Montefrío

Montefrío
—  Municipality  —
Coat of arms
Location of Montefrío
Montefrío Location in Spain
Coordinates: 37°19′15″N 4°0′41″W / 37.32083°N 4.01139°W / 37.32083; -4.01139Coordinates: 37°19′15″N 4°0′41″W / 37.32083°N 4.01139°W / 37.32083; -4.01139
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Andalusia
Province	Granada
Comarca	Los Montes
Judicial district	Loja
Government
- Alcaldesa	María Remedios Gámez Muñoz (2007) (PSOE)
Area
- Total	254 km2 (98.1 sq mi)
Elevation	833 m (2,733 ft)
Population (2008)
- Total	6,357
- Density	25/km2 (64.8/sq mi)
Demonym	Montefrieña /o
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	18270
Official language(s)
Website	Official website

Montefrío is a town and municipality in the Granada province of southern Spain. The ruins of a Moorish castle sits near the highest point. Being built midway between the Sierra de Priego and Sierra Parapanda, and commanding the open valley between these ranges, it became one of the chief frontier fortresses of the Moors in the 15th century.

The climate of Montefrío is a continental Mediterranean type. The economy is typically agrarian, with olives the main crop. The relatively limited industry revolves around agricultural processing such as oil and dairy products. The population is reported as 6,688, with 3,337 men and 3,351 women. Near the town is a vast archaeological site known as Las Peñas de los Gitanos, famous for its prehistoric tombs and remains of Roman and Visgothic settlements.

Montefrío's main road (called 'Calle Enrique Amat') has many shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. It leads on to Plaza José Antonio which then leads on to Plaza de España.

Montefrio's primary church is the only round church in the whole of Spain since its recapture from arabaian control.

External links

• Ayuntamiento de Montefrío (Spanish)
• [1] - La más veterana y completa guía de Montefrío
• [2] - Montefrío en estado puro...

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.