Piera

infobox catalan city
title=Piera


image_skyline_size=180px
image_skyline_caption=City hall
arms=Piera (escut).gif
location_

province=Barcelona
comarca=Anoia
population=13,652
population_year=2007
area=57.11
population_density=239.05
elevation=324
demonym=Pierenc, pierenca
mayor=Josefina Altarriba i Queraltó

The municipality of Piera covers a large portion of the southeastern corner of the comarca of Anoia in Catalonia, on the left bank of the Anoia river. The agricultural land, mostly non-irrigated, is used for the cultivation of cereals, grapes, olives and almonds. The town itself hosts a number of light industries: textiles, plastics and construction materials. Tourism during the summer months is also relatively important for the local economy.

The FGC railway line R6 from Martorell and Barcelona to Igualada runs through the town, while local roads lead to Capellades and Sant Sadurní d'Anoia.

Notable monuments include the castle of Fontanet. The castle which was restored in 1916 by Ramon de Viala de Aiguavives, Baron of Almenar is documented in 955 a.c. and now used for private functions.

The sister of the Baron of Almenar, Isabel de Viala de Ayguavives also financed and patroned the modernist church of Ca n'Aguilera which was donated to Barcelona's Bishop by Zaragoza de Viala family on 1921. The architect of Ca N'Aguilera modernist church is Francesc Berenguer i Mestres, who was Antoni Gaudi's disciple and personal friend.

Another Piera relevant monument is the church of Santa Maria, with both gothic and roman elements

Subdivisions

The municipality of Piera includes several outlying villages ("barris"): these are usually distinguished into the older, traditional settlements ("barris antics") and the newer urbanisations which have been developed to cope with the expansion of the municipality ("barris nous"). Populations are given for 1999, from the Ajuntament de Piera and cited in "Història de Piera": the town of Piera ("nucli urbà") had a population of 5036 at that date, whereas the total population of the municipality was 8551.

Traditional "barris"

*El Bedorc (237), on the Anoia river
*Ca n'Aguilera (161)
*Can Cairot (28)
*Can Creixell (2)
*La Fortesa (57), on the Anoia river at the southern point of the municipality
*San Jaume Sesoliveres (213)

Newer "barris"

*Bosc de l'Àliga (88)
*Can Bonastre (490)
*Can Bou (93)
*Can Canals (602)
*Can Claramunt (494)
*Can Martí (222)
*Can Mas (427)
*Can Mata (166)
*Castell de la Ventosa (51)
*La Grua (20)
*Vallbonica (26), on the road to Vallbona d'Anoia
*La Venta i Can Musarro (138)

Demography

infobox catalan city demography
pop_1900=2663
pop_1930=3474
pop_1950=3334
pop_1970=3813
pop_1986=5215
pop_latest=13,652
latest_year=2007

References

*Panareda Clopés, Josep Maria; Rios Calvet, Jaume; Rabella Vives, Josep Maria (1989). "Guia de Catalunya", Barcelona:Caixa de Catalunya. sp icon ISBN 84-87135-01-3. ca icon ISBN 84-87135-02-1.

External links

* [http://www.viladepiera.cat/ Official website] ca
* [http://www.municat.net:8000/omunicat/owa/mun_p01.dad_ens?via=0&cod=0816140003 Information - Generalitat de Catalunya] ca
* [http://www.idescat.cat/servlet/BasicTerr?TC=3&V0=1&V1=08161 Statistical information - Institut d'Estadística de Catalunya] ca