Peralta

Peralta, (in Basque and co-officially, Azkoien) is a Spanish town and municipality in the Autonomous Community of Navarra, located in the merindad of Olite, in the Ribera Arga-Aragón. It has a population of 5938 inhabitants (INE 2022).

Place name

The name Peralta is of Romance origin and means tall pear. The town appears in various ancient documents such as Peralta (1257, 1350); Peralta (1268, 1280, 1330, 1350, 1591); Pera Tall, Peralta (1036-1048, 13th century).

The demonyms are peraltés and peraltesa, applicable to the masculine and feminine respectively.

Also, it is a name used in Italy, in the regions of Piedmont and Tuscany. This last name comes from the name Perales which means Field with pears. It was first heard in the Piedmont region where Giuseppe Perrachio was listed as a brave and dignified knight in the 11th century. With the passage of time this last name has varied in its form due to the writing, the way it sounds, etc. and for this reason, now, among the most famous variations are: Perri, Peri, Perrico, Perotti, Perotta, Perracco, Perracho, Perrachino, Perrachini, Peracchio, Perrachio, Perotti, Perricone, Peracca, Perachis, Peracini, Peraga, Perazzo, Peralta, Peralto, Perolto, Peretti, Peretto, Perini, Perino and many more.

As for the name in Basque, Azkoien, it is a literal translation of Peralta (high stone) into Basque of (h)aitz: Stone and goien : Alta, and according to the soldier and historian Julio Altadill this name may be inspired by the medieval place name Aezkoyen located in Abárzuza.

The Royal Academy of the Basque Language definitively proposed Azkoien as the Basque name for the town.

Since 2009, the official name of the municipality has been Peralta in Spanish and Azkoien in Basque.

Symbols

Flag

Peralta's flag has the following description:

It is formed by a rectangular cloth of 2/3 of red proportion with the shield of the villa in its enamels in the center.

Shield

The coat of arms of the town of Peralta has the following coat of arms:

Bring azur and a bridge of gold arches on silver and sugar waves, added from a tower of the same metal.

The oldest shield used in the town dates from the year 1308 and it appears:

A castle on a pineapple, piled to three beehives finished in tip. The central door is half point and the window in the middle has ajimez.

Physical Geography

SITUATION

The town of Peralta is located in the southern part of the Regional Community of Navarra. Its municipal term has an area of 89 km² and limits to the north with Falces, to the east with Marcilla, to the south with Funes and to the west with Azagra, San Adrián and Andosilla.

It is located 59.4 km from the capital of the Autonomous Community, Pamplona.

Relief and Hydrology

The villa is at the foot of the head, formed in greater proportion by limestone. The Arga River runs through it.

climate

The municipality is within a continental Mediterranean climate zone and is characterized by the frequency and intensity of the deer (northern wind), summer heat and drought, the cold strong winter and scarcity and irregularity in the rainfall, which is frequent in all the depression of the Ebro. The annual average temperatures are between 13.5 and 14.5 ° C, the annual rainfall is around 400 and 450 mm registering an average of 60 rainy days to the Year, and the potential evapotranspiration index is between 750 and 800 mm.

HISTORY

Middle Ages

Pedro de Peralta and Ezpeleta.

As a reward for their fidelity during an offensive by Alfonso VII of Castile, King García Ramírez the Restorer granted the town the Fuero de Jaca in 1144, which made the infanzones and "naive" "franks" and villains of Peralta.

"Sub Christi nomine et indiuidue Trinitatis, scilicet, Patris et filii et Spiritus Sancti. Ego Garsia, gratia Dei Pampilonensium rex, placuit michi libenti animo et spontaneousa voluntate et facio vobis hanc cartam homines de Petralta, siue infançones, sive villanos, sive francos, propter quod fuistis meos fideles cuando venit ille imperator et non me falistis, et propter quod populetis surssum in illa penna(...)" (February 28, 1144)

