. It was founded by the nobility in the 14th century due to economic reasons. Its strategic position is determined by purpose. It was founded in order to be a trade center.
Guernica is located on a navigable river. The city has achieved its purpose and it is assumed that the reason may be the possession of the port Suso. This port has contributed a lot to the development of trade.
Architecture of Guerncia
Guerncia was founded in the architectural period that still defines today's city. This form follows the standard layout of a Basque city. It consists of parallel streets intersected by another street. There are small churches placed at the beginning and at the end of these streets. The city remained unchanged until the 18th century.
Guernica was founded in order to provide social support to middle class and to maintain its privileges. This ancient capital is a symbol of honor, resistance and independence of the Basque region.
Today's Government
Local politicians traditionally hold their assembly in the shade of an old oak tree located on top of the hill in Guernica. This oak is called the Guernica oak and it is a symbol of Basque laws that are written in its shadow.
Guernica oak is the place where early democracy appeared (the written laws from the 19th century). The tradition of freedom and resistance to oppression marked the period of Franco's government.
History of the city
Franco was irritated by the Basque resistance and therefore he approved one experiment on the small city of Guernica. He allowed the Germans to make their first air attack on civilian targets in World War II.
Intact during the Civil War, Guernica was a perfect place for monitoring the results of the civil bombing. This experiment took circa 1000 human lives. The attack happened roughly one Christmas Day. Most of the victims were children, women and elderly. Franco's message had been sent. The attack caused bitterness all over the civilized world; Franco accused the Republicans for the attack. However, the world knew that the Republicans or the Nationalists did not have the equipment for that attack. Finding a bomb with German marks gave an explanation.
Guernica as the message of peace
In the spring of the year 1937, Guernica and its victims of war were recorded on the most famous painting made by Pablo Picasso. The painting holds the name of this city.
Today, this city is a symbol of peace and fears destruction and wars. Old Guernica oak is still a symbol of the inception of democracy and the Basque resistance.
Although Guernica is no longer the capital of the Basque country, respect for tradition still remains. Every president of Spain must take an oath in front of the Guernica oak.