Spanish cities

5. SPANISH CITIES -

THE URBAN HIERARCHY IN SPAIN Spanish cities have developed over a very long period of time.

Most of the main urban centres are located on the country’s periphery.

Urban growth has followed a series of axes of development, along which economic activities and transport networks are located.

Today, 80% of the Spanish population lives in urban areas.

5. SPANISH CITIES 1.

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Urban hierarchy in Spain: National metropolises: - Madrid and Barcelona are the most important cities in Spain.

- Both of them have great national and international influence.

- They have all the main urban functions: political, commercial, industrial and cultural.

- Their metropolitan area have over 5 million inhabitant.

Regional cities: - They have a wide range of urban functions and provide services throughout large regions.

- They are connected to the national metropolises by transport networks of motorways, high-speed rail and air routes.

- Valencia, Sevilla, Zaragoza and Málaga have between 5000,000 and 1,500,000 inhabitants.

Sub-regional cities: - They are provincial capitals - They have administrative, commercial and industrial functions.

- Valladolid, Murcia Vigo, A Coruña, alma de Mallorca and Córdoba have between 200,000 and 5,00,000 inhabitants.

Provincial centres: - They are administrative centres and they are often provincial capitals.

- Burgos, Santander, Pamplona, Cádiz, Logroño, Palencia and Castellón have between 50,000 and 200,000 inhabitants.

Small cities: - They play a role in their local administrative area (or comarca) - They have between 10,000 and 50,000 inhabitants

5. SPANISH CITIES THE STRUCTURE OF SPANISH CITIES 1.

The layout of Spanish cities reflects their long and complex development: The historic centre: - It is the oldest part of the city.

- It was once surrounded by walls.

- It has an irregular street plan and many historic monuments, such as churches and palaces.

2. New districts(ensanches) - They were built when cities expanded in the 19 the century and early 20 th century.

- these city extensions or ensanches were built with wide streetsfollowing a grid pattern- They were the lace of residence of wealthier people.

3. Working class districts: - They were built in the 20 th century.

- They consists of blocks of flats that are several storeys high.

4. Suburbs: - They have developed in recent decades on the outskirts of cities.

- They consist of residential areaswith blocks of flatsand single-family houses - Industrial parks and shopping centres are often located near them. *The expansion of big cities has resulted in the creation of conurbations and metropolitan areas.