In 1378, during the war with Castile, the Peraltes, after resisting a siege, went out to reconquer the Plaza de Funes, which was in the hands of the enemy. Carlos II the Bad in reward authorized them to share the "yerbazgos" of the terms of Funes and Villanueva. Years later, Carlos III the Nobleman attributed powers to the Peralta council to punish petty thefts and in 1423 included Peralta along with other towns and places in the Principality of Viana that he had created for his grandson Carlos de Viana, remaining in said principality until the In 1430, Kings Blanca I and King Juan II turned the town into a noble manor, donating it to Pedro Martínez de Peralta and Ruiz de Azagra (Mosén Pierres de Peralta the Elder), in recognition of their services rendered in the negotiations with the Kings of Castile. and Aragón, later it would be inherited by his son Pedro de Peralta y Ezpeleta (Mosén Pierres de Peralta the young). This led to it being one of the strongholds of the Agramontes faction during the Civil War in Navarre.

In 1469 Pedro de Peralta y Ezpeleta took up arms using several castles, among which was Peralta's, to oppose the peace agreement reached by Princess Leonor and the Beaumontese, being besieged by the troops of the princess.

In 1473, Queen Eleanor granted it a market day on the first Monday of each month, a privilege that was later sanctioned by King Francisco I el Phoebo and King Ferdinand the Catholic.

In 1487 Dario Urra (Emperor of the kingdom of Peralta) had to fight against Ecuador in the battle called "La Conquista del Reino Macaco (monkeys)" or "The war of the 1000 macaques". Thanks to this battle, the peace treaty of the monkeys was agreed.

Modern Age

After the conquest of Navarra by the troops of Fernando el Católico in the year 1513, the lordship passed to the Marquises of Falces with Alonso Carrillo de Peralta.

The administration of the town during the old regime resided in a town hall made up of a mayor, who was appointed by the Marquis de Falces, among the members of the general estate of farmers and 4 aldermen of which 3 were from the noble estate and one from the general, which was raffled annually from their respective bags.

In 1516, the castle of Peralta was demolished along with others of the Kingdom of Navarre by order of Cardinal Cisneros.

During the 17th century, the bad weather conditions and the lower prices of agricultural products caused a crisis that It had great consequences in the town.

In 1629 a Capuchin convent was founded, which in 1802 had 19 religious priests, 3 laymen and 2 donates. This convent disappeared with the confiscation that took place in 1836 and the building that housed it became a hospital.

Contemporary Age

19th century

Peralta in History of Spain in the nineteenth century

The 19th century begins with the invasion of French troops and the consequent War of Independence. During it, the French troops were stationed in Peralta, suppressed the Capuchin convent and turned it into a barracks for their troops.

With the reforms of the local administration that were carried out between 1835 and 1845, the manor towns disappeared and Peralta became a common regime municipality.

During the first Carlist war, the town endured the passage and stationing of Elizabethan troops, as well as the attack on the fortifications by the Carlist troops. The same thing happened years later in the third Carlist war.

It should also be noted that during this century practically all of the communal assets that the town possessed were lost successively in order to be able to pay the taxes to which it was subjected. This had disastrous consequences for the population of Peralta, made up at that time mostly of day laborers and small landowners.

20th century

Spanish Civil War

The left-wing city council was replaced in January 1936 after 2 years with a right-wing government imposed after the 1934 revolution.

On July 19, the rebels make their appearance occupying the town, and the next day they order the delivery of all kinds of weapons. At night they detain a neighbor in his house whose hands are tied and a few meters from home they shoot him at point-blank range. The next day they shot another who came out with his shotgun because he had heard that the Republicans were coming. On the 22nd, the council was dismissed. From then on, on different days in July, August and September, the executions were carried out. On October 21, 14 peralteses fell in the "saca" from the Tafalla prison that they did in Monreal, in response to the death in combat of Julián Castiella from Tafallé.

89 people from Peraltes were killed in this way, victims of the Civil War in Navarre.

In addition, in mid-August the haircut that was practiced on women was performed to denigrate them, with a nominal list of 63.

