// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the velada say? It had a sail-abrate good time.

For the Mazatec healing ritual and vigil (Spanish: velada), see Velada (Mazatec ritual).

Velada
Municipality
Flag Coat of arms
Velada Location in Spain
Coordinates: 39°59′N 4°59′W
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Castile-La Mancha
Province	Toledo
Municipality	Velada
Area
• Total	145 km2 (56 sq mi)
Elevation	432 m (1,417 ft)
Population  (2025-01-01)
• Total	2,899
• Density	20.0/km2 (51.8/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)

Velada is a municipality located in the province of Toledo, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. According to the 2006 census (INE), the municipality has a population of 2,436 inhabitants.

Name

Velada comes from "velar" ('to stay awake at night'/'to be vigilant', from Latin 'vigilare'). Prior to Velada, the place was known as Las Atalayuelas de Guadierva.

History

Segregated from the land of Ávila, the Crown awarded the place in 1271 to knights from the former city, tasked with the repopulation of the area. Known as Las Atalayuelas de Guadierva, the place was ensuingly renamed as Velada on royal initiative.

Velada was possibly granted the privilege of township towards 1588.

Watermelon of Velada

The velada watermelon is one of the main engines of the economy of this municipality. Being a dry and ecological crop, these watermelons have great flavor and the largest can reach up to 30 kg in weight. They grow in a large area called "El Baldío" and their collection usually goes from mid-July to mid-October, and even depending on the year, until November. The planting takes place between April and May.

Velada's watermelon is exported in Spain and abroad.

References

Citations

Bibliography

• Franco Silva, Alfonso (1990). "La fundación de pueblas en tierras situadas al noroeste del reino de Toledo a fines del siglo XIII". Historia Instituciones Documentos (17). Seville: Universidad de Sevilla. ISSN 0210-7716.
• Jiménez de Gregorio, Fernando (1997). La comarca de El Alcor y El Berrocal (PDF). Temas Toledanos. Vol. 90. Toledo: Instituto Provincial de Investigaciones y Estudios Toledanos. Diputación Provincial. ISBN 84-87103-74-X.