Benigembla

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Image:Escudo de Benigembla.jpg

Coat of Arms of Benigembla

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1 Location
2 Demography
3 Major Festivities and Traditions
4 The Environment
5 Tourism
6 Links

[edit] Location

Benigembla is a Valencian town, located in the Pop Valley (see La Vall de Pop), within the district of la Marina Alta in eastern Spain. The town is 314 meters above sea level. It is only 50 kilometers away from Benidorm, 88 km from Alacant/Alicante, 105 km from València, and 23 km from Dénia.

[edit] Demography

It has 615 inhabitants, according to the latest census of the year 2006. About 34% percent of the population is foreign, mostly British. But there is also a German and North American community in town. The district of Vernissa Park is largely English speaking, with a number of monolinguals. It is a very flat town surrounded by mountains, which one can find very enjoyable and relaxing. The main language spoken by its inhabitants is Catalan (valencian). Seventy percent of the population speaks and uses catalan as their main language. After the decree of the expelling of the Moors in 1609, the town was populated mostly by inhabitants from Catalonia (Catalunya), and the Balearic Islands (Illes Balears). Most of the traditions of these settlers are still carried out today.

[edit] Major Festivities and Traditions

There are two major festivities during the year. In January, the town celebrates its festivities, in honour of Sant Honorat and Sant Antoni. During the summer, in August the town celebrates its major festivity, from 12 August to 17 August. During the summer festivity there are: concerts, theatre, fireworks (correfocs), dancing,valencian hand-ball, running with the bulls, and religious celebrations.

Image:Carrer de Benigembla.jpg

[edit] The Environment

The highest mountain peak of Benigembla is represented by "El Morro d'En Serra" with 1,001 m. One of the walking trails of interest in town is The Route of "El Mirabó". Other known mountains of Benigembla are: El Cavall Verd or el Pop (793 m), La Penya de L'Altar (949 m), La Solana (793 m), and also El Mirabó (691 m). The river Xaló-Gorgos passes next to Benigembla, which borders the town from its west side to its east side, and it was declared, as a site of special community interest by the European Commission in 2005. The river Xaló-Gorgos is 55 km long, and it ends finally in the sea in Xàbia.

Image:Ajuntament i Plaça de Benigembla.jpg

[edit] Tourism

The town also has two restaurants, two rural houses, a recreational area in The Safareig, and a camping area. The camping area of "La Vall de Pop" is located just 1 km from Benigembla, on the road that leads to Castell de Castells. There is a swimming pool, a tennis court, and other facilities. Another site of interest of Benigembla is The Ribàs Botanical Garden next to the main square, with trees that are more than 100 years old, and other species of special botanical interest.

Part of the exteriors of the film "Her Majesty the Minor" was filmed in the olive fields of Benigembla, in October of 2006, a super European production of the French director Jean-Jacques Annaud, who also directed The films "Seven Years in Tibet" and "The Name of the Rose".

[edit] Links

La Vall de Pop. More information about Benigembla, and other towns of the Pop Valley.
Benigembla. This is site is about Benigembla, but it is only in catalan language, however there are nice pictures and sites of Benigembla.
Valencian Federation of Municipalities and Provinces - Tourist Guide More informatión about Benigembla and other valencian towns, however is available only in Spanish.
[La Vall de Pop a la Marina Alta]. Some information about the towns of the Pop Valley is available in English.