Alcoy Alcoi | |
|---|---|
| Alcoi /Alcoy(official) | |
 Panoramic view of Alcoy, Alicante Province | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
  Alcoi / Alcoy Location in Spain | |
| Coordinates:38°41′54″N0°28′25″W / 38.69833°N 0.47361°W /38.69833; -0.47361 | |
| Country |  Spain |
| Autonomous community |  Valencian Community |
| Province | Alacant / Alicante |
| Comarca | Alcoià |
| Judicial district | Alcoi / Alcoy |
| Government | |
| • Alcalde | Antonio Francés Pérez (2011) (PSOE-PSPV) |
| Area | |
• Total | 129.86 km2 (50.14 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 562 m (1,844 ft) |
| Population (2025-01-01)[1] | |
• Total | 61,468 |
| • Density | 473.34/km2 (1,225.9/sq mi) |
| Demonyms | Alcoyan •alcoià,-ana (Val.) •alcoyano,-na (Sp.) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 03801–03804 and 03818 |
| Official language(s) | |
| Website | Official website |
Alcoy[a] orAlcoi[b] (officially:Alcoi/Alcoy) is a city andmunicipality located in theValencian Community, Spain. TheSerpis river crosses the municipal boundary of Alcoy. The local authority reported a population of 61,135 residents in 2018.[2][3][4]
The first traces of human presence in the area date to c. 60,000 years ago, whenNeanderthal hunters settled here, in a site now calledEl Salt.[5] A site withrock 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 wherecereals were grown, while mountain fortifications were erected (Mola Alta de Serelles,Mas del Corral,Mas de Menente,El Puig).
After the Roman conquest of theIberians, several rural villas were built in the area, as well as a necropolis. The town was established in 1256 byJames I of Aragon, with the construction of a castle on a strategic position over the Serpis river, to secure the southern frontier of theKingdom of Valencia during theReconquista.
In 1291 the town was donated by KingJames II of Aragon to the Sicilian admiralRoger of Lauria; it did not return to royal possession until 1430.
During theWar of Spanish Succession, Alcoy sided for the cause ofarchduke Charles, and was therefore besieged and stripped of numerous privileges, which started a period of decline.[citation needed]
In 1873 the workers of Alcoy revolted in thePetroleum Revolution.
Many outdoorrock paintings exist in Alcoy, and there are some ruins of anIberian settlement with fragments ofGreco-Roman pottery.
Buildings with an artistic or historical interest in the city include:
Alcoy has important industries related totextile,paper,food andmetal. Furthermore, Alcoy has many factories that manufacturematches. Today, Alcoy is the financial, commercial and cultural center of the surrounding area.
Alcoy hosts the oldestCavalcade of Magi in the world. TheJesuset del Miracle is commemorated on the last day of January. The most important touristic celebration isMoros i Cristians, in April.
The local football clubCD 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.[6] Thus the phrasetener más moral que el Alcoyano ("to have greater morale than Alcoyano") ponders an indefatigable person. Currently, they play in theSegunda División B atEl Collao Stadium.
The city is also home toPAS Alcoy, a Spanish roller hockey club, which plays in theOK Liga, the first division ofroller hockey in Spain.
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