Aravaca
Encyclopedia
Aravaca is a barrio
of the city of Madrid
, in the Moncloa district. It is 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) from the city centre, on the other side of Casa de Campo
park. The population of the barrio is 29,547 (January 2006), divided between three areas: Aravaca (23,145), Valdemarín (4,000) and El Plantío (2,469)
, Aravaca was on the front line for three years in the Siege of Madrid (1936-39)
. One may still find military bunkers used by Franco
's attacking troops in the parks and woods. The old town was completely devastated and was rebuilt in the forties. Dating from this years are the parish church and some houses in Baja de la Iglesia street, all designed in the old Castilian style.
Until 1951 Aravaca was an independent city within Madrid province with its own town hall and mayor. During the long Spanish postwar period (1940-1959) millions of Spaniards left their homes in the poor provinces to migrate to industrial areas such as Madrid, Barcelona
, Valencia
and the Basque Country
. Aravaca grew quickly between 1950 and 1980 and became a middle-class residential suburb.
From 1990, thanks to new urban plans, the population of Aravaca has doubled and the streets are now connected with the neighbouring town of Pozuelo de Alarcón
. The population today is about 30,000 people, mainly commuters who work in Madrid and in the metropolitan area. The public transport network is efficient with buses every 10 minutes to the centre, a railway station and a Metro line.
Barrio
Barrio is a Spanish word meaning district or neighborhood.-Usage:In its formal usage in English, barrios are generally considered cohesive places, sharing, for example, a church and traditions such as feast days...
of the city of Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, in the Moncloa district. It is 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) from the city centre, on the other side of Casa de Campo
Casa de Campo
The Casa de Campo is the largest urban park situated west of central Madrid, . It was formerly a royal hunting estate. Its area is more than ....
park. The population of the barrio is 29,547 (January 2006), divided between three areas: Aravaca (23,145), Valdemarín (4,000) and El Plantío (2,469)
History
During the Spanish Civil WarSpanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, Aravaca was on the front line for three years in the Siege of Madrid (1936-39)
Siege of Madrid (1936-39)
The Siege of Madrid was a three-year siege of the Spanish capital city of Madrid, during the Spanish Civil War of 1936 to 1939. Madrid was held by various forces loyal to the Second Spanish Republic and was besieged by Spanish Nationalist and allied troops under Francisco Franco...
. One may still find military bunkers used by Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
's attacking troops in the parks and woods. The old town was completely devastated and was rebuilt in the forties. Dating from this years are the parish church and some houses in Baja de la Iglesia street, all designed in the old Castilian style.
Until 1951 Aravaca was an independent city within Madrid province with its own town hall and mayor. During the long Spanish postwar period (1940-1959) millions of Spaniards left their homes in the poor provinces to migrate to industrial areas such as Madrid, Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Valencia
Valencia (city in Spain)
Valencia or València is the capital and most populous city of the autonomous community of Valencia and the third largest city in Spain, with a population of 809,267 in 2010. It is the 15th-most populous municipality in the European Union...
and the Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
. Aravaca grew quickly between 1950 and 1980 and became a middle-class residential suburb.
From 1990, thanks to new urban plans, the population of Aravaca has doubled and the streets are now connected with the neighbouring town of Pozuelo de Alarcón
Pozuelo de Alarcón
Pozuelo de Alarcón is a suburb of over 85,000 inhabitants near the city of Madrid, capital of Spain. It is surrounded by large Mediterranean pine-tree forests: la Casa de Campo, el Monte del Pardo and el Monte del Pilar...
. The population today is about 30,000 people, mainly commuters who work in Madrid and in the metropolitan area. The public transport network is efficient with buses every 10 minutes to the centre, a railway station and a Metro line.