Lleida (, ; ; ''
see below'') is a city in the west of
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a ''nationalities and regions of Spain, nationality'' by its Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 2006, Statute of Autonomy. Most of its territory (except the Val d'Aran) is situate ...
, Spain. It is the capital and largest town in
Segrià county, the
Ponent region and the
province of Lleida
The Province of Lleida (; ; ) is one of the four provinces of Catalonia. It lies in northeastern Spain, in the western part of the autonomous community of Catalonia, and is bordered by the provinces of Girona, Barcelona, Tarragona, Zarag ...
. Geographically, it is located in the
Catalan Central Depression. It had 140,797 inhabitants .
Lleida is one of the oldest towns in Catalonia, with recorded settlements dating back to the
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age () was a historical period characterised principally by the use of bronze tools and the development of complex urban societies, as well as the adoption of writing in some areas. The Bronze Age is the middle principal period of ...
period. Until the
Roman conquest of the Iberian Peninsula
The romans ruled and occupied territories in the Iberian Peninsula that were previously under the control of native Celtic, Iberian, Celtiberian and Aquitanian tribes and the Carthaginian Empire. The Carthaginian territories in the south an ...
, the area served as a settlement for an
Iberian people, the
Ilergetes. The town became a municipality, named Ilerda, under the reign of
Augustus
Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian (), was the founder of the Roman Empire, who reigned as the first Roman emperor from 27 BC until his death in A ...
. It was ruled by Muslims from the 8th century until
reconquered in 1149. In 1297, the
University of Lleida was founded, becoming the third oldest in the whole of Spain. During the following centuries, the town was damaged by several wars such as the
Reapers' War
The Reapers' War (, ; , ), also known as the Catalan Revolt or Catalan Revolution, was a conflict that affected the Principality of Catalonia between 1640 and 1659, in the context of the Franco-Spanish War (1635–1659), Franco-Spanish War of 1 ...
in the 17th century and the
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil War () was a military conflict fought from 1936 to 1939 between the Republican faction (Spanish Civil War), Republicans and the Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War), Nationalists. Republicans were loyal to the Left-wing p ...
in the 20th century. Since then, the city has been in constant urban, commercial and demographic growth.
Name
Although the usual
Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas
**Spanish cuisine
**Spanish history
**Spanish culture
...
form of the town's name is , pronounced , the associations of that name with enforced
Castilianization under the
Francoist regime have led to the
Catalan form being used for official purposes even in Spanish. The local pronunciation of the name is , while the standard pronunciation is .
History

In ancient times the city, named ''Iltrida'' and ''Ilerda'', was the chief city of the
Ilergetes, an
Iberian tribe.
Indíbil, king of the Ilergetes, and Mandoni, king of the Ausetanes, defended it against the Carthaginian and Roman invasions.
Under the Romans the city was incorporated into the Roman province of
Hispania Tarraconensis
Hispania Tarraconensis was one of three Roman provinces in Hispania. It encompassed much of the northern, eastern and central territories of modern Spain along with modern North Region, Portugal, northern Portugal. Southern Spain, the region now ...
, and was a place of considerable importance, historically as well as geographically. It stood upon an eminence, on the right (west) bank of the river Sicoris (the modern
Segre), the principal tributary of the
Ebre, and some distance above its confluence with the Cinga (modern
Cinca); thus commanding the country between those rivers, as well as the great road from Tarraco (modern
Tarragona
Tarragona (, ; ) is a coastal city and municipality in Catalonia (Spain). It is the capital and largest town of Tarragonès county, the Camp de Tarragona region and the province of Tarragona. Geographically, it is located on the Costa Daurada ar ...
), the provincial capital, to the northwest of Spain, which here crossed the Sicoris.
Its situation induced the legates of
Pompey
Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (; 29 September 106 BC – 28 September 48 BC), known in English as Pompey ( ) or Pompey the Great, was a Roman general and statesman who was prominent in the last decades of the Roman Republic. ...
in Spain to make it the key of their defense against Caesar, in the first year of the
Civil War
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...
(49 BC).
