San Bartolomé de Pinares

San Bartolomé de Pinares is a municipality located in the province of Ávila, Castile and León, Spain, with a population of 627 inhabitants (2011 census, INE). Only 20 km from Ávila, it has long been important for its livestock.

San Bartolomé de Pinares
municipality
View of San Bartolomé de Pinares
Flag Coat of arms
San Bartolomé de Pinares Location in Spain. Show map of Castile and León San Bartolomé de Pinares San Bartolomé de Pinares (Spain) Show map of Spain
Coordinates: 40°32′33″N 4°32′33″W
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Castile and León
Province	Ávila
Municipality	San Bartolomé de Pinares
Area
• Total	74 km2 (29 sq mi)
Population  (2018)[1]
• Total	553
• Density	7.5/km2 (19/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Website	Official website

Named for St. Bartholomew, the village is often associated with the local Herrerian style church Iglesia de San Bartolomé Apóstol.

The teacher and journalist Juan Grande Martín (January 12, 1914 – November 13, 1981) was born here.^{[citation needed]}

Festival

Rider and horse cross a bonfire during the purifying ritual of the Luminarias festival.

Each year on January 16, the eve of the festival of Saint Anthony, the town celebrates the traditional Luminarias festival.^[2] Purportedly held for five centuries, the origins of the festival trace back to a ritual purification to preserve the health of the horses in the village.^[3] Bonfires are lit in the central streets, and horses jump through the flames, with the smoke intended to protect the animals from disease.