Villava

Villava (in Basque and co-officially Atarrabia) is a Spanish town and municipality in the Autonomous Community of Navarra, located in the merindad of Pamplona, in the basin of Pamplona and 4.3 km northeast of the community capital, Pamplona, forming part of its metropolitan area. Its population in 2017 was 10,217 inhabitants (INE) and its municipal area has an area of 1.06 km², being the smallest in Navarra, so its population density is very high.

Toponymy

There has been a debate among Navarrese historians regarding the name of the settlement prior to the founding of Villava by Sancho VI el Sabio. For some, the ancient name of the town was Atarrabia, although this hypothesis could not be proven with archaeological and/or documentary evidence. The meaning or origin of this name is not well known, although it seems clear that it comes from Basque.

Some linguists claim that the name could come from "ate" (portillo, foz), Arre (name of a neighboring town) and "ibia" (the ford). Close to Villava and to reach the neighboring town of Arre, there is a narrow pass where the Ulzama river narrows and to which the name Atarrabia could allude, which would be translatable "the ford of the Arre gorge". There is no unanimity in this regard, so the meaning of Atarrabia remains in the field of speculation. However, the Fuero General de Navarra (written in the middle of the XII century) already names the Trinidad bridge as &# 34;Atarrabia Bridge".

In the XII century, King Sancho VI the Wise founded a town next to the village of Atarrabia to which he granted the privileges of the new town of Pamplona. As was customary at the time, the king baptized the town with a name and gave it Villa noua (New Town). It is therefore a Romance name similar to that of many other towns in Europe, although the foundation will take place in a Basque-speaking area of Navarra. The current name of Villava is the result of an evolution of this original name (Villanova -> Villaova -> Villava) with which the town was founded and which among Basque speakers was also adapted to the Basque spelling and pronunciation as "Billeba" or "Billaba".

At the end of the XX century, the old name of "Atarrabia" and it began to be used as a name in Basque for the town, since the Government of Navarra by Provincial Decree 543/1991 would establish two co-official names for the municipality: Villava and Atarrabia.

Geography

It is bordered by Pamplona and Burlada to the south - southwest, Ezcabarte to the north and Huarte to the east - southeast.

History

Refoundation in the year 1184 by King Sancho VI of Navarre.

The town suffered both the Napoleonic wars and the Carlist wars and in the middle of the said century XIX began its industrialization with the implantation of the paper industry that would later attract wood, cardboard and liquor factories.

Camino de Santiago

The Camino de Santiago along its French route has marked the history of the town. Located just 35 km from Roncesvalles, it used to be a hard journey on foot, which is why Villava itself and the "Trinidad de Arre" became the second resting point for pilgrims before ascending the hill from nearby Pamplona. Currently, and with a more regulated Camino de Santiago for the general public and in stages, Villava becomes the gateway to Pamplona, the first city on the Camino in the Iberian Peninsula. Pilgrims leave Zubiri, and fatigue, when passing through the Trinidad bridge and the Batán Villavés, advise resting in the modern Villava Hostel, which the municipality has endowed with; the only first category in the Pamplona region, on the banks of the Ulzama river.

The historic center of Villava formed by its "Calle Mayor", runs along said pilgrimage path and preserves the medieval flavor of the route.

Demographics

Villava ranks 10th as the municipality with the largest population in Navarra, with a population of 10,217 inhabitants in 2017. Of these, 5,207 are men and 5,280 are women. Its population density is 9638.68 inhab/km².

Population pyramid

The data of the population pyramid of (2009) can be summarized as follows:

• The population under 20 is 22.57 % of the total.
• The figure between 20-40 years is 30.31 %.
• The figure between 40-60 years is 30%.
• Over 60 years is 16.31 %.

This structure of the population is typical of the modern demographic regime, with an evolution towards the aging of the population and the decrease in the annual birth rate.

Population developments

Graphic of demographic evolution of Villava between 1900 and 2017

Population of Law (1900-1991) or resident population (2001) according to population censuses of the INE. Population according to the 2017 municipal plan of the INE.

Administration and politics

Municipal government

The political administration of the town is carried out through a democratically managed City Council whose members are elected every four years by universal suffrage. The electoral census is made up of all residents registered in Villava over the age of 18 and nationals of Spain and other member countries of the European Union. According to the provisions of the General Electoral Regime Law, which establishes the number of eligible councilors based on the population of the municipality, the Municipal Corporation of Villava is made up of 17 councilors. The headquarters of the consistory is located in the Calle Mayor of the town.

Mayors

Peio J. Monteano, mayor for the Atarrabia Electoral Group (candidate promoted by Eusko Alkartasuna) in 1999, submitted his resignation for not supporting Euskal Herritarrok, his partners in that municipal government, a motion that urged them to condemn an attack against a councilor for the opposition Unión del Pueblo Navarro, thus breaking the government pact between EA-Atarrabia, Izquierda Unida de Navarra and EH and giving the mayoralty to UPN.