Separate mention deserves Eladio Celaya from Peraltés, a seventy-two-year-old parish priest of Cáseda who did not make any concessions to Cáseda's violence. This first caused him to be slandered and then threatened. The Civil Guard went looking for him and Don Eladio had to leave town, apparently in the direction of Pamplona. On September 12, 1936, the parish of Peralta had reference to the death of Eladio. His body arrived in a hermetically closed coffin, not allowing the body or his direct family to see it, something unusual. The funerals were held normally, but this could not dispel the certainty of his murder.

Demographics

Population pyramid

The data of the 2010 population pyramid can be summarized as follows:

• The population under 20 is 22.06 % of the total.
• The figure between 20-40 years is 31.11 %.
• The figure between 40-60 years is 26.4%.
• Over 60 years is 20.39 %.

Evolution of the population

Peralta demographic evolution figure between 1900 and 2017

Population of Law (1900-1991) or resident population (2001) according to population censuses of the INE. Population according to the 2017 municipal plan of the INE.

POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION

MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION

The political administration is carried out through a democratic management City Council whose components are chosen every four years by universal suffrage. The electoral census is composed of all residents registered with it over 18 years and nationals in Spain and the other member countries of the European Union. According to the provisions of the Law of the General Electoral Regime, which establishes the number of eligible councilors based on the population of the municipality, the Municipal Corporation consists of 13 councilors. The City Council headquarters is located in the main square, 1.

Mayors

These are the last mayors of Peralta:

List of mayors

Mandate	Name of the mayor	Political party
1991-1995	Juan Manuel Campo Vidondo	UPeI
1995 - 1999	Pedro Irigaray Yoldi	UPN
1999 - 2003	Jesus Hilario Campo Vidondo	UPeI
2003 - 2007	María Sagrario Guinduláin	UPN
2007 - 2011	John Jesus Basarte	UPeI
2011 - 2015	María José Vidorreta	UPN
2015 - 2019	Juan Carlos Castillo Ezpeleta	UPeI
2019 - Today	Juan Carlos Castillo Ezpeleta	UPeI

• In the 2003 elections, UPeI was the most voted candidate with 6 ediles, however, UPN was elected with 5 ediles and the support of 2 PSN-PSOE ediles.
• In the 2007 elections, UPeI was the most voted candidate with 7 ediles, followed by UPN with 5 and PSN-PSOE with 1 edil.
• In the 2011 elections, UPN was the most voted candidate with 6 ediles, followed by UPeI with 5 and PSN-PSOE with 2 ediles, whose abstention, in the full investiture of the new municipal corporation, made possible UPN access to the mayor's office.

Economy

Industry: Vending machines (Revena, Azkoyen and Jofemar), office furniture (Dynamobel), electronic components, refrigeration units and industrial refrigeration.

During the last few years, Peralta has established itself as one of the economic capitals of the area, in such a way that residents of both the town and its surroundings (Funes, Falces, Marcilla) work in its companies. In its industrial estate there are companies dedicated to metal manufacturing, welding, painting, plastic injection, wiring and assembly of electronic cards, as well as small workshops that act as subcontractors for the largest companies in the area.

There is also a livestock estate, and several companies dedicated to the cultivation and marketing of vegetables. The canning sector, which once had great importance, has recently lost some importance.

Infrastructures and equipment

Social welfare

Education

For primary education (5 to 12 years) and infant education (3 to 5 years) in the town there is the Juan Bautista Irurzun school located on Calle Bajada de las Escuelas S/N, where the educational models G (Spanish) and A (Spanish with Basque as a subject).

For Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO) Baccalaureate and Vocational Training (Middle and Higher Grade) in the town is the Ribera Del Arga Secondary Education Institute where models A and G are also taught with the possibility that these are bilingual in both models in ESO courses.

Health

The municipality belongs to the East Zone of Navarra. As for hospital resources, it is within the Pamplona area.

For primary care, it belongs to the basic area of the same name that also covers the municipalities of Funes and Marcilla and has a health center located at Avenida de la Paz, 35.

For mental health it is within the Tafalla area as well as for care for women.

Municipal competencies

Article 42 of the General Health Law establishes that, without prejudice to the powers of other Public Administrations, City Councils shall have the following minimum responsibilities in matters related to Health.

