Vila-seca

Different remains show that the city was populated during the times of Ancient Rome. The population settled in Vila-seca after the reconquest in 1162 when King Alfonso II of Aragon gave these lands to Ramón de Olzina. Its donation to this family was confirmed by King Peter II of Aragon in 1208.

During the Middle Ages, there was another town known as Vilaseca del Comú, which neighboured Vila-seca as owned by the Olzinas. The former belonged to the Archbishop of Tarragona until 1525, which the unification of the two towns was decreed, created the city of Vila-seca as it is known today.

Vila-seca actively participated in the defense of the port of Salou, gaining on several occasions ownership of it. The port was a strategic military position and an important source of income. For a long time, it was considered the port of all of the people who made up the Comuna del Camp, until King Ferdinand II of Aragon banned its use. Vila-seca then became the main port, leading to the city suffering several attacks from Berber pirates. A watchtower and a defense tower were built to protect the city from corsair attacks.

During the Reapers' War, the city was occupied by troops under King Philip IV of Spain. Many of the city's defenders were executed and both the church and townhall were burnt down. Vila-seca's population also suffered large losses during the Peninsular War.

At the end of the twentieth century, Salou separated from Vila-seca, becoming its own municipality.

Vila-seca has a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. The humid season (the highest amount of annual rain) lasts 3 months, from August to October.

{{Weather box

| location = Vila-seca (1971–2000) ({{cvt|14|km|2}} south-west of Tarragona

| metric first = yes

| single line = yes

| Jan record high C = 20.8

| Feb record high C = 24.0

| Mar record high C = 28.2

| Apr record high C = 29.1

| May record high C = 30.6

| Jun record high C = 31.3

| Jul record high C = 34.5

| Aug record high C = 35.2

| Sep record high C = 33.3

| Oct record high C = 30.7

| Nov record high C = 25.5

| Dec record high C = 25.0

| year record high C = 35.2

| Jan high C = 12.4

| Feb high C = 15.2

| Mar high C = 17.8

| Apr high C = 19.5

| May high C = 22.1

| Jun high C = 25.6

| Jul high C = 29.3

| Aug high C = 30.2

| Sep high C = 27.6

| Oct high C = 22.4

| Nov high C = 16.4

| Dec high C = 12.7

| year high C = 21.0

| Jan mean C = 10.0

| Feb mean C = 11.9

| Mar mean C = 14.1

| Apr mean C = 15.9

| May mean C = 18.8

| Jun mean C = 22.5

| Jul mean C = 25.9

| Aug mean C = 26.7

| Sep mean C = 24.0

| Oct mean C = 19.1

| Nov mean C = 13.9

| Dec mean C = 10.7

| year mean C = 17.8

| Jan low C = 7.5

| Feb low C = 8.7

| Mar low C = 10.4

| Apr low C = 12.2

| May low C = 15.5

| Jun low C = 19.4

| Jul low C = 22.5

| Aug low C = 23.2

| Sep low C = 20.3

| Oct low C = 15.8

| Nov low C = 11.3

| Dec low C = 8.7

| year low C = 14.7

| Jan record low C = -1.6

| Feb record low C = -1.0

| Mar record low C = 0.6

| Apr record low C = 4.5

| May record low C = 9.0

| Jun record low C = 12.6

| Jul record low C = 16.0

| Aug record low C = 14.3

| Sep record low C = 13.0

| Oct record low C = 7.3

| Nov record low C = 2.7

| Dec record low C = -1.0

| year record low C = -1.6

| Jan precipitation mm = 37.2

| Feb precipitation mm = 19.1

| Mar precipitation mm = 36.6

| Apr precipitation mm = 38.2

| May precipitation mm = 53.2

| Jun precipitation mm = 33.3

| Jul precipitation mm = 15.7

| Aug precipitation mm = 52.8

| Sep precipitation mm = 68.2

| Oct precipitation mm = 63.7

| Nov precipitation mm = 46.9

| Dec precipitation mm = 44.7

| year precipitation mm = 509.0

| Jan precipitation days = 5.0

| Feb precipitation days = 3.5

| Mar precipitation days = 4.8

| Apr precipitation days = 5.8

| May precipitation days = 6.1

| Jun precipitation days = 3.9

| Jul precipitation days = 2.7

| Aug precipitation days = 4.3

| Sep precipitation days = 4.8

| Oct precipitation days = 5.8

| Nov precipitation days = 5.0

| Dec precipitation days = 5.1

| unit precipitation days = 1 mm

| year precipitation days = 56.8

| source 1 = Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya{{cite web |url=http://static-m.meteo.cat/wordpressweb/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/13083422/Tarragones.pdf |title=Climatologica. El Tarragones. 1971–2000 |access-date=5 December 2015 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304073736/http://static-m.meteo.cat/wordpressweb/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/13083422/Tarragones.pdf |url-status=live }}

| date = December 2015

| source =

}}

In recent years the municipality has become popular with tourists, as La Pineda has experienced a revitalisation to include an improved choice of hotels, an updated beachfront, while including an array of attractions such as the aquopolis water park with dolphin and sea lion exhibitions and the nightlife hotspot, Pacha.

The area is served by Reus Airport, which operates many low cost and charter flights to destinations around Europe and North Africa. Barcelona Airport also serves the area.

Vila-Seca has a variety of retail, mainly independent stores and restaurants, and is served by a Lidl built circa 2007.{{cite web |title=Lidl – Vila-Seca |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Lidl/@41.1077157,1.1492903,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x12a159e6e3d63df1:0x110183d5b759eb01!8m2!3d41.1077157!4d1.1518652!16s%2Fg%2F1q5bkvdm_?entry=ttu |website=Google Maps |access-date=5 June 2023}} and also has a McDonald's on the main Raval de la Mar road into the town.

Image:Santuari_la_Pineda.jpg

Image:Platja_la_pineda.jpg

{{reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100701062500/http://www.vila-seca.cat/ Vila-seca City Council web page]
• [http://aplicacions.municat.gencat.cat/index.php?page=consulta&mostraEns=4317110007 Government data pages] {{in lang|ca}}

{{Geographic location

|Centre = Vila-seca

|N = Reus

|NE =

|E = La Canonja
Tarragona

|SE = Balearic Sea

|S = Salou

|SW =

|W = Cambrils

|NW = Riudoms

}}

{{Tarragones}}

{{Municipalities in Tarragona|state=autocollapse}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Municipalities in Tarragonès

Category:Populated places in Tarragonès

{{Tarragona-geo-stub}}