Solsona, Lleida Explained

Solsona
Settlement Type:Municipality
Pushpin Map:Spain Catalonia
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Catalonia
Coordinates:41.9978°N 1.5208°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Spain
Subdivision Type1:Community
Subdivision Type2:Province
Subdivision Name2:Lleida
Subdivision Type3:Comarca
Subdivision Name3:Solsonès
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:David Rodríguez González (2015)[1]
Area Footnotes:[2]
Area Total Km2:17.7
Elevation M:670
Population Density Km2:auto
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:25280
Blank Name:Climate
Blank Info:Cfb

Solsona (in Catalan; Valencian pronounced as /sulˈsona/) is a municipality and capital of the comarca of the Solsonès in the province of Lleida, Catalonia, Spain. It is situated in the centre of the comarca in the Catalan Central Depression. It is served by the C-55 road to Manresa, and is linked to Berga and Bassella by the C-26. Until a few years ago, Solsona used to be the main road used by people from Barcelona to go to Andorra.

The name most probably derives from the Setelsis (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Σετελσίς or Σελενσίς) mentioned by Ptolemy as a town of the tribe of Jaccetani in Hispania Tarraconensis.[3] [4] The old town is known as the Nucli antic: it preserves a large part of its fortifications. The cathedral of Santa Maria de Solsona and the episcopal palace are in a neoclassical style. The latter houses the diocesan and comarcal museum and the Museum of Salt (Museu de la Sal), with crystals and objects made from the salt of nearby Cardona.

One of the most important events in the city is Carnaval, a pagan celebration that marks the beginning of the Quaresma. Tens of thousands of people come from all over Catalonia and beyond, to participate in the celebration that lasts almost one week.

Solsona is home to one of the oldest hunters' association of Catalonia, which held its 75th anniversary in 2015. The city also hosts the only big research centre of Catalonia located outside an urban area, the Forest Sciences Centre of Catalonia (CTFC), with around 100 people employed.

Notable people

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ajuntament de Solsona. Generalitat of Catalonia. 2015-11-13.
  2. Web site: El municipi en xifres: Solsona. Statistical Institute of Catalonia. 2015-11-23.
  3. Book: Luis de Orueta. A Dictionary of Spanish Place Names. 2022. 978-84-09-43762-7 . 241.
  4. https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0064%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DS%3Aentry+group%3D11%3Aentry%3Dsetelsis-geo Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), Setelsis