Valencia de Alcántara

For other uses, see Valencia (disambiguation).

Valencia de Alcántara
Municipality
Town Hall
Flag Coat of arms
Valencia de Alcántara Location in Extremadura Valencia de Alcántara Valencia de Alcántara (Spain)
Coordinates: 39°24′48″N 7°14′37″W
Country	Spain
Autonomous Community	Extremadura
Province	Cáceres
Comarca	Valencia de Alcántara
Government
• Mayor	Alberto Piris Guapo (PSOE)
Area
• Total	595 km2 (230 sq mi)
Elevation (AMSL)	620 m (2,030 ft)
Population  (2012)
• Total	6,032
• Density	10/km2 (26/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST (GMT +2))
Postal code	10500
Area code	+34 (Spain) + 927 (Cáceres)
Website	www.valenciadealcantara.net

Valencia de Alcántara (Population: 6178) is a municipality located in the province of Cáceres, in the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain. It is near the Portuguese border (District of Portalegre).

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 that will be wrapped in two conflicts of deep draft, like the fleeting conflict known as the War of the Oranges (1801) or the War of Independence.

Nuestra Señora de Rocamador is the most important church. Valencia de Alcántara is a very important centre of dolmens in Europe.

Battle of 1762

The Battle of Valencia de Alcántara took place in 1762 as part of the Spanish invasion of Portugal. Portuguese-British troops under John Burgoyne attacked and captured the town, which was a Spanish supply base - setting back the invasion and contributing to the general British victory that year.

Famous inhabitants

It was the birthplace of Pedro Gómez Labrador, Marquis of Labrador, who represented Spain at the Congress of Vienna (1814–1815).

Soraya Arnelas was also born here.