Vilafranca del Penedès

infobox catalan municipio
location_

province=Barcelona
comarca=Alt Penedès
population=35,864
population_year=2005
area=19.63
population_density=1825
elevation=223
demonym=vilafranquí, vilafranquina

Vilafranca del Penedès, or simply Vilafranca, is the capital of the "comarca" of the Alt Penedès in
Catalonia, Spain. The Spanish spelling of the name, "Villafranca del Penedés", is no longer in official use. It is situated in the Penedès depression on the left bank of the Foix River, and on the main axis of communication from Barcelona to Valencia, served by a RENFE railway line (R4) and by the A-7
"autopista" as well as by the C-243 and C-244 roads to Vilanova i la Geltrú and Igualada respectively.

The town was founded in the middle of the twelfth century as a result of the decline of Olèrdola, which had been until then the main local centre. It was established as the seat of a "vegueria" in 1304. The Corts were held in the town in 1218 under King James I of Aragon, and again in 1358–59 and in 1367. King Peter III of Aragon died while staying at the royal palace in Vilafranca in 1285.

Vilafranca is a centre for the local wine industry, along with neighbouring Sant Sadurní d'Anoia. Other local industries include textiles, metallurgy, food processing and construction materials. It is also an important commercial centre.

The gothic church of Santa Maria and the royal palace ("Palau Reial") are situated in the historic town centre. The latter building from the thirteenth century houses the town museum, with collections of
archeology, paleontology, ornithology, ceramics and sacred art, and a Museum of Wine ("Museu del Vi").Other notable monuments include the church of Sant Joan, the convent of Sant Francesc and a number of old merchant's houses such as the "Palau del Fraret", the "Casal dels Gomà" and the "Casal del Marquès d'Alfarràs".

Demography

Vilafranca del Penedès has grown steadily at the expense of the more rural areas of Alt Penedès, aided by its excellent transport links and by the strength of the local economy (particularly the wine industry).

infobox catalan municipio demography
pop_1900=7749
pop_1930=9822
pop_1950=11,177
pop_1970=17,546
pop_1986=26,433
pop_latest=35,864

Subdivisions

Four outlying villages are included within the municipality of Vilafranca del Penedès (populations as of 2005):
*El Bordellet (9)
*El Molí d'en Rovira (166)
*Perepau (87)
*Les Salines (85)

Motor racing history

Vilafranca del Penedès is part of the long history of motor racing in Catalonia, from 1908-1920 events were staged over public roads from Sitges to Canyelles and Vilanova i la Geltrú, and from Mataró to Vilassar de Mar and Argentona. In 1922 and 1923 the RMCC ran the Penya Rhin Grand Prix over a 9 mile circuit around the town of Vilafranca del Penedès until it was replaced by a short live purpose built circuit, the Sitges Terramar.

References

* Panareda Clopés, Josep Maria; Ríos Calvet, Jaume; Rabella Vives, Josep Maria (1989). "Guia de Catalunya", Barcelona: Caixa de Catalunya. ISBN 84-87135-01-3 (Spanish). ISBN 84-87135-02-1 (Catalan).
* "Enciclopèdia catalana bàsica" (Ed. "El Periódico"), Barcelona, 1996.

External links

* [http://www.vilafranca.cat Official site]
* [http://planol.vilafranca.org/ Vilafranca del Penedés city map]
* [http://www.municat.net:8000/omunicat/owa/mun_p01.dad_ens?via=1&cod=0830540003 Information from the] Generalitat de Catalunya
* [http://www.idescat.net/territ/BasicTerr?TC=3&V0=1&V1=08305 Information from the] Institut d'Estadística de Catalunya