Móstoles is the second-largest city in population belonging to the autonomous community of Madrid. Móstoles was for a long time only a small village, but expanded rapidly in the twentieth century.

To some extent it is a dormitory suburb of Madrid, but it has "polígonos" (industrial estates). The city also hosts the main campus of the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. Politically, the city has moved from the left to the right in recent years. Since 2003, the mayor of Móstoles has been Esteban Parro del Prado (Partido Popular).

Area and population

• Area: 45 km²
• As of the 1st January 2006, Móstoles had 206,301 inhabitants. 102,998 of which were men and 103,303 women [1].
• Migration: 22,627 inhabitants born outside Spain, which represents 10.8% of the total population
• Population density: 4649,5/km²
• Inhabitants of Móstoles are called mostoleños or mostolenses.

Location and transportation

• Móstoles is situated at 40º 20' North, 3º 52' West.
• 18 kilometres southwest from central Madrid, Móstoles is part of the metropolitan area.
• The city is surrounded by other municipalities such as Villaviciosa de Odón, Alcorcón, Fuenlabrada, Arroyomolinos, Moraleja de Enmedio and Navalcarnero.
• Móstoles is connected to other suburbs and to central Madrid by the Metrosur line (line 12, Madrid Metro), a commuter train line (line C-5 Cercanías Madrid), local and regional bus lines and several major freeways (A-5 (Madrid-Badajoz-Lisbon), M-50) and toll highways (R-5).

Cultural History

Móstoles became famous on May 2, 1808, when, although it was only a small village, one of its two mayors, Andrés Torrejón, declared war on France, following the uprising the same day in Madrid which started the Peninsular War. A resident of Móstoles, Manuela Malasaña, became a popular heroine of the uprising that day; a metro station in Móstoles and a neighbourhood in Madrid are named after her.

Famous people from Móstoles: Real Madrid and Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas, 2005 European Gymnastics Champion Rafael Martínez, and actor and TV presenter Christian Gàlvez Montero.

Places of interest

Some of the most important monuments in Móstoles are; the Mudejar-styled church of La Asunción, whose tower provides a home for storks; the Baroque hermitage of La Virgen de los Santos (from the 17th century) and the Monument To The Mayor (1908), located in Pradillo Square.

Religious Buildings

• Divino Pastor Parish Church. Avda. Cerro Prieto, 34 28931 Móstoles Telf. 34 91 646 60 61
• Nuestra Señora del Rosario y de La Esperanza Parish Church. Avda. Deportes S/N 28935 Móstoles Telf. 34 91 613 46 14
• Nuestra Señora de la Consolación Parish Church. Miro, 3 28933 Móstoles Telf. 34 91 617 51 65
• San José Obrero Parish Church. Coronel De Palma S/N 28934 Móstoles Telf. 34 91 617 87 55
• San Juan de Ávila Parish Church. C/ Dalia S/N 28933 Móstoles Telf: 34 91 226 42 24
• San Martín de Porres Parish Church. Río Duero ,12 28935 Móstoles 34 91 645 98 84
• San Simón de Rojas Parish Church. C/Arces, 27 28938 Móstoles Telf. 34 91 647 84 21
• Santa Maria de la Alegría Parish Church. Avda. Carlos V, 2 28936 Móstoles Telf. 34 91 646 11 86
• Virgen Del Carmen Parish Church. C/ Paris S/N. 28938 Móstoles Telf. 34 91 645 62 97

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mostoles

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