Afranius and
Marcus Petreius
Marcus Petreius (110 BC – April 46 BC) was a Roman politician and general. He was a client of Pompey and like Pompey he came from Picenum a region in eastern Italy. He cornered and killed the notorious rebel Catiline at Pistoia.
Career
The chr ...
threw themselves into the place with five legions; and their siege by Caesar himself (
Battle of Ilerda
The Battle of Ilerda took place in June 49 BC between the forces of Julius Caesar and the Spanish army of Pompey Magnus, led by his legates Lucius Afranius and Marcus Petreius. Unlike many of the other battles of the civil war, this was more ...
), as narrated in his own words, forms one of the most interesting passages of military history. Caesar's skill as a general, in a contest where the formation of the district and a series of natural events seemed very favorable to his enemies, ultimately gained him victory. It was ended by the capitulation of Afranius and Petreius. In consequence of the battle, the
Latin phrase
This is a list of Wikipedia articles of Latin phrases and their translation into English.
To view all phrases on a single, lengthy document, see: List of Latin phrases (full).
Lists of pages
* List of Latin phrases (A)
* List of Latin phrases ( ...
''Ilerdam videas'' is said to have been used by people who wanted to cast bad luck on someone else.
Under the
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire ruled the Mediterranean and much of Europe, Western Asia and North Africa. The Roman people, Romans conquered most of this during the Roman Republic, Republic, and it was ruled by emperors following Octavian's assumption of ...
Ilerda was a prosperous city and a ''
municipium
In ancient Rome, the Latin term (: ) referred to a town or city. Etymologically, the was a social contract among ('duty holders'), or citizens of the town. The duties () were a communal obligation assumed by the in exchange for the privileges ...
''. It minted its own coins. It had a fine stone bridge over the Sicoris, which was so sturdy that its foundations support a bridge to this day. In the time of
Ausonius
Decimius Magnus Ausonius (; ) was a Latin literature, Roman poet and Education in ancient Rome, teacher of classical rhetoric, rhetoric from Burdigala, Gallia Aquitania, Aquitaine (now Bordeaux, France). For a time, he was tutor to the future E ...
the city had fallen into decay but it rose again into importance in the Middle Ages.
It was part of
Visigothic
The Visigoths (; ) were a Germanic people united under the rule of a king and living within the Roman Empire during late antiquity. The Visigoths first appeared in the Balkans, as a Roman-allied barbarian military group united under the comman ...
and
Muslim Hispania until it was
conquered from the Moors by Count
Ramon Berenguer IV of
Barcelona
Barcelona ( ; ; ) is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second-most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within c ...
in 1149.
It used to be the seat of a
major university, the oldest in the
Crown of Aragon
The Crown of Aragon (, ) ;, ; ; . was a composite monarchy ruled by one king, originated by the dynastic union of the Kingdom of Aragon and the County of Barcelona (later Principality of Catalonia) and ended as a consequence of the War of the Sp ...
, until 1717, when it was moved by
Philip V to the nearby town of
Cervera
Cervera () is the capital of the '' comarca'' of Segarra, in the province of Lleida, Autonomous Community of Catalonia, Spain. The title Comte de Cervera is a courtesy title, formerly part of the Crown of Aragon, that has been revived for Leonor ...
. The
University of Lleida is nowadays active again since 1991.
During the
Reapers' War
The Reapers' War (, ; , ), also known as the Catalan Revolt or Catalan Revolution, was a conflict that affected the Principality of Catalonia between 1640 and 1659, in the context of the Franco-Spanish War (1635–1659), Franco-Spanish War of 1 ...
Lleida was occupied by the French and rebel forces. In 1644 the city was conquered by the Spanish under
Felipe da Silva.
Lleida served as a key defence point for
Barcelona
Barcelona ( ; ; ) is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second-most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within c ...
during the
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil War () was a military conflict fought from 1936 to 1939 between the Republican faction (Spanish Civil War), Republicans and the Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War), Nationalists. Republicans were loyal to the Left-wing p ...
and fell to the
Insurgents
An insurgency is a violent, armed rebellion by small, lightly armed bands who practice guerrilla warfare against a larger authority. The key descriptive feature of insurgency is its asymmetric nature: small irregular forces face a large, well ...
