Lleida
Lleida
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Lleida (Catalan: [ˈʎejðə] , locally [ˈʎejðɛ]; Spanish: Lérida [ˈleɾiða] ; see below) is a city in the west of Catalonia, Spain. It is the capital and largest town in Segrià county, the Ponent region and the province of Lleida. Geographically, it is located in the Catalan Central Depression. It had 140,797 inhabitants as of 2022[update].
Lleida is one of the oldest towns in Catalonia, with recorded settlements dating back to the
Name
Although the usual
History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/PM_106756_E_Lleida.jpg/220px-PM_106756_E_Lleida.jpg)
In ancient times the city, named Iltrida and Ilerda, was the chief city of the Ilergetes, an Iberian tribe. Indíbil, king of the Ilergetes, and Mandoni, king of the Ausetanes, defended it against the Carthaginian and Roman invasions.
Under the Romans the city was incorporated into the Roman province of
Its situation
Under the Roman Empire Ilerda was a prosperous city and a municipium. It minted its own coins. It had a fine stone bridge over the Sicoris, which was so sturdy that its foundations support a bridge to this day. In the time of Ausonius the city had fallen into decay but it rose again into importance in the Middle Ages.[6]
It was part of Visigothic and Muslim Hispania until it was conquered from the Moors by Count Ramon Berenguer IV of Barcelona in 1149.
It used to be the seat of a major university, the oldest in the Crown of Aragon, until 1717, when it was moved by Philip V to the nearby town of Cervera. The University of Lleida is nowadays active again since 1991.
During the Reapers' War Lleida was occupied by the French and rebel forces. In 1644 the city was conquered by the Spanish under Felipe da Silva.
Lleida served as a key defence point for
After some decades without any kind of population growth it experienced a massive influx of
Lleida was the Capital of Catalan Culture in 2007.[9]
Jewish History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c6/The_Jewish_ritual_bath_of_Llerida%2C_Spain.jpg/220px-The_Jewish_ritual_bath_of_Llerida%2C_Spain.jpg)
The
Climate
Lleida has a
Winters are mild and foggy though cooler than places on the coast while summers are hot and dry. Frosts are common during winter although snowfall can occasionally fall, averaging 1 or 2 days. Precipitation is low, with an annual average of 369 millimetres (15 in) with a peak in April and May and another peak in September and October.Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Record high °C (°F) | 23.5 (74.3) |
23.4 (74.1) |
28.5 (83.3) |
33.0 (91.4) |
35.0 (95.0) |
43.4 (110.1) |
43.1 (109.6) |
40.8 (105.4) |
37.2 (99.0) |
32.5 (90.5) |
26.0 (78.8) |
20.6 (69.1) |
43.4 (110.1) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 10.0 (50.0) |
13.8 (56.8) |
18.3 (64.9) |
20.7 (69.3) |
25.0 (77.0) |
29.8 (85.6) |
33.0 (91.4) |
32.4 (90.3) |
27.8 (82.0) |
22.0 (71.6) |
14.9 (58.8) |
9.8 (49.6) |
21.5 (70.7) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 5.5 (41.9) |
7.7 (45.9) |
11.3 (52.3) |
13.7 (56.7) |
17.9 (64.2) |
22.3 (72.1) |
25.2 (77.4) |
24.9 (76.8) |
20.9 (69.6) |
15.9 (60.6) |
9.7 (49.5) |
5.7 (42.3) |
15.0 (59.0) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 0.9 (33.6) |
1.6 (34.9) |
4.2 (39.6) |
6.7 (44.1) |
10.8 (51.4) |
14.7 (58.5) |
17.4 (63.3) |
17.4 (63.3) |
13.9 (57.0) |
9.7 (49.5) |
4.4 (39.9) |
1.5 (34.7) |
8.6 (47.5) |
Record low °C (°F) | −14.2 (6.4) |
−7.6 (18.3) |
−7.0 (19.4) |
−2.2 (28.0) |
0.5 (32.9) |
6.0 (42.8) |
9.5 (49.1) |
7.1 (44.8) |
3.7 (38.7) |
−1.5 (29.3) |
−7.5 (18.5) |
−9.5 (14.9) |
−14.2 (6.4) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 26 (1.0) |
15 (0.6) |
21 (0.8) |
39 (1.5) |
42 (1.7) |
27 (1.1) |
12 (0.5) |
18 (0.7) |
41 (1.6) |
43 (1.7) |
30 (1.2) |
24 (0.9) |
342 (13.5) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 46 |
Average relative humidity (%)
|
