Spanish Urban System: Hierarchy and Major Development Axes
There is genuine competition for it. In the case of Spain, in 1992, this competition was highlighted by the hosting of the **Olympics** and the **World Exposition** (Seville).
Hierarchy and Urban Networks in Spain
The Spanish urban system has a hierarchical urban network typical of a developed country. A city’s importance is determined by the size of the area it influences (its **hinterland**). The size of the hinterland depends on the range and quantity of services the central city can offer. The central city is also known as the **central place**.
Levels of the Spanish Urban Hierarchy
The Spanish urban hierarchy is divided into five levels:
Overall National Metropolises (Level 1)
These are Madrid and Barcelona. Both their respective metropolitan areas contain millions of inhabitants. Their influence is national and, in some ways, international. They possess dense communication networks and are highlighted centers for political, cultural, and business activities.
Major Regional Cities (Level 2)
These include Valencia, Seville, Zaragoza, Bilbao, and Malaga. These are cities with metropolitan areas, well connected, and possess dynamic economic and cultural strength.
Subregional Metropolises or Second Order (Level 3)
There are many such cities in Spain. They are smaller metropolitan areas such as Murcia, Vigo, A Coruña, Valladolid, Gijón, and, in Catalonia, Hospitalet, Sabadell, Badalona, and Terrassa. These cities offer specialized services but generally do not reach a million inhabitants.
Medium Cities (Level 4)
These are usually the provincial capitals, and they have a small area of influence. These cities typically range between 50,000 and 200,000 inhabitants. Some examples include Santander, Logroño, Segovia, Ciudad Real, Badajoz, and Jerez.
Small Cities (Level 5)
These are cities ranging between 10,000 and 50,000 inhabitants. They have basic service infrastructure and a local level of influence. An example is Vic.
Major Urban Axes and Areas of the Spanish System
The Spanish urban system is also made up of several distinct areas:
- Madrid Area: This is the largest urban agglomeration in Spain. Its area of influence extends across the plateau (central Spain) and is well connected with other Spanish cities.
- Mediterranean Axis: This axis extends from the French border to Cartagena. Within this axis, there are large cities like Barcelona and Valencia. It is characterized by highways and railway lines that have encouraged its development. A key issue is that it is a commercial site with high tourist pressure, leading to significant and often over-exploited building development.
- Cantabrian Axis: This axis extends from the French border to the Oviedo-Gijón area. It is a highly urbanized and industrialized area.
- Ebro Valley Axis: This axis communicates the Cantabrian Axis with the Mediterranean Axis, passing through cities such as Zaragoza and Logroño.
- Galician-Atlantic Axis: This includes major cities such as Vigo, Pontevedra, Santiago, A Coruña, and Ferrol.
- Andalusian Axis: This is divided into two sub-axes:
- The Guadalquivir Valley, with cities like Seville, Cordoba, and Jerez.
- The Mediterranean coast, extending from Cadiz through Malaga to Granada.