Alcoy, Spain
The Spanish city of Alcoy ( Valencian Alcoy, Alcoy Spanish ) is located in the province of Alicante in the Valencian Autonomous Community. To achieve Alcoy is along the national road N- 340 Alicante.
Location
Alcoy is one of Spain's oldest industrial towns in the hinterland of the Costa Blanca, surrounded by the rivers Molinar and Riquier, which unite behind Alcoy to the river Serpis. Alcoy itself is in turn the capital of the territory L' Alcoià.
History
The rivers helped Alcoy in the beginning of the 19th century to a huge industrial boom, because with the help of hydro power textile machines could be operated. However, this lost thousands there for generations resident weavers who were still working with spool wheel and loom, their livelihoods. The discovery of coal seams near the city also made use of steam power profitable. Even today some of the huge machine steel structures can be admired from the 19th century.
Already in the 16th century forced the meager income of agriculture the inhabitants for a additional merit to search. Due to the abundant waters of the rivers, a cloth industry developed: Thanks to the hydropower hydraulic machinery driven and the water- intense staining of substances could be operated. Also, plenty of water needing paper industry ( today: cigarette paper ) was created.
Due to the growing industry it came to the expansion of the Medieval center and the construction of bridges to connect the various parts of the city. One of the oldest bridges is the Maria Cristina Bridge. The leading over the river Molinar canalejas Viaduct, was an important novelty due to its metal structure to its construction around 1907.
Culture
The historic center Alcois forms the Plaça d'Espanya, at the Town Hall, the Church of the Holy María and build by architect Santiago Calatrava hall are located. Interesting is, inter alia, the Archaeological Museum and the Museum, which deals with the Moors and Christians.
Festivals
- Festival de Moros y Cristian ( 22 to 24 April ), Moors and Christians - More than a hundred amateur performers play after the battle of the Moorish and Christian troops and also find parades of costumed brotherhoods instead.
- The pilgrimage Pilgrimage a la Font Roja ( every last Saturday in September ) lirios in honor of the Blessed Virgin, the virgen de los.
Museums and Monuments
- Medieval quarter
- Church of Santa María
- Church of Santo Tomás
- Church of San Jorge
- The Archeological Museum " Camilo Visedo Molto "
- Hard Museum in the "House Casal San Jordi " ( over the Moors and Christians )
- Parish Museum " San Mauro y San Francisco "
Sons and daughters of the town
- Antonio Gisbert Pérez (1834-1902), painter of classicism.
- Rafael Sanus Abad (1931-2010), theologian, professor and Auxiliary Bishop of Valencia
- Amando Blanquer Ponsoda (1935-2005), composer and professor
- Ricardo Calvo Mínguez (1943-2002), chess master
- Carmen Jordá (* 1988), race car driver
- Nicolás Terol (* 1988), motorcycle racer