Santa Coloma de Farners
Encyclopedia
Santa Coloma de Farners (ˈsantə kuˈɫomə ðə fərˈnes) is a spa town and capital of the comarca
of the Selva
, in
Catalonia
, Spain
, and of the judicial district of Santa Coloma.
It is situated on the edge of the Selva depression and of the Guilleries
. The local economy is mainly commercial, given the status of the town as capital of the comarca, although summer tourism, agriculture and forestry products also contribute. The urban centre is to the north and west of the main modern communication routes, although the C-253 road links the town with the main N-II route and the A-7 autopista and to the RENFE
railway station at Sils
(10 km). The GE-533 runs through the northern part of the municipality, linking it with Vic
to the west and with Riudellots de la Selva
, Vilobí d'Onyar
and Girona-Costa Brava Airport
to the east.
The town dates from at least 898, when the church (rebuilt in 950) is mentioned for the first time. In the Middle Ages
it was under the ecclesiastical control of the monastery
of Sant Pere Cercada and the civil control of Farners castle. A market was established by a charter of King Pere III in 1334, and an independent barony was created in the fifteenth century, held by the Vilademany family.
In the town of Santa Coloma, notable monuments include the gothic church of Santa Coloma (whose current structure dates from the fourteenth century), the Plaça de Farners and the Orion thermal baths (Balneari Termes-Orion). The twelfth century Farners castle is six kilometres to the west of the urban centre (within the municipal boundaries): the adjoining Santuari (Sanctuary) de la Mare de Déu de Farners houses a Marial figure. The roman monastery of Sant Pere Cercada is three kilometres further on from the castle.
Comarques of Catalonia
This is a list of the comarques of Catalonia . A comarca is roughly equivalent to a US "county" or a UK "district". However, in the context of Catalonia, the term "county" can be a bit misleading, because in medieval Catalonia, the most important rulers were counts, notably the Counts of Barcelona...
of the Selva
Selva
Selva is a coastal comarca in Catalonia, Spain, located between the mountain range known as the Serralada Transversal or Puigsacalm and the Costa Brava . Unusually, it is divided between the provinces of Girona and Barcelona, with Fogars de la Selva being part of Barcelona province, and all other...
, in
Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, and of the judicial district of Santa Coloma.
It is situated on the edge of the Selva depression and of the Guilleries
Guilleries
The Guilleries Massif is a mountain system located at the apex of the Catalan Transversal Range and the Pre-Coastal Range...
. The local economy is mainly commercial, given the status of the town as capital of the comarca, although summer tourism, agriculture and forestry products also contribute. The urban centre is to the north and west of the main modern communication routes, although the C-253 road links the town with the main N-II route and the A-7 autopista and to the RENFE
RENFE
Renfe Operadora is the state-owned company which operates freight and passenger trains on the 1668-mm "Iberian gauge" and 1435-mm "European gauge" networks of the Spanish national railway infrastructure company ADIF .- History :The name RENFE is derived from that of the former Spanish National...
railway station at Sils
Sils, Girona
Sils is a municipality in the comarca of Selva, in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated next to a former lake, which was drained in the nineteenth century...
(10 km). The GE-533 runs through the northern part of the municipality, linking it with Vic
Vic
Vic is the capital of the comarca of Osona, in the Barcelona Province, Catalonia, Spain. Vic's location, only 69 km far from Barcelona and 60 km from Girona, has made it one of the most important towns in central Catalonia.-History:...
to the west and with Riudellots de la Selva
Riudellots de la Selva
Riudellots de la Selva is a municipality in the comarca of the Selva in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated in the basin of the Onyar river, on the A-7 autopista and the main N-II road, and is served by a RENFE railway station on the line between Barcelona and Girona and the GE-672 road.The Gothic...
, Vilobí d'Onyar
Vilobí d'Onyar
Vilobí d'Onyar is a municipality in the comarca of the Selva in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated in the valley of the Onyar river, on the GE-533 road between Santa Coloma de Farners and Riudellots de la Selva...
and Girona-Costa Brava Airport
Girona-Costa Brava Airport
Girona-Costa Brava Airport is an airport located southwest of the city of Girona, next to the small village of Vilobí d'Onyar, in the north-east of Catalonia, Spain...
to the east.
The town dates from at least 898, when the church (rebuilt in 950) is mentioned for the first time. In the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
it was under the ecclesiastical control of the monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of Sant Pere Cercada and the civil control of Farners castle. A market was established by a charter of King Pere III in 1334, and an independent barony was created in the fifteenth century, held by the Vilademany family.
In the town of Santa Coloma, notable monuments include the gothic church of Santa Coloma (whose current structure dates from the fourteenth century), the Plaça de Farners and the Orion thermal baths (Balneari Termes-Orion). The twelfth century Farners castle is six kilometres to the west of the urban centre (within the municipal boundaries): the adjoining Santuari (Sanctuary) de la Mare de Déu de Farners houses a Marial figure. The roman monastery of Sant Pere Cercada is three kilometres further on from the castle.
Demography
External links
- Official site
- Information from the Generalitat de CatalunyaGeneralitat de CatalunyaThe Generalitat of Catalonia is the institution under which the autonomous community of Catalonia is politically organised. It consists of the Parliament, the President of the Generalitat of Catalonia and the Government of Catalonia....
- Information from the Institut d'Estadística de CatalunyaInstitut d'Estadística de CatalunyaThe Institut d'Estadística de Catalunya is the official body responsible for collecting and publishing statistics in the autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain. It is under the responsibility of the Department of the Economy and Finances of the Generalitat de Catalunya.-External links:*...
- Street plan (.pdf file)