, whose air forces bombed it extensively in 1937 and 1938. The 2 November 1937
Condor Legion
The Condor Legion () was a unit of military personnel from the air force and army of Nazi Germany’s Wehrmacht which served with the Nationalist faction during the Spanish Civil War. The legion developed methods of strategic bombing that were ...
attacks against Lleida became especially infamous since they targeted the school known as ''
Liceu Escolar de Lleida''. 48 children and several teachers died in it that day, 300 people were killed in the 2 November bombings altogether and the town would be bombed and besieged again in 1938, when it was conquered by
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco Bahamonde (born Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Teódulo Franco Bahamonde; 4 December 1892 – 20 November 1975) was a Spanish general and dictator who led the Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War), Nationalist forces i ...
's forces.
After some decades without any kind of population growth it experienced a massive influx of
Andalusians
The Andalusians () are the people of Andalusia, an autonomous community in southern Spain. Andalusia's statute of autonomy defines Andalusians as the Spanish citizens who reside in any of the municipalities of Andalusia, as well as those Spani ...
, who helped the town undergo a relative demographic growth. Nowadays it is home to immigrants of 146 different nationalities.
Lleida was the Capital of Catalan Culture in 2007.
Jewish History
The ''
Juderia'', or Jewish quarter in Lleida dates back to the 11th century. The Jewish quarter in Lleida was also referred to as La Cuirassa. This name distinction is unique compared to other Jewish communities in Spain, and historians believe that the origin of the term is linked to the former Jewish quarter that existed in the times of the Moors, which was connected to the "coiraça", a protrusion of the city wall. The Jews established their quarter next to this wall, leading to the name "La Cuirassa." A street named "Judería", which still exists in today's Lleida dates back to the time where the Jewish quarter was still active. The Jewish quarter was located in the fortified area of Lleida; in this area, a ring with the name "Goig" carved in
Hebrew
Hebrew (; ''ʿÎbrit'') is a Northwest Semitic languages, Northwest Semitic language within the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family. A regional dialect of the Canaanite languages, it was natively spoken by the Israelites and ...
was found in 1870.
A Jewish ritual bath, or
mikveh
A mikveh or mikvah (, ''mikva'ot'', ''mikvot'', or (Ashkenazi Hebrew, Ashkenazic) ''mikves'', lit., "a collection") is a bath used for ritual washing in Judaism#Full-body immersion, ritual immersion in Judaism to achieve Tumah and taharah, ...
dating to the 9th century, one of the oldest in Europe, was found in Lleida.
Climate
Lleida has a
temperate semi-arid climate (
Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Bernd Köppen (1951–2014), German pianist and composer
* Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan
* Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author ...
''
BSk''). Winters are mild and foggy though cooler than places on the coast while summers are hot and dry. Frosts are common during winter although snowfall can occasionally fall, averaging 1 or 2 days. Precipitation is low, with an annual average of with a peak in April and May and another peak in September and October.
Districts and neighbourhoods

Lleida is divided in the following districts by the Socioeconomic Observatory of Lleida:
*
Balàfia
*
Les Basses d'Alpicat
*
La Bordeta
*
Butsènit
*
Camp d'Esports
*
Cappont
*
Centre Històric
*
Ciutat Jardí
*
Humbert Torres
*
Instituts-Templers
*
Joc de la Bola
*
Llívia
Llívia (; ) is a town in the '' comarca'' of Cerdanya, province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain. It is a Spanish exclave surrounded by the French '' département'' of Pyrénées-Orientales. It is named after Livia, the wife of Augustus and matr ...
*
Magraners
*
Mariola
*
Pardinyes
*
Príncep de Viana-Clot
*
Rambla Ferran-Estació
*
Secà de Sant Pere
*
Torres de Sanuí
*
Universitat
Transport
Railway
Lleida is served by
Renfe
Renfe (, ), officially Renfe-Operadora, is Spain's national state-owned railway company.
It was created in 2005 upon the split of the former Spanish National Railway Network (RENFE) into the Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias ( ...
