Alcoy
Alcoy (Spanish)
Alcoi (Valencian)
Municipality
Panoramic view of Alcoy, Alicante Province
Panoramic view of Alcoy, Alicante Province
Flag of Alcoy
Flag
Coat of arms of Alcoy
Coat of arms
Alcoy is located in Spain
Alcoy
Alcoy
Location in Spain
Coordinates: 38°41′54″N 0°28′25″W / 38.69833°N 0.47361°W / 38.69833; -0.47361
Country Spain
Autonomous community Valencian Community
ProvinceAlicante
ComarcaAlcoià
Judicial districtAlcoy
Government
 • MayorAntonio Francés Pérez (2011) (PSOE)
Area
 • Total129.86 km2 (50.14 sq mi)
Elevation
562 m (1,844 ft)
Population
 (2018)[1]
 • Total58,977
 • Density450/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
DemonymsAlcoyan
•alcoià, -ana (va)
•alcoyano, -na (es)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
03801-03804 and 03818
Official language(s)Valencian and Spanish
WebsiteOfficial website

Alcoy[lower-alpha 1] (Valencian: Alcoi)[lower-alpha 2] is an industrial and university city, region and municipality located in the Valencian Community, Spain. The Serpis river crosses the municipal boundary of Alcoy. The local authority reported a population of 61,135 residents in 2018.[2][3] [4]

History

The first traces of human presence in the area date to c. 60,000 years ago, when Neanderthal hunters settled here, in a site now called El Salt.[5] A site with rock paintings, dating to c. 10,000/6,500 years ago, has been discovered near la Sarga. From around the mid-3rd millennium BC people started to move from the caves to the plain where cereals were grown, while mountain fortifications were erected (Mola Alta de Serelles, Mas del Corral, Mas de Menente, El Puig).

After the Roman conquest of the Iberians, several rural villas were built in the area, as well as a necropolis. The town was established in 1256 by James I of Aragon, with the construction of a castle on a strategic position over the Serpis river, to secure the southern frontier of the Kingdom of Valencia during the Reconquista.

In 1291 the town was donated by King James II of Aragon to the Sicilian admiral Roger of Lauria; it did not return to royal possession until 1430.

During the War of Spanish Succession, Alcoy sided for the cause of archduke Charles, and was therefore besieged and stripped of numerous privileges, which started a period of decline.

In 1873 the workers of Alcoy revolted in the Petroleum Revolution.

Main sights

Many outdoor rock paintings exist in Alcoy, and there are some ruins of an Iberian settlement with fragments of Greco-Roman pottery.

Iglesia Santa Maria of Alcoy

Buildings with an artistic or historical interest in the city include:

Museums

Natural parks

Economy

Alcoy has important industries related to textile, paper, food and metal. Furthermore, Alcoy has many factories that manufacture matches. Today, Alcoy is the financial, commercial and cultural center of the surrounding area.

Celebrations

Alcoy hosts the oldest Cavalcade of Magi in the world. The Jesuset del Miracle is commemorated on the last day of January. The most important touristic celebration is Moros i Cristians, in April.

Sport

The local football club CD Alcoyano is famous across Spain for a proverbial match in which they were facing a very adverse score. When the referee was about to close, the Alcoyano players kept asking for more time to score back and reach a draw.[6] Thus the phrase tener más moral que el Alcoyano ("to have greater morale than Alcoyano") ponders an undefatigable person. Currently, they play in the Segunda División B at El Collao Stadium.

The city is also home to PAS Alcoy, a Spanish roller hockey club, which plays in the OK Liga, the first division of roller hockey in Spain.

Notable residents

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Spanish pronunciation: [alˈkoj]
  2. ↑ Valencian pronunciation: [alˈkɔj]

References

  1. ↑ Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
  2. ↑ "Estadísticas de la población". Ajuntament d'Alcoi (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 7 October 2010. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
  3. ↑ "Estadísticas de la población - Por paises de procedencia". Ajuntament d'Alcoi (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
  4. ↑ "ESTADÍSTICAS DE LA POBLACIÓN - ALCOY - Población por edad y sexo". Ajuntament d'Alcoi (in Spanish). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  5. ↑ Los neandertales completaban con vegetales su dieta carnívora
  6. ↑ Notas de fútbol: Tienes más moral que el Alcoyano
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