Saint Martin de Valdeiglesias meets the mark of the capital of Sierra West, with 7888 inhabitants, is also the main reference for the commercial and tourist district and completing the approach to have an extensive list of environmental goods, while providing a large and varied calendar of cultural, sporting and leisure activities.

Overview

Area: 115.5 km ²

Population: 7888 inhabitants

Gentile: Click

A 67 km from the capital

A little history

To avoid breaking the tradition, this town is not entirely clear since its inception, but has provided back to the Visigothic period has not received the relevant documentary evidence. The principle was, however, the hermitage, which existed during the Arab domination and which, after the reconquest by Alfonso VII of Castile, were unified by Abbot Guillermo with the foundation of which is now the monastery of Santa Maria de Valdeiglesias in Pelayos end of the dam. Until 1434 the continued union of the hermits of the 12 chapels in the area where the Condestable Castilla, Don Alvaro de Luna, acquired this land and who is credited with building the castle of Coracera. His death marks the beginning of the disputes between nobles, monks and people of royalty by the possession of the manor, which passed in the Middle Ages by various owners. Honored by being chosen as a place of rest and recreation has been increasing its prestige in all areas, accentuated by the municipality to be a crossroads between Ávila, Toledo, Segovia and Madrid. The market, which began to be held on Thursday from the fifteenth century, together with the Jews gave the corresponding economic boost. Moreover, men of Saint Martin de Valdeiglesias projection gave their land to participate in the discovery of America and its evangelization.

Oil, figs, honey and wine were among the products of which were lengthy as the excellence of chronic MUDARRA in 1607. Already en route to the end of this century, in 1680, installing a glass factory which will be very valuable pieces, which are plentiful in the dynamic image and business in the locality.

A page of glory in the history of Saint Martin de Valdeiglesias by the popular uprising against the French invasion of the early nineteenth century, which became effective in the town and one of the battles took place in the vicinity of the Bullring Guisando. Already in the twentieth century, the Civil War cut short the development of the local railway line, from the 60's the town experienced an upward economic trend that has now become the main reference of the county west of the Sierra.