's
Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line
The Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line is a standard-gauge railway line inaugurated on 20 February 2008. Designed for speeds of and compatibility with neighbouring countries' rail systems, it connects the cities of Madrid and Barcelona in ...
, serving
Barcelona
Barcelona ( ; ; ) is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second-most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within c ...
,
Zaragoza
Zaragoza (), traditionally known in English as Saragossa ( ), is the capital city of the province of Zaragoza and of the autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Aragon, Spain. It lies by the Ebro river and its tributaries, the ...
,
Calatayud
Calatayud (; 2014 pop. 20,658) is a Municipalities of Spain, municipality in the Province of Zaragoza, within Aragón, Spain, lying on the river Jalón (river), Jalón, in the midst of the Sistema Ibérico mountain range. It is the second-largest ...
,
Guadalajara
Guadalajara ( ; ) is the capital and the most populous city in the western Mexican List of states of Mexico, state of Jalisco, as well as the most densely populated municipality in Jalisco. According to the 2020 census, the city has a population ...
, and
Madrid
Madrid ( ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in Spain, most populous municipality of Spain. It has almost 3.5 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 7 million. It i ...
. Lleida has a
new airport opened in January 2010, and a minor airfield located in
Alfès. Also, the town is the western terminus of the
Eix Transversal Lleida-
Girona
Girona (; ) is the capital city of the Province of Girona in the autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain, at the confluence of the Ter, Onyar, Galligants, and Güell rivers. The city had an official population of 106,476 in 2024, but the p ...
, and a railway covering the same distance (''Eix Transversal Ferroviari'') is currently under planning.
Lleida's only passenger railway station is
Lleida Pirineus. It is served by both
Renfe
Renfe (, ), officially Renfe-Operadora, is Spain's national state-owned railway company.
It was created in 2005 upon the split of the former Spanish National Railway Network (RENFE) into the Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias ( ...
and
Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya
(, "Catalan Government Railways"; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Ferrocarriles de la Generalidad de Cataluña''), or FGC, is a railway company which operates several unconnected lines in Catalonia, Spain.
The lines operated include metro and commu ...
train lines. In the future a
Rodalies Lleida commuter network will connect the town with its adjacent area and the main towns of its province, improving the existing network with more train frequency and newly built infrastructure. A second railway station is
Pla de la Vilanoveta in an industrial area, and only used by freight trains. A future railway museum will be located in its facilities. Since 2008 the bulk of public transport of
Lleida's surrounding area, mainly buses operated by several companies, is managed by
Autoritat Territorial de la Mobilitat de l'Àrea de Lleida.
Bus
The urban buses, coloured yellow with blue stripes and owned by ''
Autobusos de Lleida'', include the following lines:
*L-1 Interior
*L-2 Ronda
*L-3 Pardinyes
*L-4 Mariola –
*L-5 Bordeta
*L-6 Magraners
*L-7 Secà
*L-8 Balàfia-Gualda
*L-9 Hospitals
*L-10 Exterior
*L-11 Llívia-Caparrella
*L-11B Llívia-Caparrella-Butsenit
*L-12 C.Històric-Universitat
*L-13 Cappont
*L-14 Agrònoms
*L-P Polígons
*L-17 Bordeta-Ciutat Jardí
*L-18 Palau de Congressos- Rambla de la Mercé
*L-19 Butsenit
*L-N Wonder (Regular night service)
*L-Bus Turístic (tourist bus)
*L-Aeroport
*L-Llotja
In addition to these, there's a tourist bus and a regular night service to nearby clubs.
Lleida-Pirineus airport
Lleida has depended long time on nearby airports and had no local air transit. The
Lleida-Alguaire airport opened in 2010.
Future and planned services
A
tram
A tram (also known as a streetcar or trolley in Canada and the United States) is an urban rail transit in which Rolling stock, vehicles, whether individual railcars or multiple-unit trains, run on tramway tracks on urban public streets; some ...
-
train
A train (from Old French , from Latin">-4; we might wonder whether there's a point at which it's appropriate to talk of the beginnings of French, that is, when it wa ... , from Latin , "to pull, to draw") is a series of connected vehicles th ...
system is pending approval. Using an existing but outdated passenger line, it would link
Balaguer and Lleida, crossing both towns in a much needed move towards better public transportation, both inner-city and between localities.
