Cullera

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cullera
Coat of arms of Cullera
Coat of Arms
Location
Coordinates : 39°9′50″N, 0°15′6″W
Time zone : CET (GMT +1)
- summer : CEST (GMT +2)
General information
Native name Cullera (Valencian)
Spanish name Cullera
Administration
Country Spain
Autonomous Community Valencian Community
Province Valencia
Comarca Ribera Baixa
Geography
Land Area 53.82 km²
Altitude 2 m AMSL
Population
Population 23,619 (2006)
Density 439 hab./km² (2006)

Cullera is a municipality in Valencia in the Land of Valencia, Spain, situated in the Ribera Baixa comarca.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Cullera is situated at the mouth of the Júcar river, 40 kilometers from the capital of Valencia.

[edit] Neighborhoods and pedanías

The main neighborhoods of Cullera are:

  • El Brosquil.
  • Cullera-Park.
  • Cap-Blanc.
  • El Dosel.
  • El Estany.
  • El Marenyet.
  • Mareny de San Lorenzo.

[edit] Bordering cities

Sueca, Corbera, Llaurí, Favara, and Tavernes de Valldigna all neighbor Cullera. They are all in the province of Valencia.

[edit] Topography

The mountain of Cullera is the last mountain in the Iberian range before the Mediterranean Sea. It has an altitude of 233 meters. The historical parts of the city are to the south, and the modern tourist district is to the east, looking to the sea.

The San Lorenzo lagoon is a small lake situated north of the mountain. It once formed part of a much bigger lake before the lands were drained for agricultural use. The lake now marks the southern limit of the Parque Natural de la Albufera.

[edit] Demographics

Demographic Change
1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004
20.927 20.336 20.663 20.595 20.397 20.663 20.622 22.544

[edit] Economy

The economy in Cullera is traditionally based in agriculture, with rice and oranges as important crops. Fishing, historically a large part of the economy, has diminished in importance due to important tourism developments, both nationally and internationally, in the region.

[edit] Historical and artistic landmarks

  • Castle: At the top of the mountain, dominating the city and the sea, there is a fortress built in the 13th century over the old Moorish fortress. It once was walled, although those walls no longer remain. Located there are the rest of the old towers, forming part of the old walled area on the mountain.
  • Sanctuary of the Virgen del Castillo: Within the fortress, there is the sanctuary of the Virgen del Castillo, patron of Cullera, whose festival is celebrated the week after Passover.
  • Church of the Saint Johns: A neoclassical temple from the 17th century built over an older Gothic temple. Inside, there is a sacristía and the interior of a bell tower. The temple has recently been restored.
  • Torre del marenyet: An old defensive tower built to watch the Júcar river. It was erected in the 15th century as a defense against pirates.
  • Cave of Dragut: This cave depicts the invasion of the Berbers in Cullera, and it is said that the pirate Dragut was once there.

[edit] Food

The typical food of the region is the so-called Mediterranean diet, which is characterized by a rich selection of vegetables. In Cullera's orchards, there are many citrus crops (oranges, mandarins and lemons), as well as fish and seafood of the nearby ocean. Alongside the offerings of the orchards, not to mention the seafood, there are dozens of ways to prepare rice: arroz al horno, arroz a banda, etc.

[edit] External links

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.

v • d • e
Municipalities of Ribera Baixa
Flag of the Land of Valencia