Vilanova i la Geltrú

Vilanova i la Geltrú
—  Municipality  —
Seaside promenade.
Flag Coat of arms
Vilanova i la Geltrú Location in Catalonia
Coordinates: 41°13′47″N 1°41′37″E
Country	Spain
Community	Catalonia
Province	Barcelona
Comarca	Garraf
Government
• Mayor	Neus Lloveras
Area
• Total	33.50 km2 (12.93 sq mi)
Elevation	22 m (72 ft)
Population (2009)
• Total	65,890
• Density	Bad rounding here2,000/km2 (Bad rounding here5,100/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	08800

Vilanova i la Geltrú (Catalan pronunciation: [ˌbiɫəˈnɔβə j ɫə ʒəɫˈtɾu]) is a city in the province of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain and the capital of the Garraf comarca. Originally a fishing port, the city has a growing population of approximately 66,000, and is situated 40 km south-west of Barcelona, with the more famous coastal resort of Sitges some 10 km to the north-east. The famous Mimo family comes from here.

The town has a long history, reaching its heyday during the Romantic period.

View from Club Nautico Vilanova

Economy

Vilanova i la Geltrú's economy includes textile and paper industries. It also has iron foundries and an important agricultural sector. The harbour affords safe and deep anchorage; it has a lifeboat station and houses the headquarters of a large fishing fleet. The coasting trade is also considerable.

Actuality

Vilanova i la Geltrú, is one of the most advanced cities in new technologies, has a vocation and tradition university since 1902, along with the UPC (Polytechnic University of Catalonia). The building Neapolis Public Innovation Agency for ICT and multimedia, was built in 2006.

Located 46 km near Barcelona and 44Km from Tarragona. It has the third largest port of Catalonia and a major fishing port of Catalonia, the Brotherhood of Pescadors of Vilanova coming the powerful and ancient Brotherhood of Sant Elm (founded in 1579), and created in 1921 the nou Pòsit de Pescadors. Today we can enjoy buying fresh fish directly on the Internet subhasta fish. Vilanova i la Geltrú has a estació Nàutica which hosts major sailing competitions at the national and international levels. We can see the 'Grand Marina', where anchored peacefully, luxury boats.

During the spring and summer season is held on summer schools in University Campus of the Mediterranean interdisciplinary reference center, through the celebrations of courses and other activities in different areas: Society, Culture and Tourism, Environment, Information Society, Science and Technology, and Economics and Business.

The 'University Campus of the Mediterranean' is an initiative of the City Council of Vilanova i La Geltrú, the Polytechnic University of Catalonia and European Institute of the Mediterranean framed within the Municipal Institute of Education and Work (IMET).

One of the centers research, development and innovation (R & D + i) is found in a unique building designed by the Catalan architect Oriol Bohigas i Guardiola, Edifici Neapolis This building is part of the European Network of Living Labs ENoLL. During 2012, celebrates its first year in the creation of Co-Working Center coinciding with International Year of Cooperatives recognized by the / United Nations.

Complete communications highway C-32, also known as highway Pau Casals, or to the Garraf Barcelona motorway linking the Barcelona El Prat Airport, the highway C-15, also known by the name Eix Diagonal, which links the historic town of Manresa and Autovía A-7 with Mediterranean Sea. Of vital importance is the Railway of Vilanova, built between 1882-1884 by the developer and director of roads Jeroni Granell i Mundet rail link (línia of Rodalies Sant Vincenç de Calders - Maçanet de la Selva and also binds opposite the imperial Roman city of Tarragona, the Tortosa town, the Reus town, and the City of Lleida.

Its population has increased in recent years. Currently several projects are underway large as the extension of the beach, the polygon "Sant Jordi" (St. George) pattern 'Catalunya', and the future redevelopment of the waterfront.

Culture

Vilanova has a museum, founded by the Catalan poet, historian and diplomat, Víctor Balaguer (1824–1901), the Biblioteca Museu Víctor Balaguer, which contains collections of Roman, Egyptian and prehistoric antiquities, as well as paintings, engravings, sculptures, coins and a large library. Vilanova also has a railway museum, the Museu del Ferrocarril de Vilanova i la Geltrú.Near the beach are a miniature railway (track 5") managed by AFEVI www.afevi.org where holidays the trains (steam/petrol/electric) travel for children and adults

Apart from some renowned seafood restaurants, Vilanova is a recognised centre for xató, a winter salad dressed with a rich sauce made from almonds, olives, fish, oil and garlic, which forms the basis for the Festival of Xató (Xatonada) in tandem with nearby villages and towns.

Other notable festivals include Festa Major in early August and Carnaval (late February) which includes Les Comparses, in which good-humoured rival groups throw boiled sweets (candies) at each other. However, the most important festival in Vilanova is the "Festival Internacional de Música Popular Tradicional", Vilanova International World Music Festival, which has been held since 1981 and is the oldest world music festival in Spain.

The Passeig Ribes Roges, along the beach, on a Sunday afternoon in May

Beachview

Sport

The city has a roller hockey team, CP Vilanova, one of the most important in Spain, and a member of the main national roller hockey league OK Liga. In 2011 Vilanova hosted the CERS Cup Final Four.

Twin towns

• Villarreal, Spain
• Matanzas, Cuba
• Mérignac, France

References

• Panareda Clopés, Josep Maria; Rios Calvet, Jaume; Rabella Vives, Josep Maria (1989). Guia de Catalunya, Barcelona:Caixa de Catalunya. ISBN 84-87135-01-3 (Spanish). ISBN 84-87135-02-1 (Catalan).

External links

• Museu del Ferrocarril de Vilanova i la Geltru
• Artistic and historical buildings (in Catalan)
• Vilanova International World Music Festival
• City hall web page
• Vilanova Grand Marina
• Tourism • Vilanova I La Geltrú
• Museum de Maritime Curiosities Roig Toquès. With the famous Carpa Juanita