Torrelavega is a municipality

Municipio

Municipio and Município are terms used for country subdivisions. They are often translated as municipality.-Overview:...

 and important industrial and commercial hub in the single province Autonomous Community

Autonomous communities of Spain

An autonomous community In other languages of Spain:*Catalan/Valencian .*Galician .*Basque . The second article of the constitution recognizes the rights of "nationalities and regions" to self-government and declares the "indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation".Political power in Spain is...

 of Cantabria

Cantabria

Cantabria is a Spanish historical region and autonomous community with Santander as its capital city. It is bordered on the east by the Basque Autonomous Community , on the south by Castile and León , on the west by the Principality of Asturias, and on the north by the Cantabrian Sea.Cantabria...

 in northern 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...

.

It is situated roughly 8 kilometres from the Cantabrian Coast

Bay of Biscay

The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal, and is named in English after the province of Biscay, in the Spanish...

 and 27.5 kilometres from the capital of the Autonomous Community, Santander

Santander, Cantabria

The port city of Santander is the capital of the autonomous community and historical region of Cantabria situated on the north coast of Spain. Located east of Gijón and west of Bilbao, the city has a population of 183,446 .-History:...

, half way between the Principality of Asturias

Asturias

The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...

  and the Basque Country

Basque Country (autonomous community)

The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....

. The rivers Saja

Saja

Saja may refer to:* Saja Records* South Asian Journalists Association* Saja - a river of Spain* Sebastian Saja - Argentine football goalkeeper...

 and Besaya flow through the city.

It is the capital of the comarca  (county, but with no administrative role) of Valle del Besaya which includes also composed of the municipalities of Cartes

Cartes

Cartes is a municipality located in the autonomous community of Cantabria, Spain. According to the 2009 census, the city has a population of 5.118 inhabitants.-External links:* - Cantabria 102 Municipios...

, Los Corrales de Buelna

Los Corrales de Buelna

-Politics:The current mayor of the municipality is Mercedes Toribio Ruiz, from PP. Unlike most other municipalities, Falangist forces were present in the municipal council for many years following the transition to democracy.-Demographic development:...

, Cieza

Cieza, Cantabria

Cieza is a municipality located in the autonomous community of Cantabria, Spain. According to the 2007 census, the city has a population of 664 inhabitants. Its capital is Villayuso de Cieza.-External links:* - Cantabria 102 Municipios...

, Arenas de Iguña

Arenas de Iguña

Arenas de Iguña is a municipality located in the autonomous community of Cantabria, Spain. According to the 2007 census, the city has a population of 1,927 inhabitants.-Towns:*Arenas de Iguña *Bostronizo*Cohiño*Las Fraguas*Los Llares*Palacio...

, Bárcena de Pie de Concha

Bárcena de Pie de Concha

Bárcena de Pie de Concha is a municipality located in the autonomous community of Cantabria, Spain. According to the 2007 census, the city has a population of 825 inhabitants.-Towns:*Bárcena de Pie de Concha *Pie de Concha*Pujayo...

, Molledo, Anievas

Anievas

Anievas is a municipality located in the autonomous community of Cantabria, Spain. According to the 2007 census, the city has a population of 12.919 inhabitants. Its capital is Cotillo.-Towns:*Barriopalacio*Cotillo *Calga*Villasuso...

 and San Felices de Buelna

San Felices de Buelna

San Felices de Buelna is a municipality located in the autonomous community of Cantabria, Spain....

.

Its highest point is 606 metres and its lowest point is 12 metres.

History

Torrelavega was founded at the end of the thirteenth century by Garci Lasso I de la Vega (the elder), Adelantado Mayor of the Kingdom of Castile

Kingdom of Castile

Kingdom of Castile was one of the medieval kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula. It emerged as a political autonomous entity in the 9th century. It was called County of Castile and was held in vassalage from the Kingdom of León. Its name comes from the host of castles constructed in the region...

 in the name of King Alfonso XI of Castile

Alfonso XI of Castile

Alfonso XI was the king of Castile, León and Galicia.He was the son of Ferdinand IV of Castile and his wife Constance of Portugal. Upon his father's death in 1312, several disputes ensued over who would hold regency, which were resolved in 1313...