Languages
Lleida is a traditionally
Catalan-speaking
Catalan () is a Western Romance language and is the official language of Andorra, and the official language of three autonomous communities in eastern Spain: Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and the Valencian Community, where it is called ''Val ...
city, with a characteristic dialect (known as Western or, more specifically,
Northwestern Catalan
The Catalan dialects (and restrictively also, Valencian dialects) feature a relative uniformity, especially when compared to other Romance languages; both in terms of vocabulary, semantics, syntax, morphology, and phonology. Mutual intelligibil ...
, or colloquially ''lleidatà''). Most of the population is actively bilingual in
Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas
**Spanish cuisine
**Spanish history
**Spanish culture
...
.
Culture

Lleida was the
Capital of Catalan Culture in 2007.
Theatre and music venues
Enric Granados Auditorium is the city's concert hall and main music institution and conservatory. It is named after the composer
Enric Granados, who was born in the city.
CaixaForum Lleida
CaixaForum is a cultural centre managed by Fundación “La Caixa” located at 3 Avinguda de Blondel, Lleida, Avinguda de Blondel, in the city of Lleida, cornering Avinguda de Madrid, Llieda, Avinguda de Madrid, in the building popularly known as ...
(formerly known as ''Centre Cultural de la Fundació La Caixa'') includes a concert hall.
Teatre Municipal de l'Escorxador is the town's main theatre; it includes a concert venue,
Cafè del Teatre. A theatre and congress centre,
La Llotja de Lleida
La Llotja de Lleida is a theatre and congress centre in Lleida (Catalonia, Spain). It opened its doors in January 2010, and is owned by the city council. Giuseppe Verdi's '' Il Trovatore'' premiered there on 21 January that year. Its two congres ...
, opened in 2010.
Music festivals
There are two important music festivals in Lleida; MÚSIQUES DISPERSES Folk Festival in March, and the jazz festival JAZZ TARDOR in November. Concerts are also a regular fixture of the two local feasts, Sant Anastasi in May, and Sant Miquel in September.
Film
CaixaForum Lleida
CaixaForum is a cultural centre managed by Fundación “La Caixa” located at 3 Avinguda de Blondel, Lleida, Avinguda de Blondel, in the city of Lleida, cornering Avinguda de Madrid, Llieda, Avinguda de Madrid, in the building popularly known as ...
is the usual venue for film-related events and screenings. A
Latin-American film festival is held yearly in the town (
''Mostra de Cinema Llatinoamericà de Lleida''), and an animation film festival called ''
Animac'' is held every May.
Art and museums
The
Lleida Museum opened in 2008 and displays historical artefacts and works of art from various periods. The
Institut d'Estudis Ilerdencs, a historically relevant building, exhibits both ancient and contemporary art. The
Centre d'Art La Panera is a contemporary art institution. The
Museu d'Art Jaume Morera displays art from the 20th and 21st centuries (as well as artwork by its namesake).
The city has a number of small municipal galleries, such as the Sala Municipal d'Exposicions de Sant Joan and the Sala Manel Garcia Sarramona. There are also several institutions dedicated to local artists, such as the Sala Leandre Cristòfol, containing artwork by the sculptor and painter
Leandre Cristòfol (1908–1998); and the Sala Coma Estadella, dedicated to the sculptor and painter
Albert Coma Estadella (1933–1991).
Private art galleries include the Espai Cavallers. The private foundation CaixaForum Lleida and the
Public Library of Lleida also offer regular exhibits. The now defunct
Petite Galerie was an innovative and influential gallery in the 1970s.
The
Escola Municipal de Belles Arts provides higher education in the arts.
Traditional culture

Traditional celebrations include the main annual town festivity: ''Festa Major''; ''Fira de Sant Miquel'' and ''
L’Aplec del Caragol'' (
escargot-eating festival, the biggest in the world of this sort, held at the Camps Elisis since 1980).
