ALBAL town

Its History  Founded in the Muslim Period ( ). It was named “Alboayal” (dry area)  It consisted of a country house and some land. At an end of the house, it’s thought to have been an Arab Tower.  It’s the oldest building in the town. It’s a square shaped security and defense building. Nowadays it keeps the town museum.  King Jaime I gave Alboayal to ‘Gil de Atrosillo’ (a Knight) as a reward for his contribution in the wars.  1244 the town was sold to the Cathedral of Valencia.  It was inhabited by 32 families.  From that moment on the town grew slowly

GEOGRAPHYGEOGRAPHY  It’s located between ‘Albufera’ natural park and ‘Perenchiza mountain”  It has a Mediterranean climate, with mild temperatures all the year round. Most storms take place in spring and autumn when they are specially strong, causing flooding sometimes.

POPULATIONPOPULATION

POPULATION  ALBAL has 14,900 inhabitants and it´s still growing because of the great number of buildings in progress.  In the last twenty years there has been a growth in population with people from the area because it’s very close to Valencia. Nowadays it is also growing with foreign inhabitants: Moroccan people, Latin- American people and people from the East of Europe.

MONUMENTS  Santa Ana Chapel  Built on a small hill, it’s a large chapel it’s a large chapel with a high choir. with a high choir.  It’s located in an area surrounded by pine trees.  It has been restored twice in 1943 and 2005

 Nuestra Señora de los Angeles church. Its building lasted Its building lasted a long time and was a long time and was finished in 1697 finished in 1697 although work on although work on different altars continued. different altars continued.  It’s the most important church in Albal church in Albal

OLD TOWN HALL Two-storey building from 1942 which exhibits a mixture of styles. It has a rectangular plant. There is an ornamental balcony on the first floor. balcony on the first floor. Nowadays it holds the town offices.

SAN BLAS STATE SCHOOL  Built in  It shows the typical construction of educational centres of the time with large wooden windows to light the rooms.

FESTIVITIES  San Blas  February 3rd.  Different religious activities are activities are performed: performed: a pilgrimage to a pilgrimage to Santa Ana Chapel. Santa Ana Chapel.  There are also civil activities like a medieval street market like a medieval street market and open air concerts. and open air concerts.

LAS FALLAS

FALLAS FESTIVAL  Albal also celebrates ‘las fallas’ (huge monuments made of cardboard and wood) from the 15th to the 19th of March.  There are seven ‘fallas’ in the town and in the town and they all compete they all compete to get the first prize. to get the first prize.  They are all burned on the 19th of March on the 19th of March

SANTA ANA

 It is celebrated on 26th July.  There is pilgrimage to Saint Anne’s Chapel.  A girl is chosen as the Queen of the festival.  There are fireworks, open-air concerts and parades.

FIREWORKS They are typical of all Valencian festivals They are typical of all Valencian festivals.