La Guardia, Spain

Template:Short description Template:About-distinguishTemplate:Template other La Guardia () is a municipality located in the province of Toledo, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. There is documented presence since Bronze Age, Romans, Jews and documents since 12th century.

Geography

The municipality is located in the northeastern part of the province of Toledo, and is bordered by several neighboring towns: to the northwest and west lies Huerta de Valdecarábanos; to the north, Dosbarrios; to the northeast, Villatobas; to the east, Corral de Almaguer; to the southwest, Villanueva de Bogas; to the south, Tembleque and El Romeral; and to the southeast, Lillo.

The municipality lies at the top of a hill, approximately 54 kilometers east of Toledo and 84 kilometers from Madrid, along the Autovía del Sur. It belongs to the comarca of Mesa de Ocaña and includes the territories of several now-abandoned settlements: Casar de Redondeo, Daucos, San Cebrián or Cuartos de la Hoz, Santa María, and Villapalomas.

Several streams run through the municipal area, although most remain dry for much of the year. These include the Arroyo Cedrón, Vadeláguila, and Fuente del Madero.

History

Archaeological remains found in this municipality and its surroundings indicate continuous human presence since prehistoric times, with successive occupations by various peoples up until the Roman conquest.

Its elevated position and strategic location along the route to Andalusia have historically granted it particular significance.

Following the Reconquista, King Alfonso VI ordered that the town be taken by the Knights of St. John, to whose Order it subsequently belonged. In 1212, it played a notable role in the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, for which King Alfonso VIII granted it the honor of bearing a blue border with eight golden saltires on its coat of arms, along with the title Muy Leal ("Most Loyal"). Years later, King Ferdinand III donated the town to the Church of Toledo. It was later alienated by Philip II "in favor of the Lords of Guardiola and Bazán."

Population

• 2.329 inhabitants (as Spanish Statistical National Institute) 2006.
• 1166 men and 1163 women.

Geography

• Altitude: 693 meters.
• Latitude: 39° 46′ 59″ N
• Longitude: 003° 28′ 59″ O

See also

• Santo Niño de La Guardia

External links

• Town Council Official Web Page. Template:Webarchive
• Multimedia web of La Guardia, graphical file of the village (with hundreds of pictures and videos)
• History of La Guardia in Guardiapedia.
• History of the Holly Child of La Guardia in Guardiapedia.
• Dictionary of La Guardia in Guardiapedia.
• History of the Holly Child of La Guardia in Guardiapedia.