Móstoles

Móstoles is the second-largest city in population belonging to the autonomous community of Madrid. It is located 18 kilometres southwest from central 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 is also home to several polígonos (industrial estates). The city also hosts the main campus of the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos.Area and populationMostoles has about 206,015 residents, Mostoles is located in the Community of Madrid, near the city of Madrid. After Madrid itself, it is the municipality with most residents of the Community of Madrid.HistoryMóstoles 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. This followed the Dos de Mayo Uprising the same day in Madrid which started the Peninsular War. The Monument to the Mayor (1908), located in Pradillo Square, was erected to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the historic events.A resident of Móstoles, Manuela Malasaña, became a popular heroine of the uprising; a subway station and secondary school in Móstoles and a neighbourhood in Madrid are named after her.Main sightsHistoric buildingsTwo of the most important monuments in Móstoles are churches; The medieval church of La Asunción has mudejar features. Its tower provides a home for storks. The Baroque hermitage of La Virgen de los Santos dates from the 17th century.