Igualada

Igualada was founded around the year 1000 on the left bank of the Anoia River, which gives its name to the region. The name "Igualada" comes from the Latin aqualata, meaning "where the river widens," a reference to the river being effectively used for hydraulic energy to power mills.

The town originated at the crossroads of two important routes: one was a military road from Manresa, passing through Òdena and Montbui, and continuing toward the distant castles of Tarragona. The other was the main royal road connecting Barcelona with Lleida, Aragon, and Castile. Located in the heart of the Òdena Basin, Igualada became a natural meeting point for farmers and merchants, facilitating trade and commerce.

The first known construction in the town was a chapel built in 1003 beside a mota or força, a small defensive fortification. The chapel was officially recognized as a parish in 1059.

In 1381, Igualada was granted the status of Carrer de Barcelona, bringing it under the protection of the city of Barcelona and granting it the same rights, freedoms, and privileges. The town continued to grow, and between the 14th and 15th centuries, two walls were built. By the 18th century, the town expanded toward the Soldevila and Capdevila neighborhoods, following the Camí Ral (Royal Road).

Although Igualada experienced steady growth in its early centuries, its most significant expansion occurred in the 19th and 20th centuries. During this period, the town received the title of City and gained a railway connection, leading to remarkable economic growth. The textile industry became one of the most important in Catalonia, while the leather tanning industry mechanized and became the leading producer in the Iberian Peninsula. The first knitting industries also emerged, eventually gaining national significance. Between 1800 and 1900, the population doubled, reaching 10,486 inhabitants. By 2005, the city had over 35,000 residents within a municipal area of just eight square kilometers.

AQUALATA, The Legend of Igualada’s Formation:

In ancient times, the Òdena Basin was a vast lake, stretching between the Claramunt Castle mountain and the Three Mollons mountain. This large body of water gave its name to the river in that area, Aqualata, meaning "wide water."

Near this lake, on a large farmhouse atop the Òdena hill, lived a farmer known for his foul temper and harsh character. He was so unpleasant that all his hired workers would eventually flee. In desperation, he vowed to sell his soul to the devil if he could get help. As soon as he spoke the words, the Devil himself appeared, disguised as a laborer, and agreed to take care of everything—on one condition: as long as the farmer had work to assign him, he would serve faithfully, but if there was ever nothing left to command, the Devil would claim his soul forever.

Eventually, the farmer ran out of tasks to give, and in a desperate attempt to delay his fate, he ordered the Devil to drain the massive lake that covered the region. The Devil complied, extracting enormous rocks and soil, causing a great upheaval and tremors throughout the land, leading to the formation of the Three Mollons mountain. When the work was finished, the farmer had nothing more to order, and the Devil took his soul to Hell. To this day, the city's coat of arms features water at its base, symbolizing the time when the area was a great lake.

The Way of Saint James through Igualada:

The Way of Saint James (Camiño de Santiago in Galician, Camino de Santiago in Spanish, Camin de Sant Jacme in Occitan, and Chemin de Saint Jacques in French) refers to the pilgrimage route that travelers from across Europe take to reach the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. One section of this route passes through Igualada, following the path from Montserrat. After a 24.6 km journey from Montserrat, pilgrims traditionally stop in Igualada before continuing. Today, the Way of Saint James in Catalonia follows the route from Montserrat to Lleida, Zaragoza, and Logroño. This path is the most direct and easiest, making it the most commonly used route in Catalonia today.

COVID-19 pandemic:

Igualada was hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain. Its hospital was identified as a hotspot of the coronavirus. Police guarded every entry and exit point, and allowed only essential workers to enter or leave. Igualada was cut off from the rest of the country, as a lockdown within a lockdown.

•el Bou de Montbui

•Forn de Ciment del Camí del Cementeri

•Portal de la Font Major

•Portal d'en Vives

•barraca de pedra seca 11849

•barraca de pedra seca 11850

•Barraca de Cal Barrab

•Barraca de Cal Ajut

•Cabanya de Vinya

•Barraca del Vinyater 15474

•Salvador Vidal i Claramunt

•Miquel Tirado Franco

•Museu de la Pell d'Igualada i Comarcal de l'Anoia

•Mirador de la Tossa de Montbui

•Adoberia Bella

•Camí de Sant Jaume (l'Hospitalet - Tàrrega)

•PC-C 119 Volta a la Conca d'Òdena (PR-C 119, 61.93 km)

•Camí Ignasià Català 5: Cervera - Igualada (38.6 km)

•Camí Ignasià Català 6: Igualada - Montserrat (26.8 km)

•GR 172 De la Mussara a Bellprat - Etapa 10 (GR 172, 27 km)

•El Camí IT6TR6 El Camí Central: de Castelló de la Plana a Montserrat (CC-C)

•El Camí IT6TR7 El Camí Central: de Castelló de la Plana a Montserrat (CC-C)

•Jordi Savall, violagambista, director de orquesta y musicólogo español

•Ilias Akhomach, futbolista hispano-marroquí

•Teresa Gimpera, actriz española

•Diana Gómez, actriz española

•Rodolfo Chikilicuatre, personaje interpretado por el actor español David Fernández

•Adrià Carmona, futbolista español

Alcaldía: Marc Castells i Berzosa

Web oficial: http://www.igualada.cat

134 paradas de autobús en el municipio:

•Torrent de l'Espelt

•Les Cotxeres - Verdaguer 3 - Plaça Catalunya

•Passeig Verdaguer 205 - Nicolau Tous

•Pau Muntadas 80

•Carretera de Valls 75

•Av. Balmes 76 - Pl Set Camins

•Passeig Espanya - Plaça Vistalegre

•Av. d'Emili Vallès (instituts)

•Centre d'Atenció Primària Montbui

•Farmacia Torelló Riba — carrer Nou 3

•Farmacia Secanell Roca — Carretera de Valls 32

•Centre d'Atenció Primària Igualada Nord — Carrer de Bèlgica 5

•Farmacia Farmàcia M.Teresa Navarro — Avinguda Manresa, 102 122

•Farmacia Farmacia Bausili — carrer Born 23

•Farmacia Farmàcia Mora, Anna - Font, Alícia — carrer Santa Llucia 97

•Farmacia Farmàcia Adzet Panadès, Maria Elena — avinguda Barcelona 9

•Farmacia Farmàcia Cases Sebastià, Immaculada — carrer Girona 5-7

•Farmacia Farmàcia Singla Barceló, Ramon — Avinguda Mestre Montaner 26