Vilallonga del Camp facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vilallonga del Camp
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Municipality
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Municipal location in Tarragonès
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 Vilallonga del Camp
Location in Catalonia
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| Country |  Spain |
| Region |  Catalonia |
| Province | Tarragona |
| County | Tarragonés |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 9.0 km2 (3.5 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 104 m (341 ft) |
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 2,339 |
| • Density | 259.9/km2 (673/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | vilallonguins |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code |
43141
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Vilallonga del Camp is a small town in Catalonia, Spain. It is located in the Province of Tarragona. In 2018, about 2,339 people lived there.
Vilallonga del Camp is the only village in its area. It is about 12 miles north of Tarragona, a bigger city on the coast. The town is surrounded by many farms. Farming is the main way people make a living here. They grow crops like hazelnuts, grapes, almonds, olives, and carob trees.
Contents
History of Vilallonga del Camp
The first time Vilallonga del Camp was mentioned in official papers was in 1174. This was when the first large estate, or manor, was recorded in the area.
In 1213, King Pere I decided to control how much the town could grow. This meant the land stayed under the control of the royal court for a long time. Later, in 1391, King Juan I of Aragon sold the town to the archbishop of Tarragona.
After that, the Montoliu family owned the town for many years. A record from 1358 shows that a person named Berenguer de Requesens owned the manor. However, by 1365-1370, it was back with the Montoliu family, under Berenguer de Montoliu.
In the 1600s, the Dalmases family took over. In 1710, Pau Ignasi de Dalmases i Roc, who was the lord of the town, was given the title of Marquis of Vilallonga by Archduke Carlos, 1st Marquis of Vilallonga.
A big battle happened in 1838. Local soldiers fought against a group called the "carlists". This battle was led by Llarg de Copons. Sadly, 138 men lost their lives during this fight. Vilallonga del Camp officially became its own town, or municipality, on February 19, 1937.
Culture and Traditions
The main church in Vilallonga del Camp is called Sant Martí Church. It was built in the 1600s in a style called neoclassical. The front of the church is not completely finished. Above the main door, there is a carving that shows Saint Martin sharing his cloak with a poor person.
Outside the village, there is a special small church called a shrine. It is dedicated to the Mare de Déu del Roser. No one knows exactly when it was built. This shrine is also one of the old entrances to the town's ancient wall. It is mentioned in a book by Francesc Blasi Vallespinosa about Marian shrines.
Vilallonga del Camp celebrates several special days throughout the year:
- The main town festival is on July 30. It honors Sant Abdó and Sant Senen.
- Another festival is on November 11, for Sant Martí.
- The Feast of La Rosa happens on the second Sunday of May.
- The Feast of Del Roser is on the second Sunday of October.
- There is also a fair, simply called "Fira" by locals. It takes place on the first Sunday of October.
Famous People from Vilallonga
- Josep Mestres i Miquel (1868-1949) was a doctor, a politician, and an expert in farming.
- Pedro Virgili (1699-1776) was a very important royal surgeon. He performed operations for the king.
See also
In Spanish: Vilallonga del Campo para niños