The latter is a gastronomical festivity focused on escargot cooking and is celebrated yearly at the end of May. "L'Aplec" gathers thousands of people around the table to taste the most traditional dishes from Lleida.
Due to its strong popularity, it was declared a traditional festivity of national interest in 2002 by the Generalitat of Catalonia and two years later it was also declared as such by the Spanish Government.
The main traditional celebrations in Lleida are chaired by the twelve emblematic "Gegants de la Paeria" (Giants of the Town Hall), the two oldest made in 1840.
Nightlife
Lleida has a bar and clubbing area, informally known as ''Els Vins''. The oldest part of the quarter, known as ''Els Vins Vells'', has been largely replaced by ''Els Vins Nous'', an architecturally newer and more upscale area. Most big clubs in Lleida are located outside the town and are not easily accessible without a car, though on Saturday nights there is a bus.
Main sights

*
La Seu Vella
The Cathedral of St. Mary of la Seu Vella (Catalan and Spanish: ''Catedral de Santa Maria de la Seu Vella'', English: ''St. Mary of the Old —Bishop— Seat'') is the former cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lleida, in Lleida, ...
, a cathedral built in a blend of
Romanesque and
Gothic styles over time, and made a military fortress in the 18th century. There is also an older, and mostly destroyed ''
Palau de la Suda'', built during Arab rule and later used as a royal residence by the counts of
Barcelona
Barcelona ( ; ; ) is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second-most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within c ...
and kings of
Aragon
Aragon ( , ; Spanish and ; ) is an autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. In northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces of Spain, ...
. Both medieval buildings are situated over the so-called ''Turó de la Seu'', a medium-sized hill that overlooks the town.
*
La Seu Nova, the baroque cathedral, in use since
Bourbon rule. It was burnt during the
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil War () was a military conflict fought from 1936 to 1939 between the Republican faction (Spanish Civil War), Republicans and the Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War), Nationalists. Republicans were loyal to the Left-wing p ...
by the
anarchist
Anarchism is a political philosophy and Political movement, movement that seeks to abolish all institutions that perpetuate authority, coercion, or Social hierarchy, hierarchy, primarily targeting the state (polity), state and capitalism. A ...
s commanded by
Buenaventura Durruti
José Buenaventura Durruti Dumange (14 July 1896 – 20 November 1936) was a Spanish anarchist revolutionary involved with the CNT and the FAI in the periods before and during the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939. Durruti played an influe ...
.
*
Institut d'Estudis Ilerdencs, used to be a hospital (''Antic Hospital de Santa Maria'') built in
Gothic style, but today is a historical museum and research centre open to visitors, with historically significant artworks and artefacts from the
Iberian,
Roman
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of Roman civilization
*Epistle to the Romans, shortened to Romans, a letter w ...
,
Arab
Arabs (, , ; , , ) are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in West Asia and North Africa. A significant Arab diaspora is present in various parts of the world.
Arabs have been in the Fertile Crescent for thousands of years ...
,
medieval
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...
and modern times, as well as an exhibit area usually showcasing contemporary local artists.
*
La Paeria, the city council and also a historical site with remains and artefacts from
Roman
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of Roman civilization
*Epistle to the Romans, shortened to Romans, a letter w ...
times through to the
Moorish
The term Moor is an exonym used in European languages to designate the Muslim populations of North Africa (the Maghreb) and the Iberian Peninsula (particularly al-Andalus) during the Middle Ages.
Moors are not a single, distinct or self-defi ...
rule,
Mediaeval
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and t ...
and
Modern times, including old prison cells.
*
Gardeny is a hill hosting a fortress built between the 12th and 13th centuries. Used by the
Knights Templar
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, mainly known as the Knights Templar, was a Military order (religious society), military order of the Catholic Church, Catholic faith, and one of the most important military ord ...
in the
Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...
after the area (a fifth of the town) had been granted to them by King
Ramon Berenguer IV.
*The gardens known as
Camps Elisis, already used by the
Romans. The
Mermaid Fountain is a nice piece.
*
La Mitjana
LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second most populous city in the United States of America.
La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment Music
* La (musical note), or A, the sixth note
*"L.A.", a song by Elliott Smi ...
