Torrent, Valencia

Torrent
Torrent (Valencian)
Torrente (Spanish)
Moorish tower in the central square
Moorish tower in the central square
Coat of arms of Torrent
Torrent is located in Province of Valencia
Torrent
Torrent
Location of Torrent in the Province of Valencia
Torrent is located in Valencian Community
Torrent
Torrent
Location of Torrent in the Valencian Community
Torrent is located in Spain
Torrent
Torrent
Location of Torrent in Spain
Coordinates: 39°26′20″N 0°27′56″W / 39.43889°N 0.46556°W / 39.43889; -0.46556
Country Spain
Autonomous community Valencian Community
ProvinceValencia
ComarcaHorta Oest
Judicial districtTorrente
Government
 • MayorAmparo Folgado Tonda (PP)
Area
 • Total69.3 km2 (26.8 sq mi)
Elevation
66 m (217 ft)
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total83,962
 • Density1,200/km2 (3,100/sq mi)
DemonymTorrentí
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
46900
Official language(s)Valencian
WebsiteOfficial website

Torrent[a] (Spanish: Torrente)[b] is a city located within the metropolitan area of the city of Valencia, Spain. It is the largest municipality of the Horta Oest comarca, with 83,962 inhabitants (2020). It is situated some 7 km from Valencia city proper, to which it is connected via the metro. The two metro stations in Torrent are called Torrent and Torrent Avinguda on lines 1, 2 and 7.

It is bordered by Aldaia, Alaquàs and Xirivella in the north, Picanya and Catarroja in the east, Alcàsser and Picassent in the south and Montserrat, Godelleta, Turís and Xiva in the West. All of the cities are part of the province of Valencia.

Geography

There are only a few remarkable mountains in the municipal territory: El Vedat (142 m), Morredondo (157 m), Barret (142 m), Cabeçol de l'Aranya (228 m) and the Serra Perenxisa (329 AMSL). About a 20% of the territory is mountainous. Torrent is crossed by a gully (Barranc de Torrent) which flows into the Albufera lagoon and estuary.

History

The village of Torrent was officially founded by people of European ancestry in 1248, after the Reconquista although the tower and its fortification were built several centuries earlier. Archaeological research suggests that there were inhabitants in the zone in the Bronze Age.

It was originally a fief of the Knights Hospitaller.

Main sights

The Medieval Tower

Municipal charter of Torrent and Picanya (1248).

The Medieval Tower was built by the Moors and was part of an ancient castle. It was double-walled and had some underground passages.

The tower, which lies in a square, has a truncated pyramid shape and is 30 metres high, with 5 floors and a terrace where The Cross of the St. John of Jerusalem order and a Valencian "rat penat" can be seen at the four upper corners. Access to the tower is through an exterior staircase connecting to a door at the first floor. Around 1613 porticoes were built around to house a market around the tower. In 1847 it became the property of Torrent.

The tower has often been used as a prison throughout its history, and the porches have hosted the Courts in its upper floors since 1908 (when new ones were built). The porticoes were demolished in 1970. After its restoration, the Tower houses two exhibition halls.

Sant Lluís Bertrán's Hermitage

The shrine dedicated to Saint Lluís Bertrán is a traditional and beloved church by all people in Torrent, since Sant Blai among other festivities are held in the hermitage. In 1634 the City Council agreed to build the chapel dedicated to Saint Lluís Bertran. After many changes and reconstructions it was used for military purposes during the Spanish Civil War and was finally restored after that conflict.

Internally, it consists of a nave and two sides. The neoclassical facade is divided into three parts. The door has an arc with archivolt, St. Louis' image and a large rosette appear over the door. The bell tower has a hexagonal base and was finished in 1829. It has four bells and a clock with three spheres, installed there in 1950.

Església de l'Assumpció

The parish church of Nostra Senyora de l'Assumpció was built in the 13th century, in the same place as the current one, but much smaller. Its rector attended the diocesan synods in the fourteenth century. An image of the "Verge del Pòpul", which disappeared in 1936, was likely the main image in the ancient parish. It has had many fires and thefts with the result that the church that exists nowadays has had many restorations and modifications.

Local politics

Until 2007, the mayor was supplied by the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) who controlled the local council either alone or with the support of smaller left wing parties. The People's Party had majority control of the council from 2007 to 2015. Since 2015, the mayor has been Juan Jesús Ros Piles of the PSOE, who have governed in a minority administration with the support of Coalició Compromís.

Summary of council election results

1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 9 15 13 16 11 13 15 11 9 9 11 10
Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD) 8
United Left (IU) 4 2 1 2 1
People's Party (PP) 8 8 6 10 10 8 13 14 9 8 9
Valencian Union (UV) 2 2 2 2 1
Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) 2
Coalició Compromís (Compromís) 1 1 2 4 2 2
Citizens (Cs) 2 2
Vox (Vox) 2 4
Total number of seats 21 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25

Source:[2]

Twin towns

Notable people

Notes

  1. ^ Valencian pronunciation: [toˈrent]
  2. ^ Spanish pronunciation: [toˈrente]

References

  1. ^ Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
  2. ^ Torrent local results, argos.gva.es accessed 23 July 2020

External links

  • Official website (in Catalan and Spanish)
  • Federació Esportiva Municipal de Torrent, Local Sports Federation
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