Vall d'Albaida Valle de Albaida | |
|---|---|
 Location of Vall d'Albaida in the Valencian Community | |
| Coordinates:38°50′30.64″N0°32′52.59″W / 38.8418444°N 0.5479417°W /38.8418444; -0.5479417 | |
| Country |  Spain |
| Autonomous community |  Valencian Community |
| Province |  València / Valencia |
| Capital and largest city |  Ontinyent |
| Municipalities | 34 municipalities
|
| Area | |
• Total | 722.22 km2 (278.85 sq mi) |
| Population (2006) | |
• Total | 89,798 |
| • Density | 124.34/km2 (322.03/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Vall d'Albaida (Valencian:[ˈvaʎdalˈbajða];Spanish:Valle de Albaida[ˈbaʎeðealˈβajða]) is acomarca in theprovince ofValencia,Valencian Community,Spain.
The name of thecomarca is derived from the Hispano-Arabic wordalbáyḍa, which in turn is derived from the classicalArabic البيضاء (al-bayḍāʾ, "The white one" – reference to the white chalk land of the comarca), from which the yellow flowering plant native to the comarca gets its common nameAnthyllis cystoides.[1][circular reference]
Reconquered by the Aragonese kingJames I of Aragon in the first half of the 13th century it was heavily populated by Muslims until theExpulsion of the Moriscos from theKingdom of Valencia in 1609.[2]
Lying approximately 70 km south of the city ofValencia[citation needed] and covering an area of some 722 square kilometers, Vall d'Albaida borders on the north with thecomarca ofCostera, to the east withSafor, to the south withComtat andAlcoià, and to the west withAlto Vinalopó, the latter three of which belong to theprovince of Alicante.
TheAlbaida River runs through thecomarca from south to north.
The area enjoys a typicallyMediterranean climate, characterised by hot summers and relatively cold winters, with an average of two snowfalls per year.
The Vall d'Albaidacomarca is composed of 34 municipalities.
| Municipality | Town/Village | Area | Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontinyent | 36,395 | 125.43 | 290.00 |
| L'Olleria | 8,800 | 32.20 | 251.73 |
| Albaida | 6,269 | 35.40 | 177.09 |
| Benigànim | 6,700 | 33.40 | 184.13 |
| Aielo de Malferit | 4,743 | 27.10 | 167.23 |
| Bocairent | 4,444 | 97.00 | 45.81 |
| Llutxent | 2,571 | 40.10 | 64.11 |
| La Pobla del Duc | 2,561 | 18.90 | 135.50 |
| Quatretonda | 2,513 | 43.20 | 58.17 |
| Castelló de Rugat | 2,391 | 19.10 | 125.18 |
| Atzeneta d'Albaida | 1,364 | 16.20 | 145.92 |
| Montaverner | 1,833 | 7.40 | 247.70 |
| Alfarrasí | 1,297 | 6.40 | 202.65 |
| Agullent | 2,435 | 6.10 | 210.65 |
| Fontanars dels Alforins | 1,014 | 74.70 | 13.57 |
| Bèlgida | 701 | 17.30 | 40.52 |
| Montitxelvo | 626 | 8.20 | 76.34 |
| Benicolet | 577 | 11.30 | 51.06 |
| El Palomar | 555 | 7.80 | 71.15 |
| Otos | 520 | 11.10 | 46.84 |
| Salem | 482 | 8.60 | 56.04 |
| Guadasséquies | 430 | 3.30 | 130.30 |
| El Ràfol de Salem | 421 | 4.30 | 97.90 |
| Bellús | 387 | 9.50 | 40.73 |
| Benissoda | 361 | 4.00 | 90.00 |
| Terrateig | 343 | 6.30 | 54.44 |
| Beniatjar | 260 | 11.40 | 22.80 |
| Bufali | 203 | 3.20 | 63.43 |
| Benissuera | 199 | 1.90 | 104.73 |
| Aielo de Rugat | 197 | 7.80 | 25.25 |
| Pinet | 190 | 11.90 | 15.96 |
| Rugat | 174 | 3.10 | 56.12 |
| Carrícola | 94 | 4.60 | 20.43 |
| Sempere | 38 | 3.80 | 10.00 |
TheRoute of the Monasteries of Valencia (GR-236) is a monumental and cultural route that connects five monasteries located in the south of theProvince of Valencia.
Of the four different itineraries available, three (by foot, byMountain bike and onhorseback) cross variouscomarques within Vall d'Albaida, following signposted riding trails, mountain trails, old roads and railroad tracks, and include theMonastery of the Corpus Christi andXio Castle, both in the municipality ofLlutxent.
By foot, the route takes approximately 3–4 days.
The Route was inaugurated in 2008.[3][4]
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