# Sayago > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Sayago > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Sayago.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sayago > Source revision: 1348437854 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{About|the Spanish comarca|the barrio of Montevideo, Uruguay|Sayago, Montevideo}} {{multiple issues|{{tone|date=February 2021}} {{more citations needed|date=November 2022}}{{Unreferenced|date=April 2026}} }} {{Infobox settlement | name = Sayago | native_name = | native_name_lang = ln | settlement_type = [Comarca](/source/Comarcas_of_Castille_and_Le%C3%B3n) | image_skyline = | image_alt = | image_caption = | image_flag = | flag_alt = | image_shield = | shield_alt = | nickname = | motto = | image_map = Comarca_de_Sayago_1(Provincia_de_Zamora,_España).svg | map_alt = | map_caption = Location in the province of Zamora. | coordinates = | coordinates_footnotes = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Spain | subdivision_type1 = [Autonomous community](/source/Autonomous_communities_of_Spain) | subdivision_name1 = [Castile and León](/source/Castile_and_Le%C3%B3n) | subdivision_type2 = [Province](/source/Provinces_of_Spain) | subdivision_name2 = [Zamora](/source/Province_of_Zamora) | seat_type = [Capital](/source/Capital_(political)) | seat = [Bermillo de Sayago](/source/Bermillo_de_Sayago) | parts_type = Municipalities | parts_style = list | p1 = [Alfaraz de Sayago](/source/Alfaraz_de_Sayago), [Almeida de Sayago](/source/Almeida_de_Sayago), [Argañín](/source/Arga%C3%B1%C3%ADn), [Bermillo de Sayago](/source/Bermillo_de_Sayago), [Cabañas de Sayago](/source/Caba%C3%B1as_de_Sayago), [Carbellino](/source/Carbellino), [Fariza](/source/Fariza), [Fermoselle](/source/Fermoselle), [Fresno de Sayago](/source/Fresno_de_Sayago), [Gamones](/source/Gamones), [Luelmo](/source/Luelmo), [Mayalde](/source/Mayalde), [Moral de Sayago](/source/Moral_de_Sayago), [Moraleja de Sayago](/source/Moraleja_de_Sayago), [Moralina](/source/Moralina), [Muga de Sayago](/source/Muga_de_Sayago), [Peñausende](/source/Pe%C3%B1ausende), [Pereruela](/source/Pereruela), [Roelos de Sayago](/source/Roelos), [Salce](/source/Salce), [Torregamones](/source/Torregamones), [Villadepera](/source/Villadepera), [Villar del Buey](/source/Villar_del_Buey), [Villardiegua de la Ribera](/source/Villardiegua_de_la_Ribera) | leader_party = | leader_title = | leader_name = | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 1484.6 | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | population_footnotes = | population_total = 9677 | population_as_of = | population_density_km2 = auto | population_demonym = Sayaguese | population_note = | timezone1 = [CET](/source/Central_European_Time) | utc_offset1 = +1 | timezone1_DST = [CEST](/source/Central_European_Summer_Time) | utc_offset1_DST = +2 | postal_code_type = [Postal code](/source/List_of_postal_codes_in_Spain) | postal_code = | area_code_type = [Dialing code](/source/Telephone_numbers_in_Spain) | area_code = | website = | footnotes = }} '''Sayago''' is a ''[comarca](/source/comarca)'' (county, but with no administrative role) in the [province of Zamora](/source/province_of_Zamora) in central [Spain](/source/Spain). == Geography == The ''[comarca](/source/comarca)'' is located at the southwest of the [Zamora Province](/source/province_of_Zamora). The main geographical characteristic is the isolation caused by the [Douro](/source/Douro) and [Tormes](/source/Tormes) rivers canyons. Its borders are, consequently, well defined, specially to the north ([Douro](/source/Douro) canyon separates Sayago from [Aliste comarca](/source/Aliste_(comarca))), to the west ([Douro](/source/Douro) canyon separates Sayago from Portugal) and to the south ([Tormes](/source/Tormes) canyon and [Almendra Dam](/source/Almendra_Dam) separate Sayago from the [province of Salamanca](/source/province_of_Salamanca)). East is the less marked border, which makes communications easy with [Tierra del Pan](/source/Tierra_del_Pan) and [Zamora](/source/Zamora%2C_Spain), the capital city of the [province of Zamora](/source/province_of_Zamora). [Douro](/source/Douro) canyons are especially deep in the stretch shared with Portugal, as the [erosion](/source/erosion) found better conditions to act than in previous zones. That has been the cause for the relatively low relations between the ''comarca'' and Portugal. The canyons have been used to build some [reservoir](/source/reservoir)s