.

Its current name is due to the contraction of the original eponym

Eponym

An eponym is the name of a person or thing, whether real or fictitious, after which a particular place, tribe, era, discovery, or other item is named or thought to be named...

 of "Torre de la Vega". The Castle or Tower of the Vega's was built by Leonor de la Vega, daughter of Garci Lasso II de la Vega, the younger, and mother of the Íñigo López de Mendoza, marqués de Santillana

Íñigo López de Mendoza, marqués de Santillana

Don Íñigo López de Mendoza y de la Vega, Marquis of Santillana was a Castilian politician and poet who held an important position in society and Literature during the reign of John II of Castile....

 in order to administer the tax and privilege due in the family's territory.
The name of the comarca

Comarca

A comarca is a traditional region or local administrative division found in parts of Spain, Portugal, Panama, Nicaragua, and Brazil. The term is derived from the term marca, meaning a "march, mark", plus the prefix co- meaning "together, jointly".The comarca is known in Aragonese as redolada and...

, Valle del Besaya is derived from the Astur-Leonese Bisalia, which in turn derives from the Celtic, Bis-salia (the second Salia or Saja

Saja

Saja may refer to:* Saja Records* South Asian Journalists Association* Saja - a river of Spain* Sebastian Saja - Argentine football goalkeeper...

) from the two rivers that flow through the city.

Torrelavega was an important agricultural hub in the Kingdom of Castile

Kingdom of Castile

Kingdom of Castile was one of the medieval kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula. It emerged as a political autonomous entity in the 9th century. It was called County of Castile and was held in vassalage from the Kingdom of León. Its name comes from the host of castles constructed in the region...

 since medieval times. Continuous population growth and industrial development enabled Torrelavega to attain city status in 1895 from the Queen Regent Maria Christina of Bourbon, Princess of the Two Sicilies

Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies

Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies was Queen consort of Spain and Regent of Spain .-Early years and first marriage:...

.

The city is home to the main seat of the Spanish anarcho-syndicalist labor union the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo

Confederación Nacional del Trabajo

The Confederación Nacional del Trabajo is a Spanish confederation of anarcho-syndicalist labor unions affiliated with the International Workers Association . When working with the latter group it is also known as CNT-AIT...

.

Divisions

• Barreda
• Campuzano
• Duález
• Ganzo
• La Montaña
• Sierrapando
• Tanos
• Torrelavega (Metro)
• Torres
• Viérnoles

Neighborhoods within the Metropolitan Area

• La Inmobiliaria
• El Barrio de Sorravides
• El Barrio Covadonga
• La Nueva Ciudad
• El Zapatón
• El Poblado

Neighboring municipalities

• North: Santillana del Mar
  Santillana del Mar
  Santillana del Mar is a historic town situated in Cantabria, Spain. Certain features of this historical town includes Altamira Caves and many historic buildings, attracting thousands of holiday-makers every year....
  
  , Suances and Polanco.
• South: Los Corrales de Buelna
  Los Corrales de Buelna
  -Politics:The current mayor of the municipality is Mercedes Toribio Ruiz, from PP. Unlike most other municipalities, Falangist forces were present in the municipal council for many years following the transition to democracy.-Demographic development:...
  
   and San Felices de Buelna
  San Felices de Buelna
  San Felices de Buelna is a municipality located in the autonomous community of Cantabria, Spain....
  
  .
• East: Piélagos and Puente Viesgo
  Puente Viesgo
  Puente Viesgo is a municipality in Cantabria, Spain....
  
  .
• West: Reocín and Cartes
  Cartes
  Cartes is a municipality located in the autonomous community of Cantabria, Spain. According to the 2009 census, the city has a population of 5.118 inhabitants.-External links:* - Cantabria 102 Municipios...
  
  .

External links

• Ayuntamiento de Torrelavega

http://www.oviedo.es/index.php/es/la-ciudad/ciudades-hermanadas Oviedo´s twincity it´s Torrevieja,not Torrelavega

http://www.eldiariomontanes.es/20110324/local/torrelavega-besaya/torrelavega-louga-hermanas-201103241319.html