Valencia de Alcántara

Valencia de Alcántara
Valencia de Alcántara; Valencia d’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 / 39.41333°N 7.24361°WCoordinates: 39°24′48″N 7°14′37″W / 39.41333°N 7.24361°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(s)	+34 (Spain) + 927 (Cáceres)
Website	www.valenciadealcantara.es

Valencia de Alcántara (Extremaduran: Valencia d’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), separated from it by the Sever.^[1]

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 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 British victory that year.

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.

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).

Soraya Arnelas was also born here.

References

↑ Chisholm 1911.
1 2 3 One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Valencia de Alcántara". Encyclopædia Britannica. 27 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 846.

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[FOOTNOTEChisholm1911-1] Chisholm 1911.

[EB1911-2] 1 2 3 One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Valencia de Alcántara". Encyclopædia Britannica. 27 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 846.