Ourense

Ourense (Galician)
Orense (Spanish)

View of the Roman bridge Ponte Vella, in Ourense that traverses the Miño river

Flag

Coat of arms

Ourense

Location of Ourense within Spain

Coordinates: 42°20′11″N 7°51′48″W / 42.33639°N 7.86333°W

Government

• Type

Mayor-council government

• Body

Concello de Ourense

• Mayor

Jesús Vázquez Abad (PP)

Area

• Total

85.2 km² (32.9 sq mi)

Elevation

132 m (433 ft)

Population (2014)INE

• Total

106,905

Demonym(s)

ourensán/ourensao (m), ourensá (f)
ourensano (m), ourensana (f)

Time zone

CET (GMT +1)

• Summer (DST)

CEST (GMT +2) (UTC)

Postcode

32001 - 32005

Area code(s)

+34 988

ISO 3166-2

ES-OU

Website

www.ourense.es

Ourense (Galician: [owˈɾɛnse]; Spanish: Orense [oˈɾense]) is a city in northwestern Spain, the capital of the province of the same name in Galicia.

Its population of 106,905 (2014) accounts for 30% of the population of the province and makes it the third largest city of Galicia.

In 2010 there were 5,943 foreigners living in the city, representing 5.46% of the total population. The main nationalities are Portuguese (18%), Colombians (12%) and Brazilians (11%).

By language, according to 2008 data, 19% of the population speak always in Galician, 25% speak always in Spanish and the rest use both interchangeably.

The origin of the town can be traced to the Romans and the presence of hot springs called the Burgas. These can still be seen today. There was also the need to fortify the place to protect one of the easiest ways to cross the Miño River. After the Romans, Ourense was part of the Suebi (Suevi) kingdom during most of the 5th, 6th and 7th centuries and was destroyed by the Moors in 716. It was later rebuilt by Alfonso III of Asturias about 877. The Norse invasions as well as attacks from the Arab warlord Al-Mansur once more laid the city to waste. It was only under Sancho II and his sister Doña Elvira that the city was resettled during 11th century. The definitive urban impulse did not arrive until the 12th century when Ourense became an important center of services. Recently the city has made many efforts to provide new parks, bridges, fountains and geothermal springs installations to make the city more attractive.

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Wikipedia