81 | 71 | 62 | 59 | 58 | 53 | 52 | 56 | 63 | 73 | 80 | 84 | 66 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 116 | 162 | 226 | 248 | 282 | 321 | 356 | 319 | 256 | 195 | 135 | 96 | 2,712 |
Source 1: Agencia Estatal de Meteorologia[14] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: Periodico El Pais [15] |
Districts and neighbourhoods
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/Calle_Caballeros_de_Lleida.jpg/220px-Calle_Caballeros_de_Lleida.jpg)
Lleida is divided in the following districts by the Socioeconomic Observatory of Lleida:
Transport
Railway
Lleida is served by
Lleida's only passenger railway station is Lleida Pirineus. It is served by both Renfe and Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya train lines. In the future a Rodalies Lleida commuter network will connect the town with its adjacent area and the main towns of its province, improving the existing network with more train frequency and newly built infrastructure. A second railway station is Pla de la Vilanoveta in an industrial area, and only used by freight trains. A future railway museum will be located in its facilities.[16] Since 2008 the bulk of public transport of Lleida's surrounding area, mainly buses operated by several companies, is managed by Autoritat Territorial de la Mobilitat de l'Àrea de Lleida.
Bus
The urban buses, coloured yellow with blue stripes and owned by Autobusos de Lleida, include the following lines:
- L-1 Interior
- L-2 Ronda
- L-3 Pardinyes
- L-4 Mariola – Parc científic i tecnològic
- L-5 Bordeta
- L-6 Magraners
- L-7 Secà
- L-8 Balàfia-Gualda
- L-9 Hospitals
- L-10 Exterior
- L-11 Llívia-Caparrella
- L-11B Llívia-Caparrella-Butsenit
- L-12 C.Històric-Universitat
- L-13 Cappont
- L-14 Agrònoms
- L-P Polígons
- L-17 Bordeta-Ciutat Jardí
- L-18 Palau de Congressos- Rambla de la Mercé
- L-19 Butsenit
- L-N Wonder (Regular night service)
- L-Bus Turístic (tourist bus)
- L-Aeroport
- L-Llotja
In addition to these, there's a tourist bus and a regular night service to nearby clubs.
Lleida-Pirineus airport
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Aeroport_de_Lleida-Alguaire_retouched.jpg/220px-Aeroport_de_Lleida-Alguaire_retouched.jpg)
Lleida has depended long time on nearby airports and had no local air transit. The Lleida-Alguaire airport opened in 2010.
Future and planned services
A tram-train system is pending approval. Using an existing but outdated passenger line, it would link Balaguer and Lleida, crossing both towns in a much needed move towards better public transportation, both inner-city and between localities.[17][18][19]
Languages
Lleida is a traditionally
Largest groups of foreign residents | |
Nationality | Population (2022) |
---|---|
![]() |
6,249 |
![]() |
5,014 |
![]() |
1,578 |
![]() |
1,489 |
![]() |
1,444 |
Culture
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/Auditori_Municipal_Enric_Granados.jpg/220px-Auditori_Municipal_Enric_Granados.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Llotja._Lleida.jpg/220px-Llotja._Lleida.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Lleida-26-1_museu_morera.jpg/220px-Lleida-26-1_museu_morera.jpg)
Lleida was the Capital of Catalan Culture in 2007.
Theatre and music venues
Music festivals
There are two important music festivals in Lleida; MÚSIQUES DISPERSES Folk Festival in March,[20] and the jazz festival JAZZ TARDOR in November. Concerts are also a regular fixture of the two local feasts, Sant Anastasi in May, and Sant Miquel in September.
Film
Art and museums
The
The city has a number of small municipal galleries, such as the Sala Municipal d'Exposicions de Sant Joan and the Sala Manel Garcia Sarramona. There are also several institutions dedicated to local artists, such as the Sala Leandre Cristòfol, containing artwork by the sculptor and painter Leandre Cristòfol (1908–1998); and the Sala Coma Estadella, dedicated to the sculptor and painter Albert Coma Estadella (1933–1991).
