Torrelavega

Spanish city
image_skyline_caption =
native_name = Torrelavega
spanish_name = Torrelavega
nickname = Torlavega (

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image_flag_size = 115px
image_city_

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image_city_map_size = 300px
image_city_map_caption = Location of the Municipality of Torrelavega
lat_long = coord|43|20|N|4|2|W|type:city(56,407)_region:ES
time_zone = CET (GMT +1)
time_zone_summer = CEST (GMT +2)


image_skyline_size = 250px
native_language = Spanish
founded = 13th century,
official city status January 29 1895
community = Cantabria
community_link = Cantabria
province = Cantabria
province_link = Cantabria
comarca = Valle del Besaya
comarca_link = Besaya valley
divisions = 10
neighborhoods = 16
mayor = Blanca Rosa Gómez Morante
political_party = PSOE
political_party_link = Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
area = 35,5
altitude = 25
population = 56,407
date-population = 2006
density = 1,583.94
date-density = 2006
website = http://www.torrelavega.es/
postal_code = 39300
area_code = 942

Torrelavega (coord|43|20|N|4|02|W|) is a municipality and important industrial and commercial hub in the single province Autonomous Community of Cantabria in northern Spain.

It is situated roughly 8 kilometers from the Cantabrian Coast and 27.5 kilometers from the capital of the Autonomous Community, Santander, half way between the Principality of Asturias and the Basque Country. The rivers Saja and Besaya flow through the city.

It is the capital of the county of Valle del Besaya which, along with Torrelavega, is composed of the municipalities of Cartes, Los Corrales de Buelna, Cieza, Arenas de Iguña, Bárcena de Pie de Concha, Molledo, Anievas and San Felices de Buelna.

Its highest point is 606 meters and its lowest point is 12 meters.

History

Torrelavega was founded at the end of the thirteenth century by Garci Lasso I de la Vega (the elder), Adelantado Mayor of the Kingdom of Castile in the name of King Alfonso XI of Castile.

Its current name is due to the contraction of the original eponym of "Torre de la Vega". The Castle or Tower of the Vega's was built by Leonor de la Vega, daughter of Garci Lasso II de la Vega, the younger, and mother of the Íñigo López de Mendoza, marqués de Santillana in order to administer the tax and privilege due in the family's territory.

The name of the comarca, Valle del Besaya is derived from the Astur-Leonese "Bisalia", which in turn derives from the Celtic, Bis-salia (the second Salia or Saja) from the two rivers that flow through the city.

Torrelavega was an important agricultural hub in the Kingdom of Castile since medieval times. Continuous population growth and industrial development enabled Torrelavega to attain city status in 1895 from the Queen Regent Maria Christina of Bourbon, Princess of the Two Sicilies.

Geography

Divisions

*Barreda
*Campuzano
*Duález
*Ganzo
*La Montaña
*Sierrapando
*Tanos
*Torrelavega (Metro)
*Torres
*Viérnoles

Neighborhoods within the Metropolitan Area

*La Inmobiliaria
*El Barrio de Sorravides
*El Barrio Covadonga
*La Nueva Ciudad
*El Zapatón
*El Poblado

Neighboring Municipalities

*North: Santillana del Mar, Suances and Polanco.
*South: Los Corrales de Buelna and San Felices de Buelna.
*East: Piélagos and Puente Viesgo.
*West: Reocín and Cartes.

Town Twinning

*flagicon|Cuba Old Havana, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba
*flagicon|France Rochefort-sur-Mer, Charente-Maritime, France

External links

* [http://www.torrelavega.es/ Ayuntamiento de Torrelavega]