of the Guadalquivir River called Turris Caepionis. This was probably because it was built to instances of the Roman Consul Quintus Servilius Caepion or some of their descendants. The tower acted as a warning for a dangerous place of navigation, and also marked the opening of a navigable river, the Guadalquivir. Traditionally seen in the name of this lighthouse was the name of Chipiona.

This area is further identified as the area in which stood the legendary Ars Gerionis, which was the tomb of Geryon, that stood at the end of a narrow cape that jutted into the sea probably in what is now a reef known as the Stone of Salmedina under Salmedina, or just Salmedina. In all of this there is no more evidence than that of the literature and Roman archaeological findings dating from the second century B.C.

Middle Ages

Legend relates that the disciples of St. Augustine in Africa, fleeing the invasion of the Vandals, came by sea to Chipiona with the image of the Virgin of Regla. Tombstones have been found near the Shrine of Our Lady of Regla from the time of the Visigoths. After the Islamization of the Iberian Peninsula in 711, following tradition, the hermits hid the image in a cistern about thirty paces from the citadel, now a monastery. The picture remained hidden until S. XIV in a religious of the Order of St. Augustine found, through a revelation from heaven. About the cistern was built a Shrine of Our Lady of Regla.

In 1251, Chipiona was conquered by King Ferdinand III, turning to reconquer it indefinitely in 1264 by his son Alfonso X the Wise. In 1297, King Ferdinand IV granted Guzman el Bueno, founder of the House of Medina Sidonia, the Lordship of Sanlúcar, of which Chipiona belonged.

In 1303, the eldest daughter of Guzman el Bueno and Maria Alonso Coronel, Isabel Perez de Guzman, Fernan married Ponce de León, receiving as a dowry the towns of Rota and Chipiona, becoming independent both of the Lordship of Sanlúcar and joining the possessions of the family Ponce de León, germ Arcos House.

Castle of Chipiona.

Modern Age

In 1755, Chipiona was severely hit by the tsunami that was caused by the Andalusian and Portuguese Atlantic coast Lisbon Earthquake. The effects of the tsunami came to town about an hour after the earthquake, killing four people and leaving flooded streets and beaches, estimating the actual damage to 238 815.

He pulled in procession the image of Christ of Mercy to request the withdrawal of the waters, procession that is repeated every year on November, from the chapel that bears the name of Christ to the Cross the Sea

Earthquake Narration by the Community of the Holy Convent of Nuestra Señora Santa María de Regla, on December 6, 1755

In the aforementioned November 1 was not noticed any news from sunrise until 10 day time to be serene, and peaceful day, still and calm sea, North Wind insensitive. But, being as 10am, being this Community as high choir solemnly singing the third hour, she began to feel that the choir, and the church with strange swaying motion and this, as noticeable in the view, that lectern, church lamps, candlesticks from the altar, and all the temple shook and moved to a crib mode, from one side to another side, looking to the North and South.

Advirtióse be a terrible earthquake, and although all the relevant cause fright, and entered the desplomase suspicion that the whole building, which [is] of stone, over us all, lacked the freedom to forsake the choir, tied up all of one impulse, and full of confidence safer Patronage of Our Holy Image, which was patent to the eye in its majestic throne. At the point we bow all knees, and straining our devotion, we continue with the canonical time more consistently.

It would last the tremor as ten to twelve minutes, knowing the land restitution made her pause, and natural stillness, came the Community to take their seats, each recognizing the Divine Mercy, and the patronage of Our Lady of Rule, Our Lady, we escaped the threatening havoc with such happiness that is not the least harm experienced in all areas of the convent.

Cantóse conventual Mass without the least suspicion, and concluded, was sung the sixth hour on the end of it, it would be like the 11 and fourth, there was a terrible roar of the sea, and found to be elevated both waves, violently throwing water on said bastion, and on the cliffs of the convent, were overwhelmed by a gunner, who was in it (which did not suffer any damage, having invoked the patronage of Our Holy Image) , and fell upon the walls of the convent, and running for their flooded trenches surrounded the Church and its 2 sides to enter through the front door of the Farm, looking to the East.

Surprised by this unanticipated boost the ocean, some religious who were outside, and within the choir, acceleration fled to the fields, keeping others in the same choir.

Demographics

Source: INE (Spain)

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
16,200 16,539 16,814 17,127 17,334 17,603 17,730 17,952

Festivities and traditions

Church of Our Lady of O.

Brotherhood. Christ of Mercy. Penitence ago in the day on Friday. The image of Christ of Mercy has great popular support from the Earthquake of Lisbon, in November 1755, in which he took the image of Christ in supplication. This event is reminiscent of the November 1 of each year, as they draw the Christ of Mercy in a procession of thanksgiving. In 2006, the Brotherhood joined the image of Our Lady of Mercy.

Hermitage of Christ of the Mercies.

See also

References

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