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Home > Travel Spain > Spain Destinations > Vilafranca del Penedes
Vilafranca del Penedes
Spain, also known as Kingdom of Spain, is one of the oldest inhabited regions on the planet. It is a country which is located in Southern Europe, and politically organized as a parliamentary monarchy. It is the largest sovereign nation of the three nations that make up the Iberian Peninsula. Administratively, Spain is divided into 50 provinces, grouped into 17 autonomous communities and 2 autonomous cities with a high degree of autonomy. The name Spain comes from the Latin name Hispania whose capital is Madrid which is also the largest city of the Country.
Vilafranca del Penedes is the capital of the comarca of the Alt Penedes in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated in the Penedes depression on the left bank of the Foix river and on the main axis of communication from Barcelona to Valencia, served by a Renfe railway line and by the A-7 autopista as well as by the C-243 and C-244 roads to Vilanova i la Geltru and Igualada respectively.
The town was founded in the middle of the twelfth century as a result of the decline of Olerdola, which had been until then the main local centre. It was established as the seat of a vegueria in 1304. The Corts were held in the town in 1218 under King Jaume I and again in 1358 to 59 and in 1367. King Pere II died while staying at the royal palace in Vilafranca in 1289 and it served as a temporary court for Queen Maria in 1451 and 1453 and for Queen Joana Enriquez in 1461 to 62. Vilafranca is a centre for the local wine industry, along with neighbouring Sant Sadurni d'Anoia. Other local industries include textiles, metallurgy and food processing and construction materials. It is also an important commercial centre.
The gothic church of Santa Maria and the royal palace are situated in the historic town centre. The latter building from the thirteenth century houses the town museum, with collections of archeology, paleontology, ornithology, ceramics and sacred art and a Museum of Wine. Other notable monuments include the church of Sant Joan. The convent of Sant Francesc and a number of old merchant's houses such as the Palau del Fraret, the Casal dels Goma and the Casal del Marques d'Alfarras. Vilafranca del Penedes is one of Spain's most popular destinations and is well known for the quantity of cultural related attractions and monuments that the city has embraced.
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