Arnedo
# Arnedo

Arnedo is the third largest town in La Rioja, Spain. It is located near Calahorra, and has a population of about 15,000 people.

Its economy is based on the shoe industry.

## History

The area of Arnedo has been inhabited as early as the Neolithic Age. In pre-Roman times it was known as Sadacia or Sidacia, while the current name derives from the Latin Arenetum ("Place of sand"); the Romans, who arrived here in the 2nd century BC replacing the Celtiberians, built here a fortification to defend the hill, which commanded an important communication hub. Of the Visigothic Age are remains of a 6th-century cave-church.

The Moors conquered Arnedo in the 8th century AD and made it the capital of one of the 26 provinces in which they divided Iberia. The town was conquered by the Christian king Sancho I of Pamplona in 908-909.

On 5 January, 1932, there was a clash between the Guardia Civil and a group of striking workers. The police fired into the crowd killing 11 people and wounding another 30.

## Main sights

* Ruins of the castle
* Church of St. Thomas
* Church of St. Cosmas and Damian, housing a Baroque high altar
* Church of St. Eulalia
* Monastery of Nuestra Señora de Vico, situated some 4 km outside the city
* Gate of Nuestra Señora de la Nieves
* Museum of Shoes

## Politics

List of mayors since the democratic elections of 1979 :

| Term | Mayor | Political Party |
| - | - | - |
| 1979–1983 | Agapito Moreno Solana | CD |
| 1983–1987 | Santiago Orío Pérez | PSOE |
| 1987–1991 | José Mª León Quiñones | PSOE |
| 1991–1995 | José Mª León Quiñones | PSOE |
| 1995–1999 | José Mª León Quiñones | PSOE |
| 1999–2003 | José Mª León Quiñones | PSOE |
| 2003–2007 | Juan Antonio Abad Pérez | PP |
| 2007–2011 | Juan Antonio Abad Pérez | PP |
| 2011–2015 | Juan Antonio Abad Pérez | PP |
| 2015–2019 | Javier García Ibáñez | PSOE |
| 2019–2023 | Javier García Ibáñez | PSOE |
| 2023– | n/d | n/d |

## Notable people

* Musa ibn Musa al-Qasawi
* Leopoldo Alas Mínguez
* Jesús Ángel Solana

## Twin towns

* Andosilla, Spain
* Parthenay, France
* Elda, Spain
* Farsia, Western Sahara