, a park at the edge of town with wilderness areas adjacent to an old
dam
A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use, aqua ...
on the
river Segre.
*
Les Basses d'Alpicat, a park. It is currently closed, awaiting reforms.
*
Church of Sant Llorenç, a 12th-century
Romanesque church with 15th-century Gothic additions. The interior is well preserved.
*
Church of Sant Martí, a 12th-century
Romanesque church.
*The bishop of
Lleida
Lleida (, ; ; '' see below'') is a city in the west of Catalonia, Spain. It is the capital and largest town in Segrià county, the Ponent region and the province of Lleida. Geographically, it is located in the Catalan Central Depression. It ...
’s Palace on
Rambla d'Aragó, which also serves as an art museum displaying pieces spanning from
Romanesque to
Baroque
The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...
times.
*
El Roser, a 13th-century
convent
A convent is an enclosed community of monks, nuns, friars or religious sisters. Alternatively, ''convent'' means the building used by the community.
The term is particularly used in the Catholic Church, Lutheran churches, and the Anglican ...
built by the
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers (, abbreviated OP), commonly known as the Dominican Order, is a Catholic Church, Catholic mendicant order of pontifical right that was founded in France by a Castilians, Castilian priest named Saint Dominic, Dominic de Gu ...
. It hosted a fine arts academy of the same name and has recently been controversially reformed and turned into a
Parador
A ''parador'' (), in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries was an establishment where travelers could seek lodging, and usually, food and drink, similar to an inn. In Spain since 1928, a Parador is a state-owned luxury hotel, usually loca ...
(a luxury hotel using a historical location).
*The
Cementiri de Lleida (Municipal Cemetery) to the West of the city is listed in the Inventari del Patrimoni Arquitectònic de Catalunya (Inventory of the Architectural Heritage of Catalonia). The oldest portion dates from 1784.
*
Lleida Public Library, on
Rambla d'Aragó, in the building previously known as
La Maternitat, a mid-19th century
orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution, total institution or group home, devoted to the care of orphans and children who, for various reasons, cannot be cared by their biological families. The parents may be deceased, absent, or abusi ...
.
*
Museum of Lleida, opened in 2008, and owned by the
Diocese of Lleida focusing on the town's history. Some of the artefacts it contains, which come from areas historically belonging to the diocese but not currently part of the
province of Lleida
The Province of Lleida (; ; ) is one of the four provinces of Catalonia. It lies in northeastern Spain, in the western part of the autonomous community of Catalonia, and is bordered by the provinces of Girona, Barcelona, Tarragona, Zarag ...
's territory and jurisdiction, have been the object of contention with the neighbouring dioceses and the government of the autonomous community of
Aragon
Aragon ( , ; Spanish and ; ) is an autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. In northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces of Spain, ...
.
*
Sala Cristòfol, a museum devoted to the works of the avant-garde sculptor
Leandre Cristòfol.
*
Sala Mercat del Pla, an art gallery.
*
Museu d'Art Jaume Morera, an art museum displaying art from the 20th and 21st centuries in a modernist building.
*
Centre d'Art de la Panera, a small contemporary art institution.
*
Museu de l'Aigua, in ''Parc de l'Aigua''.
*
Auditori Enric Granados, Lleida's foremost
concert hall
A concert hall is a cultural building with a stage (theatre), stage that serves as a performance venue and an auditorium filled with seats.
This list does not include other venues such as sports stadia, dramatic theatres or convention ...
. Next to its basement and on public display are some ancient ruins.
*
La Llotja de Lleida
La Llotja de Lleida is a theatre and congress centre in Lleida (Catalonia, Spain). It opened its doors in January 2010, and is owned by the city council. Giuseppe Verdi's '' Il Trovatore'' premiered there on 21 January that year. Its two congres ...
, a concert hall, theatre, opera and congress hall opened in 2010.
*
Parc de l'Aigua, urban park in the southern neighborhoods.