Private art galleries include the Espai Cavallers. The private foundation CaixaForum Lleida and the Public Library of Lleida also offer regular exhibits. The now defunct Petite Galerie was an innovative and influential gallery in the 1970s.
The Escola Municipal de Belles Arts provides higher education in the arts.
Traditional culture
Traditional celebrations include the main annual town festivity: Festa Major; Fira de Sant Miquel and
The latter is a gastronomical festivity focused on escargot cooking and is celebrated yearly at the end of May. "L'Aplec" gathers thousands of people around the table to taste the most traditional dishes from Lleida.
Due to its strong popularity, it was declared a traditional festivity of national interest in 2002 by the Generalitat of Catalonia and two years later it was also declared as such by the Spanish Government.
The main traditional celebrations in Lleida are chaired by the twelve emblematic "Gegants de la Paeria" (Giants of the Town Hall), the two oldest made in 1840.
Nightlife
Lleida has a bar and clubbing area, informally known as Els Vins. The oldest part of the quarter, known as Els Vins Vells, has been largely replaced by Els Vins Nous, an architecturally newer and more upscale area. Most big clubs in Lleida are located outside the town and are not easily accessible without a car,[citation needed] though on Saturday nights there is a bus.[21]
Main sights
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Castillo_de_Gardeny.jpg/220px-Castillo_de_Gardeny.jpg)
- La Seu Vella, a cathedral built in a blend of Romanesque and Gothic styles over time, and made a military fortress in the 18th century. There is also an older, and mostly destroyed Palau de la Suda, built during Arab rule and later used as a royal residence by the counts of Barcelona and kings of Aragon. Both medieval buildings are situated over the so-called Turó de la Seu, a medium-sized hill that overlooks the town.
- Durruti.
- Arab, medievaland modern times, as well as an exhibit area usually showcasing contemporary local artists.
- Moderntimes, including old prison cells.
- Gardeny is a hill hosting a fortress built between the 12th and 13th centuries. Used by the Knights Templar in the Middle Ages after the area (a fifth of the town) had been granted to them by King Ramon Berenguer IV.
- The gardens known as Camps Elisis, already used by the Romans. The Mermaid Fountain is a nice piece.
- river Segre.
- Les Basses d'Alpicat, a park. It is currently closed, awaiting reforms.
- Church of Sant Llorenç, a 12th-century Romanesque church with 15th-century Gothic additions. The interior is well preserved.
- Church of Sant Martí, a 12th-century Romanesque church.
- The bishop of Rambla d'Aragó, which also serves as an art museum displaying pieces spanning from Romanesque to Baroquetimes.
- El Roser, a 13th-century convent built by the Dominican Order. It hosted a fine arts academy of the same name and has recently been controversially reformed and turned into a Parador (a luxury hotel using a historical location).
- The Cementiri de Lleida (Municipal Cemetery) to the West of the city is listed in the Inventari del Patrimoni Arquitectònic de Catalunya (Inventory of the Architectural Heritage of Catalonia). The oldest portion dates from 1784.
- Rambla d'Aragó, in the building previously known as La Maternitat, a mid-19th century orphanage.
- Diocese of Lleida focusing on the town's history. Some of the artefacts it contains, which come from areas historically belonging to the diocese but not currently part of the province of Lleida's territory and jurisdiction, have been the object of contention with the neighbouring dioceses and the government of the autonomous community of Aragon.
- Sala Cristòfol, a museum devoted to the works of the avant-garde sculptor Leandre Cristòfol.
- Sala Mercat del Pla, an art gallery.
- Museu d'Art Jaume Morera, an art museum displaying art from the 20th and 21st centuries in a modernist building.
- Centre d'Art de la Panera, a small contemporary art institution.
- Museu de l'Aigua, in Parc de l'Aigua.
- concert hall. Next to its basement and on public display are some ancient ruins.
- La Llotja de Lleida, a concert hall, theatre, opera and congress hall opened in 2010.
- Parc de l'Aigua, urban park in the southern neighborhoods.
