Lorca

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Lorca municipality
Lorca Castle
Lorca Castle
coat of arms Map of Spain
Lorca coat of arms
Lorca (Spain)
Finland road sign 311 (1994-2020) .svg
Basic data
Autonomous Community : Murcia
Province : Murcia
Comarca : Alto Guadalentin
Coordinates 37 ° 41 ′  N , 1 ° 42 ′  W Coordinates: 37 ° 41 ′  N , 1 ° 42 ′  W
Height : 353  msnm
Area : 1,675.21 km²
Residents : 94,404 (Jan. 1, 2019)
Population density : 56.35 inhabitants / km²
Postal code : 30800
Municipality number  ( INE ): 30024
administration
Website : Lorca
Castillo de Lorca
Parador of Lorca
former Mercedarian monastery
Iglesia de Santiago was destroyed in the 2011 earthquake
Town hall (ayuntamiento)

Lorca is a southern Spanish city ​​and a municipality ( municipio ) consisting of the city and several villages and hamlets (pedanías ) with a total of 94,404 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2019) in the Murcia region . The old town center is recognized as the conjunto histórico-artístico . In 2011 a strong earthquake devastated large parts of the city, some of the consequences can still be seen today.

location

The city of Lorca is located on an approx. 340 m high hill on the Río Guadalentín between Murcia (approx. 70 km to the northeast) and Almería (approx. 115 km southwest). It is around 30 to 40 km to the beaches on the Mediterranean coast, some of which are part of the municipality. The climate in winter is temperate, while in summer it is warm to hot; the low amounts of precipitation (approx. 310 mm / year) fall - with the exception of the almost rainless summer months - distributed over the whole year.

Population development

year 1857 1900 1950 2000 2016
Residents 47,918 69,836 70.998 72,000 91,730

The continuous increase in population is mainly due to the ongoing immigration from the rural communities in the area.

economy

Lorca has always been the center of a large growing area for barley and wheat as well as for almonds and olives. Intensive pig and cattle breeding have also played an important role for a long time. Since the second half of the 20th century, domestic tourism has been added.

history

In prehistoric times the area was settled by Iberians of the Bronze Age El Argar culture . In Roman times the settlement was called Eliocroca ; it then came under Visigothic rule, after the storm of the Moors it belonged to the Todmir Empire until 756 and then came under the rule of the Arabs, who called the city Lurka . Today's old town with its winding streets dates largely from the Moors. As part of the Christian reconquest ( reconquista ) , the Castilians came under Alfonso IX. (r. 1188-1230) to Murcia and conquered Lorca in 1224. Because of its border location with the Sultanate of Granada, the place remained fought for a long time, as evidenced by the torre alfonsina named after Alfonso X. as an important fortification of the city to this day.

In the 18th century a number of baroque churches were built in the city, the new quarters of which with their square layout contrast with the narrow old town. In April 1802 the dam at the dam of Puentes , which was built from 1775–1785, devastated the Barrio de San Cristobal district; over 600 people were killed. A few years later, Napoleonic troops moved in and were driven out again in 1812. Industrialization brought the connection to the railroad without significantly changing the small town character of Lorca.

On May 11, 2011, several earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.1 and 4.5 occurred in southern Spain , in which Lorca was severely affected (see Lorca earthquake 2011 ). At least nine people died. The cause was the extraction of groundwater.

Attractions

Lorca has numerous attractions:

  • The main attraction is the medieval fortress, which houses an archeology park.
  • During archaeological excavations, the remains of a synagogue and the old ghetto were found near the fortress.
  • A state hotel ( Parador nacional) was also built on the site , which was inaugurated by the Spanish Queen in 2013 and which blends in harmoniously with the overall picture.
  • The most important church building in the city is the former collegiate church of San Patrizio . Of the other churches, the churches of Santa Maria , San Juan , San Pedro , San Mateo and the Iglesia del Carmen are to be mentioned.
  • Also worth seeing are the former monasteries and convents of San Clemente , San Francisco and Santo Domingo , whose two-story cloister was partially destroyed as early as the 17th century.
  • The former convent of the Mercedarian Order has been converted into a hotel.
  • The facade of the former granary (Pósito) the city shows three stone coats of arms.
  • The Palacio de Guevara and the Palacio Huerto Ruano stand out among the aristocratic palaces .
  • The town hall (ayuntamiento) was built in the 18th century.
Surroundings
  • Outside the city is the Acueducto de los Diecisiete Arcos , built in the 17th century .

Regular events

  • Semana Santa : Lorca is a center of the 'Semana Santa', a religious procession that has been celebrated every year in Holy Week since the 19th century and which is typical of the region. In Lorca, participants can be observed dressed up as Cleopatra, Nero, the devil or biblical figures.
  • Lorca Rock Festival : In Lorca the 'Lorca Rock Festival' takes place every year, at which Marilyn Manson has already performed.

Personalities

Web links

Commons : Lorca  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Cifras oficiales de población resultantes de la revisión del Padrón municipal a 1 de enero . Population statistics from the Instituto Nacional de Estadística (population update).
  2. ↑ Lorca - map with altitude information
  3. ↑ Lorca - climate tables
  4. ^ Lorca - population development
  5. ↑ Lorca - Economy etc.
  6. ↑ Lorca - earthquake. Retrieved May 12, 2011 .
  7. ↑ Lorca - earthquake. Retrieved May 12, 2011 .
  8. ↑ Water extraction was to blame for earthquakes in Spain ( Memento from December 28, 2015 in the Internet Archive )
  9. ↑ Lorca - historical buildings