Sports
*
Unió Esportiva Lleida, based on the
Camp d'Esports dissolved in 2011
*
Lleida Esportiu football club founded in 2011
*
CE Lleida Bàsquet, based on the
Pavelló Barris Nord
Pavelló Barris Nord (Catalan language, Catalan for ''Northern Neighborhood Pavilion'') is an arena in Lleida, Catalonia, Spain. It is primarily used for basketball games and the home arena of Força Lleida CE.
History
The construction of the Pave ...
Sister cities
Lleida has
sister relationships with many places worldwide:
*
Ferrara
Ferrara (; ; ) is a city and ''comune'' (municipality) in Emilia-Romagna, Northern Italy, capital of the province of Ferrara. it had 132,009 inhabitants. It is situated northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main ...
, Italy
*
Foix
Foix ( , ; ; ) is a commune, the former capital of the County of Foix. It is the capital of the department of Ariège as it is the seat of the prefecture of that department. Foix is located in the Occitanie region of southwestern France ...
, France
*
Hefei
Hefei is the Capital city, capital of Anhui, China. A prefecture-level city, it is the political, economic, and cultural center of Anhui. Its population was 9,369,881 as of the 2020 census. Its built-up (or ''metro'') area is made up of four u ...
, China
*
Lérida
Lleida (, ; ; ''#Name, see below'') is a city in the west of Catalonia, Spain. It is the capital and largest town in Segrià, Segrià county, the Ponent, Ponent region and the province of Lleida. Geographically, it is located in the Catalan Cent ...
, Colombia
*
Perpignan
Perpignan (, , ; ; ) is the prefectures in France, prefecture of the Pyrénées-Orientales departments of France, department in Southern France, in the heart of the plain of Roussillon, at the foot of the Pyrenees a few kilometres from the Me ...
, France
*
Monterey, California
Monterey ( ; ) is a city situated on the southern edge of Monterey Bay, on the Central Coast (California), Central Coast of California. Located in Monterey County, California, Monterey County, the city occupies a land area of and recorded a popu ...
, United States
References in culture
The city is the subject of the Catalan folk song ''
La Presó de Lleida'', "The prison of Lleida", which was already attested in the 17th century and may be even older. It is a very popular tune, covered by many artists such as
Joan Manuel Serrat
Joan Manuel Serrat Teresa (; born 27 December 1943) is a Spanish musician, singer, and composer. He is considered one of the most important figures of modern, popular music in both Spanish and Catalan languages.
Serrat's lyrical style has b ...
.
Notable people
*
Jaume d'Agramunt (?–1350), Catalan doctor and writer, died in Lleida
[Diccionari de la Literatura Catalana, 2008]
*
Mariano Gomar de las Infantas (1855–1923), lawyer and
Integrist politician
*
Casimiro Sangenís Bertrán (1894-1936),
Carlist
Carlism (; ; ; ) is a Traditionalism (Spain), Traditionalist and Legitimist political movement in Spain aimed at establishing an alternative branch of the Bourbon dynasty, one descended from Infante Carlos María Isidro of Spain, Don Carlos, ...
politician
*
Joan Oró (1923–2004), born in Lleida: biochemist, researcher on the origin of life.
*
Trini Tinturé (born 1935), born in Lleida: cartoonist and illustrator.
*
Sergej Milinković-Savić (born 1995) born in Lledia, professional footballer
See also
*
Battle of Ilerda
The Battle of Ilerda took place in June 49 BC between the forces of Julius Caesar and the Spanish army of Pompey Magnus, led by his legates Lucius Afranius and Marcus Petreius. Unlike many of the other battles of the civil war, this was more ...
*
Diocese of Lleida,
Bishop of Lleida
This is a list of bishops of Lleida.
*Itxió 203
*Sant Filó 227
*Joan 230
*Pere 258
*Màrius Seli 259
*Sant Lleir 268–311
*Diperdió 313
*Amili 380
*Prudenci 400
*Atanasi 413
*Saguici 413
*Jacobo 419
*Seberí 460
*Fortunat 517
*Pere 519
*And ...
*
Talarn Dam
*
University of Lleida
*
Volta a Lleida
References
Bibliography
External links
*
Tourism information of LleidaInternet Portal of the townGovernment data pages
{{Authority control
Roman sites in Spain
Populated places in Segrià