Surrounded by the Sierra Morena, Villafranca lies close to the Guadalquivir. Surrounded by the Sierra Morena, Villafranca lies close to the Guadalquivir, discretely separated from the noise of the motorway in order to maintain its highly prized tranquillity. The memory of the historic battle fought at the nearby Puente de Alcolea survives in the name of the main street, which houses the most important buildings in the village, such as the Clocktower, which marks the rhythm of the placid day-to-day life of the locality.
- The village is located in the east of the province, close to the Motorway of Andalusia.
- Distance from Córdoba: 27 km.
- Altitude: 143 m.
- Surface area: 64.1 km2.
- Population: 4.074.
- Term used to designate inhabitants: Villafranqueños.
- Region: Alto Guadalquivir.
The present-day village can be traced back to the estate of Cascajar, which was converted into a hamlet subsequent to Christian conquest. A large portion of this territory was administered by the chapter of the Cathedral, which, in 1358, sold the locality to the steward of Peter I, Martín López de Córdoba, who was granted authority by the former to populate the village with fifty settlers who were exempted from taxes. In 1480, Villafranca became an estate of the Order of Calatrava, and in 1549, the municipality was acquired by the House of Aguilar, as an estate within the Marquessate of Priego, and remained under this jurisdiction.