From that date until June 2007, he held the UPN council with the support of the Socialist Party of Navarra. In 2007, the Atarrabia-Nafarroa Bai coalition (made up of Eusko Alkartasuna, Aralar, Batzarre and the Basque Nationalist Party) was the list with the most votes, obtaining six councillors; Unión del Pueblo Navarro obtained five councilors, Basque Nationalist Action three, Partido Socialista de Navarra two and Izquierda Unida de Navarra one councilor.

Ikurriña next to the Town Hall of Villava (2007).

The last municipal action carried out by the previous corporation was the paving and semi-pedestrianization of Calle Mayor and the adaptation of the town's main square, integrating it into Ribed Park. Among the tasks to be carried out by the new Government is the expansion of the Health Center, the construction of a new "House of Culture" and the construction of a new regional institute for secondary education, due to the fact that population growth has diminished the supply of public services, and there is a broad consensus in carrying out the above actions.

In October 2007, the municipal plenary session decided to place the ikurriña on a pole near the town hall, and the decision was appealed before the courts by the Government of Navarra, which alleged an alleged breach of the Ley Foral de Símbolos. In December 2008, the Superior Court of Justice of Navarra dismissed the appeal filed by the consistory and upheld the allegations of the Government of Navarra, appreciating non-compliance with said Law of Symbols, considering that, despite the fact that the banner did not fly in the town hall, its placement outside the town hall constituted a subterfuge to breach said Law. The council appealed the sentence. In April 2009 the council complied with the law and withdrew the ikurriña, committing the councilors of NaBai to pay the costs of the judicial process. Subsequently, the Villava Atarrabia 2009 Cultural Association installed a Navarrese flag and an ikurrina on two masts near the City Hall, and in May of this year the Contentious-Administrative Court ordered the City Council to also remove this ikurrina.

Economy

It has an industrial estate where different companies are housed, highlighting its stores dedicated to home furnishings.

The growth of the city, depleting its developable land, has integrated various companies into its core, having projected its exit in the medium term.

Monuments and places of interest

Religious monuments

The environment of the Trinity of Arre

Next to a medieval bridge with six arches over the Ulzama River, is the current "Pilgrims' hostel" managed by the Brothers Marists, which in its day was destined to a Hermitage in devotion to the "Santísima Trinidad", convent and hospital. It is an ensemble that preserves the Romanesque apse of a church from the XIII century, although there is no written documentation of this building until the XVI century, dependent on Roncesvalles, a period in which it had 622 clergy.

The hermitage, although in late Romanesque style (S XIII), has been greatly reformed and currently only conserves the original apse, and even this is practically hidden by the pilgrims' hostel and the Marist dwelling. The apse or head is divided into 5 canvases by buttresses and is covered by an oven vault. In the canvases, semicircular windows are observed, two of them allowing light to enter the hermitage. The interior is made up of a three-section nave with a barrel vault and plastered walls. The access portal is also semicircular and is under a large portico that supports the Marist house.

Church of Saint Andrew

Begun in Renaissance style in the mid-16th century, the current modern Catholic building, next to the Town Hall, dates from the second half of the XX century and preserves from that primitive construction the "Chapel of Soledad", of circular plan and made at the end of the XVIIIth century.

Church of Our Lady of the Rosary (Dominics)

Built in 1911 as a "Besta Jira" it was acquired by the P.P. Dominicans in 1915 to use it as a school ("Berrio Ochoa") and a Dominican Seminary.

On their own initiative, they restored and opened to the public the chapel of Nuestra Señora del Rosario, in which the stained glass windows, the work of Dominican Domingo Iturgaiz and a wood carving of the Virgen del Rosario, stand out.

Civil monuments

Rollo

Built in the 15th or 16th century probably on the site it currently occupies, this 2.24 meter Tuscan column It is a jurisdictional symbol and communal freedom of the town of Villava. It is also possible, although there are no testimonies, that it was used as a pillory or place of execution.

In the middle of the last century, converted into a calvary or term cross, it was moved near the San Andrés Bridge.

In 1990 this monument was recovered and, devoid of later additions, returned to its original location where it contributes to ornament one of the neuralgic points of the town.

School of Agricultural Peritos, built in 1912 by José Yárnoz.

Calles Mayor y Serapio Huici

In these streets we can see various mansions and buildings from the early XX century, survivors of speculation. Other interesting buildings, also from the early 20th century century, are the Besta Jira beautiful building by the architect José Yárnoz built in 1911 at the initiative of the bourgeois families of Pamplona who wanted to have a modern casino-restaurant as a place of recreation, which in 1915 was acquired by the Dominicans. Or the School of Agricultural Experts. In 1912, the Provincial Council of Navarra commissioned the aforementioned architect, José Yárnoz, to build it, initially intended for the Palace of the National Viticulture Congress which, to commemorate the VII Centenary of the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, took place in July this year.

