Last modified: 2014-12-29 by ivan sache
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![[Flag]](../images/e/es-le-ai.gif)
Flag of Alija del Infantado - Image by Antonio Gutiérrez (VexiLeón website), 18 June 2011
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The municipality of Alija del Infantado (843 inhabitants in 2010; 5,231 ha; municipal website) is located in the south of León Province, on the border with Zamora Province, 70 km of León. The municipality is made of the villages of Alija del Infantado (capital), Navianos de la Vega (139 inh.) and La Nora del Río (102 inh.).
Alija del Infantado, originally named Alija de los Melones, took its
present name in 1960. Alija is the first Leonese village on the Silver
Way, the old Roman causeway linking M&ecute;rida and Astorga.
The Dukes of the Infantado were the last lords of the feudal domain of
Alija, which included the villages of Genestacio, La Nora, Coomonte,
Bécares, Ozaniego, La Vizana, Ribarroya, Carpurias and Pobladura del
Valle. The castle of Alija, already mentioned in 931, was rebuilt
several times. On 29 December 1808, the English troops bombed the
Vizana bridge and set up fire to the town and castle of Alija, because
Pedro Alcántara de Toledo Salm, Duke of the Infantado, had taken the party of Joseph Bonaparte. In 1809, the duke took the Spanish party and was
appointed commander of the Corps of the Central Army, and, subsequently, Minister, by King Ferdinand VII. Rebuilt once again, the castle was abandoned in 1887 following another blaze that had ruined it.
Ivan Sache, 18 June 2011
The flag (photo, Town Hall) and arms of Alija del Infantado are prescribed by a Decree
adopted on 23 December 1992 by the Provincial Government of León,
signed on 20 May 1993 by the Mayor, and published on 28 May 1993 in
the official gazette of Castilla y León, No. 100 (text).
The symbols are described as follows:
Flag: Rectangular, with proportions 2:3, made of two triangles formed by the diagonal running from the lower hoist to the upper fly, the triangle at hoist white, [the triangle at fly red]. In the middle of the flag is placed the municipal coat of arms.
Coat of arms: Per fess, 1a. A castle argent masoned sable port and windows azure, 1b. Argent a garb of three spikes vert. 2. Azure a three-arched bridge argent on waves argent and azure. The shield surmounted by a Royal Spanish crown.
The castle represents the castle-manor of Alija del Infantado. The spikes recall that agriculture is the main source of income in the village. The bridge represents the Vizana bridge.
Ivan Sache, 18 June 2011
