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History

The first reference that we find in a document about Vilallonga was made in 1174, when it was mentioned as a entry of land.

In 1213, Pere I promised to not donate, sell, pledge or convert into a manor the village. For this reason, the jurisdiction was kept in hands of the Counts-Kings until 1391, when it was sold to the Tarragona Archbishop by Joan I.

During the First half of the 14th.century, the Montoliu family had the rights over the village. These rights, together with the ones over El Catllar and Puigdelfí, were sold to Pere the Requesens in 1344.

Curiously, the census of 1358, points Berenguer de Requesens as owner of the place, meanwhile the one of 1365-70, tells that the sir of the village was Berenguer de Montoliu.

In the 17th.century, Vilallonga was owned by the Dalmases family, one of whose members, Pau Ignasi Dalmases, got the title of Marquis of Vilallonga from the King-archduke Carlos III in 1710.

In 1838, the village was the place where a terrible confrontation between militiamen and "carlistas" was developed. The Carlistas were commanded by the Llarg de Copons. Due to this fact, 138 men died, who mostly belonged to the Milicia Nacional of Reus.

One of the most important personalities of Vilallonga is the surgeon Pere Virgili i Bellver, who was born in Vilallonga in 1699 and died in Barcelona in 1776. He was a military surgeon in the hospitals of Tarragona, Valencia and Cádiz, where he founded the "Colegio de Cirugía". In 1755, he was given the title of noble. He also founded the "Col.legi of Cirurgia" in Barcelona, which he directed until he died.

Another important person of Vilallonga is Josep Mestres and Miquel (1868-1949). He was a doctor, politician, and agronomist who founded the itinerant professorship of agriculture. He was also the President of the Diputació de Tarragona (1913-1915), and a part of the executive board of the Mancomunitat de Catalunya. Finally, he was the president of the "Col.legi Oficial de Metges" of the province de Tarragona.

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Local Festivities

Vilallonga celebrates its feasts on the 30th.of July, the feast day of Sant Abdó and Sant Senen. There is also a feast day on the 11th.of November, in honour to Sant Martí. The "Fira" (fair) takes place on the first Sunday of October. The Feast of La Rosa is on the second Sunday of May, and the feast of Del Roser is on the second Sunday of October. There is also a celebration for the "Carnaval".

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Remarkable places

The most important building of the village is the parish church of Sant Martí, from the 17th.century. We have to point out its wonderful facade, which is still not finished. Over the cornice, there is a triangular pediment that is held by four columns and two pilasters with Corintian capitals. Over the entrance door, there is a relief that represents the moment when Sant Martí shared his cape with a poor person, dividing it into two pieces.

The village has a portal that used to be a part of the ancient wall.

Within the township, there is the Mare de Déu del Roser Hermitage. Unfortunately, we do not know when it was built, although there is a reference in the book of Francesc Blasi Vallespinosa, "Santuaris Marians…", that suggests that it could have been the first hermitage of the diocese of this name. The building has been modified and reformed during the years.

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Bibliography

-Gran geografia comarcal de Catalunya.

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