Parla, with about 137,000 inhabitants, is a town in the Community of Madrid, about 20 km south of the capital. In the 1960s it was a small farming village of a few thousand people; then, with migration from all over Spain and later from abroad, it grew fast to become one of the region's most populous towns. It is a young city, with many families with children and a large foreign community.
History
Parla is first recorded in the Middle Ages as a village in the lands of Toledo. For centuries life revolved around cereal and vine growing. From the 1970s large housing estates changed its face, and in the 2000s Parla Este, a new planned district, was built, linked to the centre by a circular tram line.
What to see
- The church of Santa María Magdalena, in the old town, whose bell tower keeps old parts.
- The hermitage of the Virgen de la Soledad, the town's patron.
- The parks, such as the Parque de las Comunidades and the Parque Lineal, with green spaces and sports facilities.
Living in Parla
Many families and young people choose Parla for its lower house prices and rents compared with Madrid and towns such as Boadilla del Monte, while staying well connected to the capital. It has full services, schools, sports centres, a hospital and shopping centres. See also the cost of living in Spain and moving to Spain.
Festivals
The patron saint festivities for the Virgen de la Soledad are in September, with concerts, fairground rides, processions and bullfighting events. There are also carnival and neighbourhood fiestas.
Getting there
Parla is linked to Madrid by Cercanías line C-4, in about half an hour to Atocha and Sol. The Parla tram circles the town, linking the districts with the station. By car it is reached via the A-42 towards Toledo. See also Madrid.