Casa Motza

Building with a beautiful Renaissance doorway begun around 1549 by a local notorious man, the royal bailiff and admiral of the town Pedro de Andosilla.

Sculpture dedicated to Miguel Induráin

Villava pays homage to one of the town's most famous characters with a sculpture that represents this cycling figure.

Juvenile walls

The City Council allows, requesting prior permission, the creation of graffiti on different walls of the city. Likewise, they usually organize workshops and hold a festival of said street art, turning some walls of the town into a space for social denunciation against sexism or consumerism.^{[citation required]}

River walk

The Batan

Within the aforementioned river promenade and taking advantage of the natural waterfalls of the river, more than ten centuries ago various water mills arose in said environment that were used for different uses according to the needs of the inhabitants. Currently one of them, which previously served as a flour mill, fulling mill for fabrics and cloth, tavern, factory, licorice mill, tannery-tannery-marquetry and pulp mill for paper, has been restored and turned into a museum open to the public and headquarters of the aforementioned fluvial promenade of the river Arga managed by the Commonwealth of the Region of Pamplona.

Culture

• Pedro de Atarrabia literary contest of stories in Basque and Spanish: Called annually, it is one of the most prestigious short story prizes in the Spanish speaking field. In the last editions the award has fallen into emerging values of the Basque and Spanish narrative.
• Rock Villava Contest - Atarrabia: In order to promote small musical bands.
• During the year there are various musical concerts, also counting the locality with a private concert hall (Sala "Tótem") that offers a wide programming in this regard.
• Coral San Andrés: Formed in 1931, since January 2007 is directed by Máximo Olóriz Gorraiz, a musician villavés nephew of the choir's promoter in the 1940s.

Services

Transportation

Eskualdeko Hiri Garraioa/Comarcal Urban Transport
Home	Line	Fin
Barañáin	4	Atarrabia/Villava - Uharte/Huarte - Arre - Orikain
Atarrabia/Villava	7	Barañáin
Nafarroako Gorteak/Cortes de Navarra	N5	Uharte/Huarte - Gorraitz
Taxi Iruñerria
Area	A
Stations	Las Eras kalea (7aren parean)/Calle Las Eras (frente nº7)

Education

Villava has a wide multilingual educational offer, both public and subsidized. In its municipal term the construction of a regional institute has been approved.

• C.P. Lorenzo Goicoa
• C.P. Atargi
• Instituto Pedro de Atarrabia
• College "The Presentation" (Monjas Dominicas)
• Ikastola Peace of Ziganda

Other services and equipment

• The locality has the services provided according to its population such as Peace Court, Post Office, Municipal Police, Health Center, Artificial Grass football field, Social Base Service...
• Jubiloteka: Service launched in 2008 that allows the timely stay of elderly people with moderate dependence to allow the rest of their caregivers and that the dependants can perform various activities.

Sports

• Club Ciclista Villavés
• Club Ciclista Alas
• Beti-Onak Society
• Ekin sokatira taldea
• Atarrabi mendi taldea
• Beti Onak Sports Club
• Club Deportivo Atarrabia
• Partizan Atarrabia

Parties

Major festivals

The most important festivities, traditionally in honor of the Virgen del Rosario, begin on the Saturday before the first Sunday in October and last until the second Sunday. During the festivities there is a wide variety of very diverse acts, ranging from children's activities to Rock concerts. The festivities begin with the cry of "Long live the Virgin of Rosario, gora gure Errosarioko loves virginia".

On Sunday the procession with the patron saint takes place, attended by the troupe of giants and kilikis, the municipal music band and the Municipal Corporation.

Tuesday is the popular costillada , in which the residents of the town gather for a community lunch in Ribed Park (weather permitting), which is generally based on ribs lamb and pork, but in which it is possible to find any other more elaborate dish. The town hall is in charge of providing the necessary grills and it is the villaveses themselves who have to bring their ribs and utensils to prepare them.

Usually a lot of people come from other towns, because these festivities are very famous and because they are one of the last of the summer calendar.

Villava Day

The "Atarrabiako Eguna" or "Villava Day" It is held on the first Sunday of September.

Saint Andrew

San Andrés is the patron saint of the town, and is celebrated on November 30.

Among the most outstanding acts are the reveille with the bagpipers, the solemn mass in honor of the patron saint, with the assistance of the Municipal Corporation, the homage to an association by the City Council and the concert by the Pamplona Chamber Choir.

Legends

• Atarrabi and Mikelats

Notable people

Curiosities

• Traditionally, buses from the communal public transport service are called "villavesas", although most of them do not run through the town of Villava. This is because the headquarters of the "La Villavesa", the first line of interurban transport of the region in the late twenties.
• In some cases the road signage incorrectly indicates "Villaba" to refer to "Villava".