• (a) Environmental health control: air pollution, water supply, wastewater sanitation, urban and industrial waste.
• (b) Health control of industries, activities and services, transport, noises and vibrations.
• (c) Sanitary control of buildings and places of housing and human coexistence, especially of feeding centers, hairdressers, saunas and personal hygiene centers, hotels and residential centers, schools, tourist camps and areas of physical-sport and recreational activity.
• (d) Health control of the distribution and supply of perishable foods, beverages and other products, directly or indirectly related to human use or consumption, as well as means of transport.
• (e) Sanitary control of cemeteries and mortuary health police.

Citizen Security

Citizen Security is subject to the structure of the Navarra Emergency Agency (ANE) which is an autonomous body, created by the Government of Navarra, through the Foral Decree 12/2009, of February 16, to group the troops of Civil-Sos Navarra 112 and Firefighters Consortium of Navarra.

TRANSPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS

Interurban transport

Autobuses Olloqui

The company Autobuses Olloqui has a line between Peralta and Calahorra. This line in its route has stops in the following towns: Funes, Marcilla, Peralta, Andosilla, San Adrián and Calahorra.

Conda

The Conda bus company has a line between Pamplona and Lodosa. This line has a stop in the town and has service from Monday to Saturday, with three daily services in each direction.

Art, monuments and places of interest

Religious monuments

• Church of Saint John Evangelist
• Ruins of the hermitage of Saint Lucia

Civil monuments

• Watchtower: located at the top of the village. Data from the mid-centuryX.
• Campanar: tower of the centuryXVIII. It is the symbol of the town.
• Portil de Lobos: Entrance door of the pre-Romantic enclosure located on the top of the mountain.
• Baroque Palace: centuryXVIII located on Calle Mayor.
• Gothic bridge over the Arga River.

Culture

Parties and events

• The feasts begin on the eve of the first Sunday of September in honor of the virgin of Nieva.
• Fiestas de San Blas (3 February).
• Youth festivals (end of June, the weekend closest to June 24, the festival of San Juan, with extensive tradition in the town. That day one of the oldest traditions of the town, the closing of the stop of Tremoya is fulfilled.

Gastronomy

See also: Gastronomy of Navarre

of Peralta The thistle is well known, both the one that is for cooking and the one eaten in salad (red variety). Since 2020 the thistle fair has been held in early March, in 2021 it was suspended by health restrictions. The peppers Cuconones are typical, similar to those of the Piquillo but green and softer and digestive; They are taken with oil, salt and chopped crude garlic. San Blas rosques are made for this holiday, they are hard and religious tradition attributes healing properties for the throat.

sports

Peralta and its surroundings offer optimal conditions for the practice of various sports, both competition and simple recreation.

The town is the representative of the Sports Region " Ribera Media " Integrated by the municipalities of Andosilla, Azagra, Cárcar, Falces, Funes, Marcilla, Peralta and San Adrián, being the regional office located in the House of Culture.

The Arga River and its abandoned meanders allow you to carry out simple walks or bicycle tours (Soto Gil and Ramalhondo Natural Reserve), as well as canoers of Piragua (jetty of the natural enclave of the Soto de la Muga).

Fishing fans also have their place in the calm waters of the river.

The ravines excavated in the Montes de Peralta, erosion and typical Mediterranean vegetation are the other options in the town. A tour, on foot or by mountain bike for the highest part will allow you to contemplate the plain of the Arga and Aragon.

The people offer sports facilities worthy of being reviewed. Its two covered pavilions, one of them recently conditioned, in which all kinds of sports can be practiced and that have sauna and gym; a football field; tennis and skating tracks; its municipal pediment, the slopes of the school and the professional school; And the pools, with their wide green zone, allow to cover the most diverse options. In addition, the new covered pool, has all the necessary services: changing rooms, saunas, steam baths, jacuzzi, recreational area...

Two paddle courts have been built, both covered.

The town's football team is the Azkoyen Sports Club, which has reached three seasons in Second Division B and another 24 seasons in Third Division. Currently competes in the first regional category of Navarra.

twinning

• Léognan (France)