Zalla | |
Settlement Type: | Municipality |
Image Alt: | Zalla town hall |
Pushpin Map: | Spain Basque Country |
Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of Zalla within the Basque Country |
Pushpin Map1: | Spain |
Pushpin Map Caption1: | Location of Zalla within Spain |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | Spain |
Subdivision Type1: | Autonomous community |
Subdivision Name1: | Basque Country |
Subdivision Type2: | Province |
Subdivision Name2: | Biscay |
Subdivision Type3: | Comarca |
Subdivision Name3: | Enkarterri |
Coordinates: | 43.2142°N -3.1311°W |
Elevation M: | 96 |
Area Total Km2: | 31.03 |
Established Title: | Founded |
Established Date: | 12th century |
Population Demonym: | Spanish; Castilian: zallense |
Population Density Km2: | auto |
Blank Name Sec1: | Official language(s) |
Timezone: | CET |
Utc Offset: | +1 |
Timezone Dst: | CEST |
Utc Offset Dst: | +2 |
Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
Postal Code: | 48860 48850 48869 |
Area Code Type: | Dialing code |
Leader Title: | Mayor |
Leader Name: | Juanra Urkijo Etxeguren[1] |
Leader Party: | PNV |
Zalla is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country, northern Spain, 24 kilometers to the southwest of Bilbao. The river Cadagua runs through the city. According to the 2019 census, it has 8,447 inhabitants.
The Zallense people are known for their popular culture and especially for their mythology. In Zalla, superstitions and beliefs in evil supernatural beings, sorcerers and witchcraft were widespread.
The hermitage of San Pedro Zariquete was a pilgrimage center against the evil eye and against demons. Thousands of devotees who believed themselves possessed by evil spirits in search of the corresponding exorcism passed through the year. The rite was to go to the chapel on the day of the saint on a path (while throwing handfuls of salt), and return on the other, so that the evil spirits did not re-enter the disemboweled person.[2]