agrade

Agrade is a fictional town and comune in the southern region of Valoria, a country created for illustrative reference in this article. It has a population of around 25,000 residents and serves as a local administrative and economic center for the valley it occupies.

Located in the Aurelian valley along the Tarnia River, Agrade sits at about 150 meters above sea level. The landscape is rolling farmland with scattered forests. The climate is temperate with warm summers and cool winters; average annual rainfall is about 700 millimeters.

The earliest records mention Agrade in the 13th century when a small fortress protected a rural community. The town grew during the medieval period and gained a municipal charter in the early modern era. Industrial development came in the 19th and 20th centuries, followed by postwar modernization and integration into a national framework of local government.

Agrade is governed by a mayor and a city council elected for four-year terms. The economy is diversified, with agriculture (olive oil and wine production) playing a traditional role, complemented by light manufacturing, commerce, and services. Tourism centers on the historic core and regional festivals.

Key institutions include the Agrade University, founded in 1972, and the Saint Lucia Cathedral, a landmark from the late medieval period. The town has a railway connection to larger cities and a regional hospital. Local culture emphasizes festivals that celebrate harvests and crafts.