Legazpi, Gipuzkoa

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Legazpi
Legazpiko plaza.jpg
Legazpi plaza
Escudo de Legazpi.svg
Basque Country location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Legazpi
Location of Legazpi within the Basque Country
Coordinates: 43°3′18″N2°20′6″W / 43.05500°N 2.33500°W / 43.05500; -2.33500
Country Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
Autonomous Community Flag of the Basque Country.svg  Basque Country
Province Gipuzkoa
Comarca Tolosaldea
Government
  MayorKepa Urcelay Goitia
Area
  Total42 km2 (16 sq mi)
Elevation
400 m (1,300 ft)
Population
 (2018) [1]
  Total8,384
  Density200/km2 (520/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
  Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
20230
Website www.legazpi.net

Legazpi is a city in the Gipuzkoa province of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country, northern Spain.

Contents

Legazpi is a town of about 9,000 inhabitants located on top of the Urola valley, in Gipuzkoa. Surrounded by mountains, and at the foot of the Aizkorri mountain range, its predominant economic activity is industrial (manufacturing, metal processing, plastics).

The rich industrial tradition of Legazpi goes back to the High Middle Ages, when transformation of iron ore was achieved by means of the haizeolak ("ironworks moved by wind"). During the 14th century, wind energy came to be replaced by water in the metal processing with the foundation of several "ironworks propelled by water" (ur 'water' and ola originally 'shack', are the two lexical components of "Urola", a river crossing Legazpi). This industrial tradition had its continuity in modern times, and Legazpi became one of the most important metallurgic centres in the industrialised modern Basque Country.

Mirandaola foundry Mirandaola Santikutz baseliza.jpg
Mirandaola foundry

One of the 14th century ironworks (called Mirandaola) has remained in place to date like nowhere else in the Basque Country. It is the heart of a thematic park with an educational and touristy vocation, where traditions and ways of living from the past are shown.

Notable people

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References

  1. Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.