Vila-real
Encyclopedia
Vila-real (ˈvila reˈaɫ) is a city in the province of Castellón, in the Valencian Community
, Spain. Located 7 km to the south of the province's capital (Castellón de la Plana
), at 42 m above sea level, it has 51,367 inhabitants (2010 data), most of them living in the urban area that covers about 10.72% of its county's 55.4 km2 surface. Ranked by population, it is the second city in the province (following the capital), and tenth in the Valencian Community.
s in the last century to the manufacturing of ceramic
tile
s, which today is its most important source of income.
It was founded on February 20, 1274 by King James I of Aragon
(hence its name), to strengthen the reconquest of the area, and placed strategically on the ancient Via Augusta
to 65 km from Valencia, and in the outskirts of Borriana
, up to this moment town in hands of the Muslim
s and in whose municipal term was founded Villarreal. It was a real town from its foundation, with representation in the Valentian Parliament and Delegation of the Kingdom and it had the privilege of using like proper ensign the real standard. It was part of the real arm in the Valencian Parliament and took part very actively in the same ones.
The original town surrounded with walls, expanded outside from the 14th century due to the increase of population, in the called suburbs of Castellón
and of Valencia, called later of San Pascual and of Carmen, for there were the ancient Carmelite convent and the sanctum - monastery where the remains of the holy boss rest.
The demographic and economic imbalances that characterize the 15th century were translated, to beginnings of the 16th, in constant conflicts with the Mudejars of the nearby dominions and in a short, but very active participation, in favour of the Criminal slangs.
During the 16th century, the farming land began to be extended and enhanced by drilling wells to obtain water and convert dry land into irrigated fields, making it possible to begin commercial agriculture in the 17th century. After its disastrous participation in the War of the Spanish Succession
, in the second half of the 18th century, the first industries were established, mainly for textiles. Also during that time, the city became involved in various revolts and wars that shook Spanish State.
In the 19th century, the cultivation and trade of orange was introduced, which gave the town great economic progress, led both by businessmen and by farmers' associations or "cooperatives". After the Spanish State Civil War
in the second half of the 20th century, the earnings obtained from the orange trade allowed several entrepreneurs to build ceramic tile factories, as a way to diversify their productive model. This type of industry has continued to expand up to the present day, and it has become Villareal's main economic activity.
, a football club in La Liga
, Spain's highest tier of football.
Valencian Community
The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain located in central and south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Valencia...
, Spain. Located 7 km to the south of the province's capital (Castellón de la Plana
Castellón de la Plana
Castellón de la Plana or Castelló de la Plana is the capital city of the province of Castelló, in the Valencian Community, Spain, in the east of the Iberian Peninsula, on the Costa del Azahar by the Mediterranean Sea...
), at 42 m above sea level, it has 51,367 inhabitants (2010 data), most of them living in the urban area that covers about 10.72% of its county's 55.4 km2 surface. Ranked by population, it is the second city in the province (following the capital), and tenth in the Valencian Community.
Economy
Villarreal's economy has evolved since the days of cultivation and trade of orangeOrange (fruit)
An orange—specifically, the sweet orange—is the citrus Citrus × sinensis and its fruit. It is the most commonly grown tree fruit in the world....
s in the last century to the manufacturing of ceramic
Ceramic
A ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous...
tile
Tile
A tile is a manufactured piece of hard-wearing material such as ceramic, stone, metal, or even glass. Tiles are generally used for covering roofs, floors, walls, showers, or other objects such as tabletops...
s, which today is its most important source of income.
History
James I of Aragon
James I the Conqueror was the King of Aragon, Count of Barcelona, and Lord of Montpellier from 1213 to 1276...
(hence its name), to strengthen the reconquest of the area, and placed strategically on the ancient Via Augusta
Via Augusta
Via Augusta was a Roman road crossing all the Hispania Province, from Cádiz in the southern tip of current Spain, to the Coll de Panissars, where it crossed the Pyrenees close to the Mediterranean Sea, and joined the Via Domitia...
to 65 km from Valencia, and in the outskirts of Borriana
Borriana
Borriana is a commune in the province of Biella, Piedmont ....
, up to this moment town in hands of the Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
s and in whose municipal term was founded Villarreal. It was a real town from its foundation, with representation in the Valentian Parliament and Delegation of the Kingdom and it had the privilege of using like proper ensign the real standard. It was part of the real arm in the Valencian Parliament and took part very actively in the same ones.
The original town surrounded with walls, expanded outside from the 14th century due to the increase of population, in the called suburbs of Castellón
Castellón
-Places:*Castelló de la Plana, the capital city of the province of Castellón, in Valencian Community, Spain*Castelló , a province in Valencian Community, Spain-People:...
and of Valencia, called later of San Pascual and of Carmen, for there were the ancient Carmelite convent and the sanctum - monastery where the remains of the holy boss rest.
The demographic and economic imbalances that characterize the 15th century were translated, to beginnings of the 16th, in constant conflicts with the Mudejars of the nearby dominions and in a short, but very active participation, in favour of the Criminal slangs.
During the 16th century, the farming land began to be extended and enhanced by drilling wells to obtain water and convert dry land into irrigated fields, making it possible to begin commercial agriculture in the 17th century. After its disastrous participation in the War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
, in the second half of the 18th century, the first industries were established, mainly for textiles. Also during that time, the city became involved in various revolts and wars that shook Spanish State.
In the 19th century, the cultivation and trade of orange was introduced, which gave the town great economic progress, led both by businessmen and by farmers' associations or "cooperatives". After the Spanish State Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
in the second half of the 20th century, the earnings obtained from the orange trade allowed several entrepreneurs to build ceramic tile factories, as a way to diversify their productive model. This type of industry has continued to expand up to the present day, and it has become Villareal's main economic activity.
Main sights
Sights in the town include:- Saint James's Church (18th century)
- Sant Pasqual basilica.
- Plaça Major (Main Square), a square surrounded by several porticoed houses built in different periods.
- The City Museum "Casa de Polo"
- Chapel and park of Mare de Déu de Gràcia (Our Lady of Grace).
Sport
The town is home to Villarreal CFVillarreal CF
Villarreal Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. , usually abbreviated to Villarreal CF or just Villarreal, is a Spanish Primera División football club based in Vila-real, a city in the province of Castellón within the Valencian Community...
, a football club in La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
, Spain's highest tier of football.