Valencia de Alcántara

Coordinates: 39°24′48″N 7°14′37″W / 39.41333°N 7.24361°W / 39.41333; -7.24361
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Valencia de Alcántara
Municipality
General view
+34 (Spain) + 927 (Cáceres)
Websitewww.valenciadealcantara.es

Valencia de Alcántara (Population: 6178) is a municipality located in the

District of Portalegre), separated from it by the Sever.[2]

History

From the 16th century to the 18th Valencia was a celebrated border fortress; it was captured by the Portuguese in 1664 and 1698.[2]

Battle of 1762

The

the British victory that year.[citation needed
]

Nineteenth century

The beginning of the nineteenth century, traditionally associated with the beginnings of the modern age, is particularly troublesome in the case of Valencia de Alcántara as it was caught up in two important conflicts, including the fleeting conflict known as the War of the Oranges (1801) or the War of Independence. However, due to its location it became is the second most important custom house for direct traffic between the two kingdoms, after Badajoz, and had a flourishing trade in farm produce of all kinds.[2]

Features

There are Roman remains in the district, and the courtyards and windows of many houses are Moorish in style. Nuestra Señora de Roqueamador, the most important church, dates from the 14th century. The church of Encarnacion, the town hall and a fine convent date from the 16th.[2]

Valencia de Alcántara is a very important centre of dolmens in Europe.[citation needed]

Famous inhabitants

Valencia de Alcántara was the birthplace of

Pedro Gómez Labrador, Marquis of Labrador, who represented Spain at the Congress of Vienna (1814–1815).[citation needed
]

Soraya Arnelas was also born here.[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ^ Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
  2. ^ a b c d  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainChisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Valencia de Alcántara". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 27 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 846.