| Alcoy | |
| Native Name: | |
| Settlement Type: | Municipality |
| Pushpin Map: | Spain |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Spain |
| Coordinates: | 38.6983°N -0.4736°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  Spain |
| Subdivision Type1: | Autonomous community |
| Subdivision Type2: | Province |
| Subdivision Type3: | Comarca |
| Subdivision Type4: | Judicial district |
| Subdivision Name2: | Alicante |
| Subdivision Name3: | Alcoià |
| Subdivision Name4: | Alcoy |
| Leader Party: | PSOE |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Antonio Francés Pérez (2011) |
| Area Total Km2: | 129.86 |
| Elevation M: | 562 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Population Demonyms: | Alcoyan •alcoià, -ana (va) •alcoyano, -na (es) |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 03801-03804 and 03818 |
| Area Code Type: | Dialing code |
| Blank Name Sec1: | Official language(s) |
| Blank Info Sec1: | Valencian and Spanish |
| Timezone: | CET |
| Utc Offset: | +1 |
| Timezone Dst: | CEST |
| Utc Offset Dst: | +2 |
Alcoy (Catalan; Valencian: '''Alcoi''') is an industrial and university city, region and municipality located in the Valencian Community, Spain. The Serpis river crosses the municipal boundary of Alcoy. The local authority reported a population of 61,135 residents in 2018.[1] [2] [3]
The first traces of human presence in the area date to c. 60,000 years ago, when Neanderthal hunters settled here, in a site now called El Salt.[4] A site with rock paintings, dating to c. 10,000/6,500 years ago, has been discovered near la Sarga. From around the mid-3rd millennium BC people started to move from the caves to the plain where cereals were grown, while mountain fortifications were erected (Mola Alta de Serelles, Mas del Corral, Mas de Menente, El Puig).
After the Roman conquest of the Iberians, several rural villas were built in the area, as well as a necropolis. The town was established in 1256 by James I of Aragon, with the construction of a castle on a strategic position over the Serpis river, to secure the southern frontier of the Kingdom of Valencia during the Reconquista.
In 1291 the town was donated by King James II of Aragon to the Sicilian admiral Roger of Lauria; it did not return to royal possession until 1430.
During the War of Spanish Succession, Alcoy sided for the cause of archduke Charles, and was therefore besieged and stripped of numerous privileges, which started a period of decline.
In 1873 the workers of Alcoy revolted in the Petroleum Revolution.
Many outdoor rock paintings exist in Alcoy, and there are some ruins of an Iberian settlement with fragments of Greco-Roman pottery.Buildings with an artistic or historical interest in the city include:
See main article: Art Nouveau in Alcoy.
Alcoy has important industries related to textile, paper, food and metal. Furthermore, Alcoy has many factories that manufacture matches. Today, Alcoy is the financial, commercial and cultural center of the surrounding area.
Alcoy hosts the oldest Cavalcade of Magi in the world. The Jesuset del Miracle is commemorated on the last day of January. The most important touristic celebration is Moros i Cristians, in April.
The local football club CD Alcoyano is famous across Spain for a proverbial match in which they were facing a very adverse score. When the referee was about to close, the Alcoyano players kept asking for more time to score back and reach a draw.[5] Thus the phrase tener más moral que el Alcoyano ("to have greater morale than Alcoyano") ponders an indefatigable person. Currently, they play in the Segunda División B at El Collao Stadium.
The city is also home to PAS Alcoy, a Spanish roller hockey club, which plays in the OK Liga, the first division of roller hockey in Spain.