along the river in its journey through the comarca: San Román Dam, Villalcampo Dam, Castro Dam, Miranda Dam, Picota Dam and Bemposta Dam (the last three owned by Portugal), apart from the mentioned [Almendra Dam](/source/Almendra_Dam). They all are for electricity production, making Sayago one of the most important hydroelectric areas in the whole country. It is not only the canyons which define the landscape of Sayago. The highlands, where towns are located, form an extended [peneplain](/source/peneplain) with successions of hills and valleys caused by streams that join the [Douro](/source/Douro) and [Tormes](/source/Tormes) rivers. Geologically, the most common terrain is composed by low-quality ground and many [granite](/source/granite) outcrops, with few areas of fertile floor around the streams. The high value of this [ecosystem](/source/ecosystem) has been recognized when in 2002 the ''[Arribes del Duero Natural Park](/source/Arribes_del_Duero_Natural_Park)'' was declared. The Spanish — also known as the Sayaguese — word ''arribes'' refers to the [Douro](/source/Douro) and [Tormes](/source/Tormes) canyons. This area is the home for many endangered bird species such as [black stork](/source/black_stork) and is known for a well-preservation of the native flora. [Holm oak](/source/Quercus_rotundifolia), [common oak](/source/common_oak), [juniper](/source/juniper), [broom](/source/broom) or [thyme](/source/thyme) are some of the species that dominates the flora scenario in Sayago. == History == Human presence is dated since the Prehistoric Age, with examples like the stone boar in [Villardiegua de la Ribera](/source/Villardiegua_de_la_Ribera), few [dolmens](/source/dolmens) or other Yacimientos in municipalities such as [Peñausende](/source/Pe%C3%B1ausende) or [Almeida de Sayago](/source/Almeida_de_Sayago).{{cn|date=November 2022}} But the first human settlement which left any kind of cultural presence was [Vettones](/source/Vettones), a pre-Roman Celtic people, strongly influenced by the [Central Europe](/source/Central_Europe)an cultures. The [Roman Empire](/source/Roman_Empire) also made its mark in the ''comarca'', with the foundation of some towns (an example is [Fermoselle](/source/Fermoselle)) and a net of [Roman roads](/source/Roman_roads) across the area, joining the towns and communicating them with the closest important cities. One of the main [Roman roads](/source/Roman_roads) in the [Iberian Peninsula](/source/Iberian_Peninsula), ''[Vía de la Plata](/source/V%C3%ADa_de_la_Plata)'', touches the east of the ''comarca, and'' helped the [trading](/source/Trade) and the [husbandry](/source/husbandry). Roman steles can be seen in some houses as they have been used as stones in the walls. [Viriathus](/source/Viriathus) was the leader of the [Lusitanian people](/source/Lusitanians) during the resistance to the Roman expansion and was born in a Sayago's hamlet belonging to [Bermillo de Sayago](/source/Bermillo_de_Sayago), Torrefrades. During the [Visigothic Kingdom](/source/Visigothic_Kingdom) in Spain, an own kingdom, called Sabaria, existed in the zone, but it was soon conquered by the [Visigoths](/source/Visigoths) in the 6th century. Middle age passes by without any relevance and the isolation of Sayago begin to leave a deep mark in the character of the ''comarca''. The [Umayyad conquest of Hispania](/source/Umayyad_conquest_of_Hispania) did not leave any remarkable architecture or tradition in Sayago. In contrast, the [Catholic Church](/source/Catholic_Church) dominate the life of the Sayaguese people over the [High Middle Ages](/source/High_Middle_Ages), submitting the towns to a strict regime where peasants had to pay the [tithe](/source/tithe) from what they collect in their respective farms and give it to the [local Church](/source/Catholic_Church). There is a worrying lack of documents about all the period between the 14th century and 18th century. Only few inscriptions about the building of [hermitages](/source/Hermitage_(religious_retreat)), [cemeteries](/source/cemeteries), and other religious points remained in [archive](/source/archive)s. Unfortunately, it was necessary to wait for a bad date, the [Peninsular War](/source/Peninsular_War) between Spain and the Napoleonic France to have any kind of news about the ''comarca''. In its way to Portugal, the ''[Grande Armée](/source/Grande_Arm%C3%A9e)'' went through Sayago leaving awful memories in the Sayaguese people. The [Spanish Civil War](/source/Spanish_Civil_War) also struck the county, with dozens of people killed because of their political sympathies. From then to now, Sayago has experimented phenomena like the [rural exodus](/source/rural_exodus), or the [20th century diaspora](/source/Spanish_diaspora) that has led its population to decrease markedly. First it was attributed to the industrialization of Spanish cities, and now the lack of opportunities for young people is what makes them to move to urban areas. Isolation plays a crucial role in this situation. This could be attenuated by new initiatives like [rural tourism](/source/rural_tourism) or high-quality [husbandry](/source/husbandry) and [agriculture](/source/agriculture). thumb|left|Map showing the incidence of emigration in 1910. Zamora province was an important emission point. == Sayaguese dialect == Sayaguese dialect (in Spanish usually named ''Habla sayaguesa'') is a local variant of [Leonese language](/source/Leonese_language), an old vernacular Romance language used in the ancient [Kingdom of León](/source/Kingdom_of_Le%C3%B3n), and nowadays survives in some areas of [León](/source/Province_of_Le%C3%B3n), [Zamora](/source/Province_of_Zamora) and [Bragança](/source/Bragan%C3%A7a_District) (Portugal). It is really similar to [Asturian language](/source/Asturian_language). It is often characterized as a rustic way of expression, remarked by the Sayaguese people themselves because the historical isolation that affects the ''comarca. Indeed'', during 16th and 17th centuries some Spanish authors ([Lucas Fernández](/source/Lucas_Fern%C3%A1ndez_(musician)), Sánchez Badajoz,) included the term "Sayaguese" to imprint rurality and coarseness to his characters. This use strongly distorts the real nature of the dialect, adding some features or words that are not present in Sayago. The main characteristics that define the dialect are the following ones: * Conservation of the Latin /f/ instead of the /h/ used in Spanish (''facer'' and not ''hacer'') * Double /l/ (ll''ucha'' instead of ''Lucha'') * Conservation of an ending vocal, specially /e/ (''sede'' instead of ''sed'') == Economy == The geography has played an important role in the characteristics of the county's economy. Because of its isolation, only saved by the "Puente Pino" (bridge linking with Aliste county through the canyon) and the two reservoirs of Miranda and Bemposta, that link by road Sayago with Portugal, the development possibilities had been so weak. Farming has been an important activity, but the landscape (especially the common granite outcrops) set important difficulties to concentrate the lands of each owner in one (technique called [Flurbereinigung](/source/Flurbereinigung)), reducing the opportunities to be competitive in [agriculture](/source/agriculture). The dispersion of the properties has to be found in the inheritance methods, dividing the plots between the heirs of each owner. These conditions make the development of agriculture difficult, so these kind of land uses have not gone far from [subsistence agriculture](/source/subsistence_agriculture). [Market garden](/source/Market_garden)s are supported by the local inhabitants to provide fresh vegetables and fruits. Domestic life maintains many characteristics from the [subsistence economy](/source/subsistence_economy), as happens in the majority of the rural areas of Spain. In Sayago this is even a stronger phenomenon than in other counties, again because the geographical isolation that historically delays every forward from the urban areas. For example, [running water](/source/Tap_water) is a relatively new service, there's no gas pipelines supplying the area (people have to use electrical heaters) or the [Internet](/source/Internet) has been really difficult to introduce. It is also common to not have mobile [coverage](/source/coverage_(telecommunication)) except in some elevated areas. == See also == * [Arribes del Duero Natural Park](/source/Arribes_del_Duero_Natural_Park) * [Zamora, Spain](/source/Zamora%2C_Spain) * [Province of Zamora](/source/Province_of_Zamora) ==References== {{Reflist}} {{Authority control}} {{Coord missing|Spain}} Category:Sayago Category:Comarcas of the Province of Zamora --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sayago](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sayago) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sayago?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.