Sejas de Sanabria is a village in the municipality of Manzanal de los Infantes, in the province of Zamora, Castile and León.
The foundation of the nearby monastery San Martín de Castañeda brought about urban and economic development in the area. At the same time, this favoured the repopulation process initiated by Alfonso IX. He awarded the residents of Sanabria a series of rights and privileges which are collected in the document Fueros de Sanabria.
The construction of religious buildings spread under monastic control. The church of Santa Marina in Sejas de Sanabria was built in the end of the 12th century or the beginning of the 13th century. Even though it has suffered several interventions it still conserves its original medieval build.
In Puebla de Sanabria, the town that serves as capital of the region, there is a Romanesque church from the 13th Century, Nuestra Señora del Azogue. Also, one of the best conserved castles in the province of Zamora is located here. It was the residence of the feudal lords from the Medieval times who, in the 15th century, were given the title of Count of Benavente.
The Sanabres Way or the Mozarabe Way runs through this area towards Santiago de Compostela and continues along the route called the Silver Route.
Foto: xibeliuss
