Guernica
| Guernica | |||
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| City | |||
| Gernika-Lumo | |||
The Oak of Gernika (Gernikako Arbola)
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 Guernica
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| Coordinates: 43°19′N 02°40′W / 43.317°N 2.667°W | |||
| Country | Spain | ||
| Autonomous community | Basque Country | ||
| Province | Biscay | ||
| Comarca | Busturialdea | ||
| Founded | 1366 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Jose Maria Gorroño Etxebarrieta (EA) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 8.6 km2 (3.3 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation (AMSL) | 10 m (30 ft) | ||
| Population (2009) | |||
| • Total | 16,224 | ||
| • Density | 1,900/km2 (4,900/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym(s) | gernikarra | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Postal code | 48300 | ||
| Area code(s) | +34 (Spain) | ||
| Website | Official website | ||
Guernica (Basque pronunciation: [ɡerˈnika]), official and Basque name Gernika, is a town in the province of Biscay, in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country, Spain. The town of Guernica is united in one municipality with neighbouring Lumo, as Gernika-Lumo. The population of the municipality is 16,224 as of 2009[update].
Gernika is best known to those residing outside the Basque region as the scene of the April 26, 1937, Bombing of Guernica, one of the first aerial bombings by Nazi Germany's Luftwaffe. It inspired the painting Guernica by Pablo Picasso.
This village is situated at 10m altitude, in the region of Busturialdea, in the valley of the Oka river. Its mouth is known to be Urdaibai's estuary's heart. Gernika makes border with the following townships:
The town of Guernica was founded by Count Tello on April 28, 1366, at the intersection of the road from Bermeo to Durango with the road from Bilbao to Elantxobe and Lekeitio. The strategic importance of the site was increased by the fact that it lay on a major river estuary, where vessels could dock at the port of Suso.
In time, it took on the typical shape of a Basque town, comprising a series of parallel streets (Goienkale, Azokekale, Artekale and Barrenkale) and a transverse street called Santa María, with a church at each end of the built-up area.
Life in the town became rigidly structured, with the aim being to preserve the privileges of the dominant middle classes. This pattern continued practically unaltered until the late 17th century.
On a small hillock in the town, stands the Meeting House and the famous Tree of Gernika. By ancient tradition, Basques, and indeed other peoples in Medieval Europe, held assemblies under a tree, usually an oak, to discuss matters affecting the community.
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Wikipedia