C A N T A B R I A   U N I V E R S I T Y
 
 
   
 
  TRASMIERA   Trasmiera
The Ribamontán Junta
The Siete Villas Junta
The Cesto and Voto Juntas

The Cudeyo Junta
Map
 
Trasmiera.  
        The Merindad (old-style shire or district) of Trasmiera comprises the land between the Miera basin and the Asón basin. To the south it stretches to Miera and the valley of Aras. Its historic centre is Hoz de Anero, where the Juntas met from time immemorial in Toraya by the church of St mary. By the end of the 14th century trasmiera was composed of five administrative Juntas: Ribamontán, Cesto, Cudeyo, Voto and Siete Villas; and these were later joined by Argoños, Escalante and Santoña. (The Eastern Coast)

This territory has been very important in the history of Cantabria. First, because of the famous stonemasons of Trasmiera, temporary migrants to Castile. In the early 16th century several Cantabrian architects supervised the construction of the most important buildings of the time in Spain: Solórzano, Ruesga, Gil de Hontañón, Maza and Rasines were responsible for such works as the cathedrals of Salamanca, Segovia and Palencia.

Secondly, in the early 17th century Artillery Factories were established in Trasmiera (at Liérganes and La Cavada) which contributed to the maintenance of the Spanish empire through to the 19th century, and this in turn contributed to the development and significance of this area for over a century.

As for the artistic heritage of Trasmiera, the area is rich in 17th and 18th century casonas (noble homesteads); the area´s religious architecture is mostly 16th, 17th, and 18th century, although some churches retain their original medieval capital section. Fine altarpieces can be found in all of them, as in the late 16th century several workshops (at Limpias, Cudeyo and Siete Villas) were established in Trasmiera, attracting many master-craftsmen whose output was very plentiful.

The popular architecture of this district is interesting. Houses are either strung together in rows, or isolated, with whitewashed walls -but leaving bare the stonework on corners and surrounding windows- and well-built entrance arches of stone.

 
   
 
 
   
   
   
   
                             
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