Archidona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Archidona
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Archidona
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Municipal location in the Province of Málaga
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 Archidona
Location in Province of Málaga
Archidona
Location in Andalusia
Archidona
Location in Spain
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| Sovereign state |  Spain |
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| Autonomous community |  Andalusia |
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| Province |  Málaga |
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| Comarca | Comarca of Antequera | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 185.59 km2 (71.66 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 666 m (2,185 ft) | ||
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 8,288 | ||
| • Density | 44.658/km2 (115.663/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Archidoneses | ||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | ||
| Website | www.archidona.es | ||
Archidona is a charming town and municipality in southern Spain. It's located in the province of Málaga, which is part of the Andalusia region. This historic town is the main center of its area, known as Nororiental de Málaga. It officially became a city in 1901.
Archidona covers about 187 square kilometers. It sits at 666 meters high, near the Sierra de Gracia mountains. With around 8,858 people, it's the biggest town in its region. Most people live in the main town, but also in smaller places like Salinas and Huertas del Río. The town is about 50 kilometers from Málaga city and 20 kilometers from Antequera.
Archaeological finds show that people lived here since the Lower Paleolithic period. The first lasting settlements were Escua, built by the Phoenicians, and Ulisis, where the Turduli and Romans lived. During the Muslim period, Medina Arxiduna became very important. It was the capital of Rayya Cora. In its alcazaba (fortress), Emir Abd al-Rahman I was declared leader in 756. This led to the start of the Emirate of Cordoba in al-Andalus. After the Christians took over in 1462, the town was controlled by the House of Osuna.
In 1980, Archidona was named a Historic-Artistic Site. This was because of its beautiful Baroque buildings and town design. The area has many old sites from different times. It also has special natural places, like the Natural Lagoons Reserve of Archidona and Hoz de Marín. Archidona is also where the Andalusian and Mediterranean Cinema Displays are held.
People from Archidona are called Archidoneses.
History of Archidona
How Archidona Got Its Name
There are a few ideas about where the name Archidona comes from. One idea, from J. H. Xavarino, suggests it comes from an old pre-Roman phrase. This phrase, arri-exi-dun-a, means "the one with a stone fence."
Another idea is that the name comes from Latin words. These words are Arx Domina or Arcis Domina. They mean "lady of the heights." However, there isn't much proof to support this idea.
See also
In Spanish: Archidona (España) para niños
