Ciudad Real

Ciudad Real
—  Municipality  —
Flag Coat of arms
Ciudad Real Location in Spain
Coordinates: 38°59′N 3°55′W / 38.983°N 3.917°WCoordinates: 38°59′N 3°55′W / 38.983°N 3.917°W
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Castile-La Mancha
Comarca	Campo de Calatrava
Government
– Mayor	Rosa Romero Sánchez
Area
– Total	289.98 km2 (112 sq mi)
Elevation	628 m (2,060 ft)
Population (2009)
– Total	74,014
– Density	255.2/km2 (661.1/sq mi)
Demonym	Ciudadrealeños
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
– Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	13001-13005
Website	Official website

Ciudad Real (Spanish pronunciation: [θjuˈðað reˈal]) is a city in Castile-La Mancha, Spain, with a population of c. 74,000. It is the capital of the province of Ciudad Real. It has a stop on the AVE high-speed rail line and has begun to grow as a long-distance commuter suburb of Madrid, located 115 miles (185km) to the north. A high capacity airport (Ciudad Real Central Airport) has been built to serve the city. It is now open, but has little traffic. The beginning of the construction of a new Caesar's Palace Casino is planned.

History

During the Middle Ages, four kilometres of walls and one hundred and thirty towers protected a population made up of Christians, Muslims and Jews.

After the unification of the Iberian kingdoms under the Catholic Monarchs, Ciudad Real became the capital of the province of La Mancha in the 17th century (1691). This fact favoured its economic development which was spilled into important buildings. The city was founded by Alfonso X in the 13th century (1255) to fight with the Military Order of Calatrava.

The city was surrounded by walls. Nowadays, there are only two parts of the wall left.

Main sights

Don Quixote's Museum is situated next to Parque de Gasset.

The Museo Elisa Cendreros exhibits an old collection of fans and wrought wood.

The Iglesia de Santiago is the oldest church in Ciudad Real. It was built at the end of the 13th century. Its style is Gothic. It has three blocks divided into two parts. Its decorated with gothic paintings and with seven-headed dragons, they were used such us amulets against the bad spirits. The ceiling is decorated with stones forming eight pointed stars.

Another important church in Ciudad Real is Iglesia de San Pedro (Church of Saint Peter). It is the monument that has more interest and quality of the city. It was built between the 14th and 15th century. Its style is Gothic, and houses the tomb of Chante de Coca, confessor and chaplain of the Catholic Monarchs.

In the centre of Ciudad Real is the Plaza Mayor.

Events

One of the most popular festivals in the city is La Pandorga, which takes place July 30 and 31. On the last day of the month the festival honors its patroness, La Virgen del Prado. The usual attire consists of jeans, a white shirt, and the traditional handkerchief.

Sports

The city has a handball team, the BM Ciudad Real, which was the winner of the handball EHF Champions League in 2006, 2008 and 2009.

The handball club is one of the best in the world and its hall, the Don Quixote Arena, is one of the biggest in the Spanish professional league.

It also has a basketball team, which included the presence of David De la Rubia, one of the most renowned Spanish players in years of the Spanish quarry.

Education

Ciudad Real has 18 Primary Schools and six high schools. The High School "Torreón del Alcázar" was founded in 1987. In the first years there were only vocational studies, thirty teachers and 350 students. Some years later the high school incorporated the Compulsory Secondary studies and A levels. At the moment there are 93 teachers and 1000 students. In the year 1995 the High School was offered to become a bilingual school. And in the year 2005 the first bilingual group arrived.

People

• Manuel Marín (born October 21, 1949), politician and former president of the Spanish Congress
• José María Barreda (born February 4, 1953), President of Castile-La Mancha
• Fernando Luna (born April 24, 1958), professional tennis player
• Juande Ramos (born 1954), former manager of Real Madrid Football Club