Soto del Real

Soto del Real
Municipality

Coat of arms
Soto del Real

Location in Spain

Coordinates: 40°45′15″N 3°47′0″W / 40.75417°N 3.78333°W / 40.75417; -3.78333Coordinates: 40°45′15″N 3°47′0″W / 40.75417°N 3.78333°W / 40.75417; -3.78333
Country  Spain
Autonomous community  Madrid
Province Madrid
Comarca Cuenca Alta del Manzanares
Judicial district Colmenar Viejo
Founded See text
Government
  Mayor Juan Lobato Gandarias (PSOE)
Area
  Total 42.17 km2 (16.28 sq mi)
Elevation 921 m (3,022 ft)
Highest elevation 2,119 m (6,952 ft)
Lowest elevation 890 m (2,920 ft)
Population (2009)
  Total 8,294
  Density 200/km2 (510/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Sotorrealeño, ña
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 28791
Dialing code 847
Official language(s) Spanish
Website Official website

Soto del Real, whose former name was Chozas de la Sierra, is a town and municipality in the northern area of the autonomous Community of Madrid which had 8,294 inhabitants in 2009.

43 kilometers away from Madrid, the capital city, it is located between the towns of Manzanares el Real and Miraflores de la Sierra, and close to the Santillana reservoir.

History

The first evidence of settlements in Soto del Real dates from the 10th century, with archeological remains of houses and ceramics attributed to shepherds.

During the 13th century the area encompasing Colmenar Viejo, Chozas de la Sierra and Porquerizas (Miraflores de la Sierra) was a source of legal conflict between the provinces of Madrid and Segovia, with John I of Castile incorporating Chozas to the municipality of El Real de Manzanres in 1389.

In 1568 Philip II of Spain exempted Chozas from El Real de Manzanares.

The name Soto del Real has been in use since a 1959 vote in which the local population chose the name over Alameda de la Sierra or its historic one, Chozas de la Sierra. The town's coat of arms makes reference to both of the town's names.

Soto makes reference to the numerous trees and forests surrounding (in Spanish Sotos), del Real referring to its historical ties to El Real de Manzanares from 1389 till 1568.

Festivities

The first weekend of August Soto del Real celebrates its festivities in honour of the Virgen del Rosario (Our Lady of the Rosary), patron of the municipality.

The 7th of October, day of the Virgin of the Rosary, is also celebrated, as is the 15th of May, day of San Isidro

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 4/25/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.