Sports
- Unió Esportiva Lleida, based on the Camp d'Esports dissolved in 2011
- Lleida Esportiu football club founded in 2011
- CE Lleida Bàsquet, based on the Pavelló Barris Nord
Sister cities
Lleida has
Ferrara, Italy
Foix, France
Hefei, China
- Lérida, Colombia
Perpignan, France
Monterey, California, United States[24]
References in culture
The city is the subject of the Catalan folk song La Presó de Lleida, "The prison of Lleida", which was already attested in the 17th century and may be even older. It is a very popular tune, covered by many artists such as Joan Manuel Serrat.[25]
Notable people
- Jaume d'Agramunt (?–1350), Catalan doctor and writer, died in Lleida[26]
- Mariano Gomar de las Infantas (1855–1923), lawyer and Integrist politician
- Joan Oró (1923–2004), born in Lleida: biochemist, researcher on the origin of life.
- Trini Tinturé (born 1935), born in Lleida: cartoonist and illustrator.
- Sergej Milinković-Savić (born 1995) born in Lledia, professional footballer
See also
- Battle of Ilerda
- Bishop of Lleida
- Talarn Dam
- University of Lleida
- Volta a Lleida
References
- ^ "Idescat. The municipality in figures". www.idescat.cat. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ Sàez, Anna (2024-01-21). "El lleidatanisme a debat - 13 des 2015". El Punt Avui (in Catalan). Retrieved 2024-01-21.
- ^ Antonine Itinerary pp. 391, 452.
- ^ To quote Julius Caesar, "propter ipsius loci opportunitatem", Commentarii de Bello Civili i. 38.
- Lucan, Pharsal. iv. 11, 144.
- Eckhel, vol. i. p. 51.
- ^ [1] Archived April 16, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Noves sl. primavera-estiu 2005. El repte dels plans pilots per a l'impuls del coneixement i l'us de la llengua catalana: del coneixement a l'ús social, per Dolors Solà". .gencat.net. Archived from the original on 2011-05-16. Retrieved 2011-03-11.
- ^ e-barcelona.org. "Lleida se estrena como capital de la cultura catalana durante 2007 :: e-barcelona.org :: Fòrum de Cultura, democratitzem la democràcia". e-barcelona.org. Archived from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2011-03-11.
- ^ "La Cuirassa". Turisme de Lleida. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "Lérida". Jewish Virtual Library. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "JEWISH LLEIDA 1/2 DAY". Ton-David Jover. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "Lleida, Spain Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase.
- ^ "Valores climatológicos normales: Lleida (Periodo: 1981-2010)" (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal de Meteorologia. Retrieved May 16, 2013.
- ^ "Temperaturas máximas históricas en las dos últimas olas de calor" (in Spanish). 2015-06-08. Retrieved 2015-10-10.
- ^ "El Museu del Ferrocarril de Lleida s'ubicarà a l'estació de la Vilanoveta". Bondia.cat. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2011-03-11.
- ^ "Data" (PDF). www.transportpublic.org.
- ^ "CCOO de les Terres de Lleida. – El tren-tram, transport de futur per a l'àrea de Lleida – www.ccoo.cat/lleida". Ccoo.cat. 2010-01-19. Retrieved 2011-03-11.
- ^ "Responsables de Ferrocarrils de Cataluña visitan el TRAM para llevar el modelo a Lleida y Manresa". elperiodic.com. 2009-02-21. Archived from the original on 2011-07-10. Retrieved 2011-03-11.
- ^ "MUD. Festival Músiques Disperses". www.musiquesdisperses.com.
- ^ "BusNit". www.atmlleida.cat. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
- ^ "Viles agermanades – Lleida – Perpignan la Catalane". mairie-perpignan.fr (in French). Retrieved 2007-10-01.
- ^ "INFO POINT EUROPA. Ajuntament de Lleida.La UE i Lleida". infopoint.paeria.es (in Catalan). Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-10-01.
- ^ "Sister Cities". monterey.org. Archived from the original on 2018-04-19. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
- ^ "SegriЯ. "La presз de Lleida", romanу". Xtec.cat. Retrieved 2011-03-11.
- ^ Diccionari de la Literatura Catalana, 2008
Bibliography
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)