Albacete, the capital of the province of Albacete, is a city in southeastern Spain, 258 kilometres (160 miles) southeast of Madrid and 127 kilometres (79 miles) northwest of Murcia. The city has 173,000 inhabitants and 218,000 in the metropolitan area, being the city with the highest number of inhabitants in all Castilla-La Mancha, and one of the main urban areas of the country. Albacete, together with Ciudad Real, has one of the main campuses of the University of Castilla la Mancha. It is estimated that between 9,000 and 10,000 students study at both of the campuses. The city has been known as a center for the manufacture of fine daggers, scissors, and knives. An assembly plant of Eurocopter, a subsidiary of EADS, began operation in 2007. The aviation industry is one of the main economic drivers of the city, as well as the Albacete Air and Logistics Park, home to major companies. The city hosts a Training Center for NATO pilots.
Albacete has become the most important town in the Castile-la Mancha region, with unparalleled services and industrial activity, due to its position on the excellent train and highway communications that link Madrid to the eastern coast of Spain. At present, Albacete is a modern capital with large areas for pedestrians and green areas that make it one of the ten cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants with the lowest presence of pollution in all Europe. Further its flat area and the elimination of architectural barriers have also led it to be one of the most accessible cities across the country, and the sixth with the highest quality of life. The university has 10,000 students who enjoy the nighlife in a lot of clubs, bars and tapas restaurants. During summer nights, thousands of people visit Tascas de la Feria to eat regional dishes. In September, the Feria de Albacete (town festival) transforms the city for ten days. A great number of visitors fill the city streets.
