Sonseca facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sonseca
municipality
Sonseca Town Hall
Coat of arms
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Castile-La Mancha
Province	Toledo
Municipality	Sonseca
Area
• Total	60 km2 (20 sq mi)
Elevation	754 m (2,474 ft)
Population  (2024-01-01)
• Total	11,328
• Density	189/km2 (490/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)

Sonseca is a lively town in the province of Toledo, Spain. It is located in the beautiful region of Castile-La Mancha. With over 11,000 people, it is one of the biggest towns in the Toledo province. Sonseca is known for its rich history, delicious sweets like marzipan, and its important furniture industry. It's a place where ancient traditions meet modern life.

What's in a Name? The Story of Sonseca

The name "Sonseca" might come from old words meaning "dry spring." This makes sense because there are many wells in the area that don't always flow. For a while, between 1857 and 1960, the town was even called "Sonseca con Casalgordo."

Exploring Sonseca's Location

Sonseca is about 30 kilometers south of Toledo, the capital city of the province. It's also about 120 kilometers from Madrid, the capital of Spain. The town is surrounded by other towns like Ajofrín, Orgaz, and Mazarambroz.

Sonseca is part of a region called the Comarca de los Montes de Toledo. It's the largest town in this area. The land around Sonseca is mostly flat, but it gently rises towards the south near the Montes de Toledo mountains. The municipality includes the main town of Sonseca and a smaller village called Casalgordo. Casalgordo used to be its own town until 1853.

A Journey Through Time: Sonseca's Past

Sonseca has a very long history! It was likely first settled by the Romans. Later, Visigoths and Mozarabs lived here too. For many centuries, Sonseca was connected to the city of Toledo.

In 1629, Sonseca became its own "Villa," which meant it gained more independence. This was a big step for the town! During the 18th century, Sonseca became known for its textile industry, making fabrics. In the 19th century, the first workshops for making delicious marzipan started here. Then, in the 1950s, a smart businessman named Antonio Moraleda helped create Sonseca's famous furniture industry. This industry became very important for the town's growth and success.

Sonseca's Growing Community

Sonseca from the air

Sonseca is a town that keeps growing! As of 2024, about 11,328 people live here. This makes it the ninth most populated town in the province of Toledo.

Many people have moved to Sonseca over the years, making it a diverse and welcoming place. Because of its many factories, especially those making marzipan and turrón, Sonseca attracts lots of workers from nearby towns. During busy times, like the Christmas season, the town can create around 10,000 jobs!

How Sonseca is Governed

Like all towns, Sonseca has a local government led by a mayor. These leaders are chosen by the people in elections. Here's a list of the mayors who have served Sonseca:

Discovering Sonseca's Treasures

Sonseca is home to many interesting historical buildings and sites:

• Church of San Pedro de la Mata: These are the ancient remains of a church built by the Visigoths way back in the 7th century! It's near Casalgordo and shows us how people built churches long ago.
• Vallehermoso Dam: Imagine a dam built by the Romans almost 2,000 years ago! This dam was made to collect rainwater and is still partly standing today.
• Seismological Station of Sonseca: This special station helps scientists detect earthquakes. It's part of a bigger network that monitors the Earth's movements.
• Torre Tolanca: This is an old watchtower from the 9th or 10th century. It was part of a system used to send signals and keep an eye on the area.
• Parish Church of Saint John the Evangelist: This beautiful church was started in the mid-1500s. It has a special style called Plateresque and a tall bell tower.
• Hermitage of Cristo de la Vera Cruz: This charming chapel was built in the mid-1500s. It has a unique Mudejar style, which mixes Christian and Islamic art.

Life and Fun in Sonseca

Delicious Food: Sonseca's Gastronomy

Pasta marquesa

Sonseca offers tasty traditional dishes from the La Mancha region. You can try Migas manchegas (a dish made with breadcrumbs) and Gachas manchegas (a type of porridge). There are also hearty stews like Caldereta de cordero (lamb stew) and vegetable dishes like Pisto manchego (a vegetable ragout).

But Sonseca is most famous for its amazing sweets!

• Marzipan: This delicious treat is made from almonds and sugar. Sonseca's marzipan is known all over Spain.
• Pastas marquesas: These are special almond biscuits that are a local favorite.
• Turrón: During Christmas, Sonseca is home to the Delaviuda Confectionery Group, a company that has been making turrón (a nougat candy) since 1927.

Fun Times: Sonseca's Festivities

The town celebrates several important events throughout the year:

• May 6: The day of Saint John the Evangelist.
• First Saturday after May 9: A special pilgrimage for Saint Gregory Nazianzus.
• Third weekend of May: The Small Fair, a time for fun and celebration.
• September 8: The Day of the Virgin of Remedies, honoring the town's patroness.

Get Active: Sports in Sonseca

Sonseca has its own football (soccer) team, Club Deportivo Sonseca. The team was started in 1959 and plays its games at the Estadio Municipal Martín Juanes. It's a great place to watch local sports!

See also

In Spanish: Sonseca para niños