Mañaria

Mañaria
Municipality
Mañaria overview, the quarry in the right
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Mañaria in Biscay.
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	País Vasco
Province	Biscay
Comarca	Durangaldea
Government
• Mayor	Endika Jayo Bilbao (Bildu)
Area
• Total	17,73 km2 (685 sq mi)
Elevation	259 m (850 ft)
Population (2006)
• Total	459
• Density	0.26/km2 (0.67/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Mañaritarra
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	48212
Website	Official website

Mañaria (both in Basque and Spanish) is an elizate, town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the Basque Country, Spain. Mañaria is part of the comarca of Durangaldea and has a population of 459 inhabitants as of 2006 according to the Spanish National Statistics Institute.

As happens with most of the elizates, little is known about the early history of the town and its foundation. Prehistoric deposits of Magdalenian and Neolithic origin have been found in the caves of Silibranka, Kobazar and Atxuri, among others. A Visigoth liturgical vase of the 7th Century has also been found.

Mañaria was part of the merindad of Durango, and it had voice and right to vote in the Juntas of Guerendiaga, where it occupied the seat number four. On the 18th Century the construction of the Royal Road connecting the city of Vitoria with the coast of Biscay going through Urkiola meant the realignment of the town's location, making it the central axis of the municipality. Since mid 18th Century and during the entire 19th Century, Mañaria lived a period of splendor because of the exploitation of its quarries. The church is extended, and the school, the Basque pelota fronton, the tower of the clock and the cemetery are built.

Mañaria is located in the southeastern part of the province of Biscay, which is located in northern Spain. It limits at north with the municipalities of Izurtza and Durango, at west with Dima and at east and south with Abadiño.