Figueres

Figueres
Municipality
Church of St. Peter
Flag Coat of arms
Figueres Location in Catalonia
Coordinates: 42°16′00″N 2°57′54″E / 42.26667°N 2.96500°ECoordinates: 42°16′00″N 2°57′54″E / 42.26667°N 2.96500°E
Country	Spain
Community	Catalonia
Province	Girona
Comarca	Alt Empordà
Government
• Mayor	Marta Felip Torres (2015)[1]
Area[2]
• Total	19.3 km^2 (7.5 sq mi)
Elevation	39 m (128 ft)
Population (2014)[1]
• Total	45,444
• Density	2,400/km^2 (6,100/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Figuerenques
Website	figueres.cat

Figueres (Catalan pronunciation: [fiˈɣeɾəs], Catalan for fig trees, Spanish: Figueras) is the capital of the comarca of Alt Empordà, in the province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain.

The town is the birthplace of artist Salvador Dalí, and houses the Teatre-Museu Gala Salvador Dalí, a large museum designed by Dalí himself which attracts many visitors. It is also the birthplace of Narcís Monturiol i Estarriol, inventor of the first successful machine-powered submarine. Also born here was Mónica Naranjo, one of the best selling Spanish singers of the 1990s and 2000s (decade).

History

The town's name derives from that of Ficaris, of Visigoth origins. In 1267, King James I of Aragon conceded it fuero rights, but four years later count Ponç IV of Empúries set the town on fire.

During the Spanish Civil War, it remained loyal to the Republican government, and was repeatedly bombed by the rebels. Figueres recovered starting from the 1950s, consolidating its economy around the tourism industry.

Main sights

• Sant Ferran Castle, built in 1753 during the reign of Ferdinand VI of Spain. It has a pentagonal plan, with a total perimeter of 5.6 km (3.5 mi).
• Parish church of St. Peter, in Gothic. It has a single nave with side chapels.
• Teatre-Museu Gala Salvador Dalí (19th century, renovated in the 1960s). It incorporates a tower from the ancient walls.

• 

  A surrealist tribute to Salvador Dalí at the base of the Rambla, Figueres.

Transportation

Situated in the north-east corner of Catalonia, Figueres is about 40 km (25 miles) from Girona, 140 km (87 miles) from Barcelona, 60 km (37 miles) from Perpignan, and 50 km (31 miles) from Girona-Costa Brava Airport. It is also served by its own railway station just east of the old town center.

Figueres has been connected since December 2010 to the high-speed rail network with the start of services connecting Figueres to Perpignan via LGV, allowing direct TGV services to Paris in 5 h 27 min. Connections to Madrid-Barcelona via AVE are began on 8 January 2013 and the trip takes 53 min (12 min to Girona).^[3]

Twin towns

• Marignane, France since 1968
• Alcalá la Real, Spain since 1989 in connection with Pep Ventura, who modernized the sardana and it subsequently became the traditional dance of Catalonia.^[4] He was born in Alcalá la Real in 1817.
• St. Petersburg, Florida, United States (since 2011).^[5]
• Craiova, Romania protocol of intentions signed in 2009.^[6]

References

References

1. "Ajuntament de Figueres". Generalitat of Catalonia. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
2. "El municipi en xifres: Figueres". Statistical Institute of Catalonia. Retrieved 2015-11-23.
3. Kallas, Siim (8 January 2013). "The European commission welcomes the entry into service of the high speed line between Barcelona and Figueres – last stage of Spain-Europe high-speed connection". European Commission. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
4. "Figueres i Alcalà la Real: l'agermanament", Ajuntament de Figueres
5. http://www.stpete.org/arts_and_culture/figueres_spain.php
6. "Figueres i Craiova preparen el seu agermanament", Empordà.info

Literature

• Panareda Clopés, Josep Maria; Rios Calvet, Jaume; Rabella Vives, Josep Maria (1989). Guia de Catalunya, Barcelona:Caixa de Catalunya. ISBN 84-87135-01-3 (Spanish). ISBN 84-87135-02-1 (Catalan).

External links

• Figueres Council: Figueres Council (Catalan)