Ágreda

Infobox City
official_name = Ágreda, Spain | nickname = Ville of Agreda|

image_shield = escudo agreda.jpg

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| map_caption = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Spain | subdivision_type1 = Autonomous community | subdivision_name1 = Castile and León | subdivision_type2 = Province | subdivision_name2 = Soria | subdivision_type3 = Municipality | subdivision_name3 = Ágreda | leader_title = | leader_name = | area_magnitude = | area_total_km2 = 165 | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | elevation_m = 929 | population_as_of = 2004 | population_note = | population_total = 3215 | population_density_km2 = 19.5 | timezone = CET | utc_offset = +1 | timezone_DST = CEST | postal_code_type = Postal code
postal_code = 48100
area_code = 34 (Spain) + 976 (Agreda)
utc_offset_DST = +2 | location = | longitude = | website = | footnotes = |

Ágreda is a town located in the province of Soria, Castile and León, Spain.

Ágreda is the regional services center in the Northeast of the province of Soria. Its abundant heritage as well as the local fiestas of the virgin, and San Miguel Arcángel attract a large number of tourists.

History

In the current location of the town there was an ancient celtiberic settlement. During the middle age Ágreda became more significant as a strategic border location between the kingdoms of Castile and Aragon, as well as an important center of the arts and handcrafts where Christians, Jews and Arab-descendants lived in peace. Ágreda is therefore known as the town of the three cultures.Saint María de Jesús, born and resident in Ágreda, was a visionary nun and counselor of the king Philip IV. She received considerable benefits from the monarch for this region of Spain.

**Venerable Maria de Agreda (Maria de Jesus) is not a Saint, she is two steps below that level in the beatification process. Also, Felipe IV did not grant special favors to Agreda because of Maria. Though more that six-hundred letters past between the two in the mid 17th century.

Demography

Sightseeing

*Arab wall
*Arab district
*Gate to the Arab district
*Gate of Alcázar
*Church of San Miguel, in the gothic style of the 15th century with a romanesque tower of the 12th century. It also has an impressive 16th Century altarpiece painted by Pedro Aponte and commissioned by Doctor Don Garcia Fernandez de Carrascón (ca 1480-1533), archpriest of Agreda, protonotary apostolic, Treasurer of the Cathedral of Tarazona, personal doctor to Pope Adrian VI and canon of the Cathedral of Toledo, Spain. Doctor Carrascon's elaborate sarcophagus is in a side chapel on the left side of the Sanctuary.

*Church of Virgen de la Peña, romanesque of the 12th century
*Church of Nuestra Señora de los Milagros, 16th century
*Monastery of La Concepción, founded in the 18th century by María de Jesús, where her body rests.
*Palace of los Castejones, 17th century
*Renaissance garden of Don Diego de Castejón.
*Museum of sacred art of Nuestra Señora de la Peña.
*The synagogue, ancient and small church of romanesque style of the 12th century, built over an ancient synagogue.

Economy

Agriculture, stock farming, industry (automotive and engineering), tourism, comerce y services

Personalities

*Venerable María Jesús de Ágreda, writer and nun
*Fermín Cacho, athlete
*María Jesús Ruiz Ruiz, mayor of Ágreda and vicepresident of the Castile and León Government
*Doctor Don Garcia Fernandez de Carrascón (ca 1480-1533), priest and doctor to Pope Adrian VI

External links

* [http://www.aytoagreda.com/ City hall of Ágreda]
* [http://www.agreda-soria.com/ Ágreda on the web, portal about Ágreda]