Getafe

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Getafe
Flag of Getafe Coat of arms of Getafe
Flag Coat of Arms
Location


Location of Getafe

Coordinates : 40° 18’N , 3°43′0″W
Time Zone : CET (GMT +1)
- summer: CEST (GMT +2)
General information
Native name Getafe (Spanish)
Spanish name Getafe
Founded 1326
Postal code 28901-28909
Area code 34 (Spain) + 91 (Getafe)
Website http://www.ayto-getafe.org
Administration
Country Spain
Autonomous Community Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid
Province Madrid
Comarca Madrid metropolitan area
Administrative Divisions 1
Neighborhoods 14
Mayor Pedro Castro Vázquez (PSOE)
Geography
Land Area 78,74 km²
Altitude 623 m AMSL
Population
Population 158,364 (2005)
- rank in Spain: 41th
Density 2,011 hab./km² (2005)

Getafe is a city in the southern metropolitan area of Madrid, Spain, 12 km from downtown. The town's population is 155,997 (INE December 2004). Getafe has an industrial and commercial center, military airport ("Cradle of Spanish aviation" says the slogan), and the town has good transportation links with Madrid by several highways (A-4, A-42 (previous N-401), M-45) and the metropolitan Metro. Among the several industries located in Getafe, there is a factory of EADS (formerly CASA), where several parts of the Airbus are manufactured.

Directly to the east of Getafe we find the Cerro de los Ángeles, historically considered to be the geographical center of Spain. Recently declared head of a diocese, its cathedral is the church of the Magdalena (XVI century). Getafe is also head of the University Carlos III, installed in an old military barracks, perfectly renewed for their new use.

The town's football team, Getafe CF, plays in the Spanish first division (2004-2005). They play at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez (capacity 14000). On the south eastern side of the city, some parts of the airframe of the Airbus A380 are built. It is not too uncommon to see an A380 fly in and out of the air base. Getafe is linked to Madrid by the bus lines 441,442,443,444,447,and 448 as well as two commuter trains lines (C-4 and C-5) and the new metrosur with eight stations (Arroyo Culebro, Conservatorio, Alonso de Mendoza, Getafe Central, Juan de la Cierva, El Casar, Los Espartales and El Bercial ).

[edit] External links

Getafe main street (Calle Madrid)
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Getafe main street (Calle Madrid)
University Carlos III.
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University Carlos III.
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Coordinates: 40°18′N 3°43′W