Valencia de Alcántara explained

Valencia de Alcántara
Settlement Type:Municipality
Translit Lang1 Type:Spanish
Translit Lang1 Info:Valencia de Alcántara
Pushpin Map:Spain Extremadura#Spain
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Extremadura
Coordinates:39.4133°N -7.2436°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Spain
Subdivision Type1:Autonomous Community
Subdivision Name1:Extremadura
Subdivision Type2:Province
Subdivision Name2:Cáceres
Leader Party:PSOE
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Alberto Piris Guapo
Area Total Km2:595
Elevation Footnotes:(AMSL)
Elevation M:620
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone1:CET
Utc Offset1:+1
Timezone1 Dst:CEST (GMT +2)
Utc Offset1 Dst:+2
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:10500
Area Code:+34 (Spain) + 927 (Cáceres)

Valencia de Alcántara (pronounced as /es/) is a municipality located in the province of Cáceres, in the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain. It is near the Portuguese border (District of Portalegre), separated from it by the Sever.

History

From the 16th century to the 18th Valencia was a celebrated border fortress; it was captured by the Portuguese in 1664 and 1698.

Battle of 1762

The Battle of Valencia de Alcántara took place in 1762 as part of the Spanish invasion of Portugal. Portuguese-British troops under John Burgoyne attacked and captured the town, which was a Spanish supply base, setting back the invasion and contributing to the British victory that year.

Nineteenth century

The beginning of the nineteenth century, traditionally associated with the beginnings of the modern age, is particularly troublesome in the case of Valencia de Alcántara as it was caught up in two important conflicts, including the fleeting conflict known as the War of the Oranges (1801) or the War of Independence. However, due to its location it became is the second most important custom house for direct traffic between the two kingdoms, after Badajoz, and had a flourishing trade in farm produce of all kinds.

Features

There are Roman remains in the district, and the courtyards and windows of many houses are Moorish in style. Nuestra Señora de Roqueamador, the most important church, dates from the 14th century. The church of Encarnacion, the town hall and a fine convent date from the 16th.

Valencia de Alcántara is a very important centre of dolmens in Europe.

Famous inhabitants

Valencia de Alcántara was the birthplace of Pedro Gómez Labrador, Marquis of Labrador, who represented Spain at the Congress of Vienna (1814–1815).

Soraya Arnelas was also born here.

See also