Viana, Medieval municipality in Navarre, Spain
Viana is a medieval municipality in Navarre that stretches across hilly and plains terrain with varying landscape features. The town sits at an elevation of 469 meters and displays the characteristic mark of a settlement that reflects the land and climate of this region.
The town was founded in 1219 by King Sancho VII of Navarre as a fortified settlement to protect the kingdom's western borders. This founding shaped the strategic role this place would play in the region's history.
The Church of Santa Maria shapes the town's appearance with its intricate stone carvings from the 16th and 17th centuries, and it holds an important tomb within its walls. The church reflects the religious and artistic importance this place held over the centuries.
The town lies along a major route of the Way of Saint James and offers accommodation and food services for pilgrims. Visitors should know the infrastructure is built around this pilgrimage route and therefore well prepared for travelers passing through.
The village preserves its original medieval street layout with a grid pattern that recalls French bastide towns of the Middle Ages. This uncommon feature shows how ancient town planning principles still influence daily life in the settlement today.
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