Villanueva de la Serena facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Villanueva de la Serena
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City
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| Nickname(s):
La Villa (the village)
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| Motto(s):
Puerta soy de La Serena (I am the gate of La Serena)
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 Villanueva de la Serena
Location in Spain
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| Area | |||
| • Total | 152 km2 (94.392 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 280 m (918 ft) | ||
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 25,759 | ||
| Website | www.villanuevadelaserena.es | ||
Villanueva de la Serena is a city in Spain. It is located in the Province of Badajoz, which is part of the Extremadura region. In 2010, about 26,111 people lived here. Villanueva de la Serena is very close to another town called Don Benito. Together, they form a larger city area.
Contents
History of Villanueva de la Serena
How the City Started
Villanueva de la Serena was founded a long time ago, in the 1200s. Back then, it was known as Aldeanueva de Medellín. In the Middle Ages, it was an important place for the Mesta. The Mesta was a powerful group of sheep farmers in Spain.
A Famous Explorer's Home
This city is also famous as the birthplace of Pedro de Valdivia. He was a Spanish explorer and conqueror. Pedro de Valdivia traveled to South America and took control of Chile for the Spanish crown. He became the first governor of Chile.
Joining Two Cities
Recently, the local government of Villanueva de la Serena worked with the nearby town of Don Benito. Their goal was to join the two towns into one bigger city. In 2022, people from both towns voted on this idea.
On November 8, 2021, the Spanish government allowed the vote to happen. The vote took place on February 20, 2022. Most people in both towns agreed to the merger. In Villanueva de la Serena, a huge 90.49% of voters said yes! This was much higher than the 66.0% needed for the plan to go forward.
Where is Villanueva de la Serena?
Villanueva de la Serena is located in a part of Spain called Vegas Altas. It is seen as the main entrance to La Serena, another area in Extremadura. Historically, Villanueva belongs to La Serena.
The city is only about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from Don Benito. Together, Villanueva de la Serena and Don Benito form a large urban area. About 60,000 people live in this combined area. This makes it one of the most important centers for farming, industry, and services in Extremadura.
The capital of Extremadura, Mérida, is about 58 kilometers (36 miles) away. Badajoz, the biggest city in the region, is about 116 kilometers (72 miles) from Villanueva de la Serena.
A special walking and biking path starts in this city. It is called the "Vía Verde de las Vegas del Guadiana y las Villuercas". This path follows the old railway lines.
Interesting Facts About the City
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José Manuel Calderón, a famous basketball player. - A famous basketball player, José Manuel Calderón, was born here. He used to play in the NBA (National Basketball Association) in the United States. He was the first NBA player from the Extremadura region.
- Pedro Gutiérrez de Valdivia, the Spanish explorer who conquered Chile, was also from Villanueva de la Serena.
- The city celebrates a special festival called La Carrerita. It is considered a festivity of cultural interest. This event happens every year on the last Sunday of Easter week.
- The local football (soccer) team is called CF Villanovense.
See also
In Spanish: Villanueva de la Serena para niños
