Vila-seca | |
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 Sant Esteve church | |
 Coat of arms | |
  Vila-seca Location in Catalonia | |
| Coordinates:41°06′39″N1°08′42″E / 41.11083°N 1.14500°E /41.11083; 1.14500 | |
| Country | Spain |
| Community | Catalonia |
| Province | Tarragona |
| Comarca | Tarragonès |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council |
| • Body | Ajuntament de Vila-seca |
| • Mayor | Josep Poblet Tous (2015)[1] (CiU) |
| Area | |
• Total | 21.6 km2 (8.3 sq mi) |
| Elevation (AMSL) | 42 m (138 ft) |
| Population (2018)[3] | |
• Total | 22,107 |
| • Density | 1,000/km2 (2,700/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | vila-secà,vila-secana vila-secano,vila-secana |
| Postal code | 43480 |
| Area code | +34 (Spain) 977 (Province) |
| Website | vila-seca |
Vila-seca (Catalan pronunciation:[ˈbiləˈsɛkə]; literally 'Dry-town') is a municipality of thecomarca ofTarragonès, in the province ofTarragona, inCatalonia, Spain. The historical name wasVila-seca de Solcina and since the 80's known asVila-seca i Salou untilSalou was segregated from Vila-seca on 1989, however the municipality includes the urban areas ofLa Plana andLa Pineda. Vila-seca has a largepetrochemical complex shared withTarragona andLa Canonja, includingRepsol complex inEl Morell makes one of the greatest petrochemical areas of Europe likeLudwigshafen am Rhein.
Different remains show that the city was populated during the times ofAncient Rome. The population settled in Vila-seca after the reconquest in 1162 when KingAlfonso II of Aragon gave these lands to Ramón de Olzina. Its donation to this family was confirmed by KingPeter II of Aragon in 1208.
During theMiddle Ages, there was another town known as Vilaseca del Comú, which neighboured Vila-seca as owned by the Olzinas. The former belonged to the Archbishop ofTarragona until 1525, which the unification of the two towns was decreed, created the city of Vila-seca as it is known today.
Vila-seca actively participated in the defense of the port ofSalou, gaining on several occasions ownership of it. The port was a strategic military position and an important source of income. For a long time, it was considered the port of all of the people who made up the Comuna del Camp, until KingFerdinand II of Aragon banned its use. Vila-seca then became the main port, leading to the city suffering several attacks from Berber pirates. A watchtower and a defense tower were built to protect the city from corsair attacks.
During theReapers' War, the city was occupied by troops under KingPhilip IV of Spain. Many of the city's defenders were executed and both the church and townhall were burnt down. Vila-seca's population also suffered large losses during thePeninsular War.
At the end of the twentieth century, Salou separated from Vila-seca, becoming its own municipality.
Vila-seca has aMediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. The humid season (the highest amount of annual rain) lasts 3 months, from August to October.
| Climate data forVila-seca (1971–2000)(14 km (8.70 mi) south-west of Tarragona | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 20.8 (69.4) | 24.0 (75.2) | 28.2 (82.8) | 29.1 (84.4) | 30.6 (87.1) | 31.3 (88.3) | 34.5 (94.1) | 35.2 (95.4) | 33.3 (91.9) | 30.7 (87.3) | 25.5 (77.9) | 25.0 (77.0) | 35.2 (95.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 12.4 (54.3) | 15.2 (59.4) | 17.8 (64.0) | 19.5 (67.1) | 22.1 (71.8) | 25.6 (78.1) | 29.3 (84.7) | 30.2 (86.4) | 27.6 (81.7) | 22.4 (72.3) | 16.4 (61.5) | 12.7 (54.9) | 21.0 (69.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 10.0 (50.0) | 11.9 (53.4) | 14.1 (57.4) | 15.9 (60.6) | 18.8 (65.8) | 22.5 (72.5) | 25.9 (78.6) | 26.7 (80.1) | 24.0 (75.2) | 19.1 (66.4) | 13.9 (57.0) | 10.7 (51.3) | 17.8 (64.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 7.5 (45.5) | 8.7 (47.7) | 10.4 (50.7) | 12.2 (54.0) | 15.5 (59.9) | 19.4 (66.9) | 22.5 (72.5) | 23.2 (73.8) | 20.3 (68.5) | 15.8 (60.4) | 11.3 (52.3) | 8.7 (47.7) | 14.7 (58.5) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −1.6 (29.1) | −1.0 (30.2) | 0.6 (33.1) | 4.5 (40.1) | 9.0 (48.2) | 12.6 (54.7) | 16.0 (60.8) | 14.3 (57.7) | 13.0 (55.4) | 7.3 (45.1) | 2.7 (36.9) | −1.0 (30.2) | −1.6 (29.1) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 37.2 (1.46) | 19.1 (0.75) | 36.6 (1.44) | 38.2 (1.50) | 53.2 (2.09) | 33.3 (1.31) | 15.7 (0.62) | 52.8 (2.08) | 68.2 (2.69) | 63.7 (2.51) | 46.9 (1.85) | 44.7 (1.76) | 509.0 (20.04) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1 mm) | 5.0 | 3.5 | 4.8 | 5.8 | 6.1 | 3.9 | 2.7 | 4.3 | 4.8 | 5.8 | 5.0 | 5.1 | 56.8 |
| Source: Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya[4] | |||||||||||||
In recent years the municipality has become popular with tourists, as La Pineda has experienced a revitalisation to include an improved choice of hotels, an updated beachfront, while including an array of attractions such as theaquopolis water park with dolphin and sea lion exhibitions and the nightlife hotspot,Pacha.
The area is served byReus Airport, which operates many low cost and charter flights to destinations around Europe and North Africa.Barcelona Airport also serves the area.
Vila-Seca has a variety of retail, mainly independent stores and restaurants, and is served by aLidl built circa 2007.[5] and also has aMcDonald's on the main Raval de la Mar road into the town.
Places adjacent to Vila-seca | |
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Municipalities ofTarragonès | ||
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| National | |
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| Geographic | |
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