Salvatierra Berrocal
Berrocal de Salvatierra is a Spanish municipality and town in the province of Salamanca, in the autonomous community of Castilla y León. It is integrated into the Guijuelo region and the Salvatierra sub-region. It belongs to the judicial district of Béjar.
Its municipal area is made up of the population centers of Berrocal, Las Dehesillas and Los Recios, it occupies a total area of 30.55 km² and according to the municipal register prepared by the INE in 2017, it has a population of 85 inhabitants.
It borders to the northwest with Pedrosillo de los Aires; to the east with Pizarral and Montejo; and to the southwest with Guijuelo.
Geography
The municipality is very undulating; formed by notable hills such as Peña Abunacada, Monte Nuevo or Cuesta de la Iglesia; where the town settles on the slopes of these hills; although the culminating point, in truth, is to the northwest of the municipal term, bordering with Pedrosillo de los Aíres; its name is El Carrascal, with a height of about 993 meters above sea level. In this municipality, it is where the Alhóndiga river is born; which is formed at the confluence of the Navalcuerno and Valdelosanchos streams. The municipality is based on a soil of ancient compacted volcanic rocks; such compacted rocks give the form of slate and granite, all dating from the Precambrian and Paleozoic.
The prevailing climate is the continental Mediterranean; with very cold winters and mild summers, with occasional rains. The winds usually blow from the north and south.
Demographics
| Graphic of demographic evolution of Berrocal de Salvatierra between 1900 and 2022 |
 |
Source: Spanish National Statistical Institute - Graphical development by Wikipedia. |
According to the National Statistics Institute, as of December 31, 2018, Berrocal de Salvatierra had a total population of 85 inhabitants, of whom 48 were men and 37 women. Regarding the year 2000, the census reflects 135 inhabitants, of which 68 were men and 67 women. Therefore, the loss of population in the municipality for the period 2000-2018 has been 50 inhabitants, a 37% decrease.
The municipality is divided into three population centers. Of the 85 inhabitants that the municipality had in 2018, all resided in Berrocal, since Las Dehesillas and Los Recios are depopulated.
History
The foundation of Berrocal dates back to the repopulation carried out by King Alfonso IX of León at the beginning of the XIII century, when it was included in the Alfoz de Salvatierra, within the Kingdom of León. With the creation of the current provinces in 1833, Berrocal was integrated into the province of Salamanca, within the Leonese Region.
Economy
The population is dedicated to agriculture and livestock; they grow cereals and chickpeas; and tend sheep and cows.
Culture
Monuments
The church dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption is located on the top of Peña Abunacada; dating from the 18th century. At the entrance to this church, stands a millennial.
Parties
One of the most popular festivities, the visitation of the Virgin Mary to her cousin Saint Elizabeth, is celebrated on July 2 where locals and “foreigners” from neighboring towns gather. At the beginning of August another festival is celebrated.
Administration and politics
Municipal elections
| Political party | 2019 | 2015 | 2011 | 2007 | 2003 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | Votes | Councillors | % | Votes | Councillors | % | Votes | Councillors | % | Votes | Councillors | % | Votes | Councillors | |
| Popular Party (PP) | 57.14 | 40 | 2 | 44,44 | 32 | 2 | 40,51 | 32 | 3 | 42,86 | 30 | 3 | 36,73 | 36 | 1 |
| Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE) | 31,43 | 22 | 1 | 30.56 | 22 | 1 | 40,51 | 32 | 2 | 42,86 | 30 | 2 | 47.96 | 47 | 4 |
| Citizens (Cs) | - | - | - | 30.56 | 22 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| SI Coalition for Salamanca (SI) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 31,65 | 25 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Regionalist Unit of Castilla y León (URCL) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8.16 | 8 | 0 |
| Union of the Salmantino People (UPSa) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2.04 | 2 | 0 |
Transportation
The municipality is well connected by road, the DSA-206 crossing it in a north-south direction that allows access to Guijuelo and Pedrosillo de los Aires. From the junction with this road in the vicinity of the town arises the DSA-216 road that connects with Pizarral and leads to the N-630 road that connects Gijón with Seville, where it can be linked with the Ruta de la Plata highway at the Montejo exit..
As far as public transport is concerned, after the closure of the Vía de la Plata railway route, which passed through the municipality of Pizarral and had a station there, there are no train services in the municipality or in the neighbors, nor regular line with bus service. On the other hand, Salamanca Airport is the closest, being about 50km away.