Morella, Spain
Morella | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Coat of arms | |
 Location of Morella | |
  Morella  Morella | |
| Coordinates:40°37′10.60″N0°06′06.20″W/ 40.6196111°N 0.1017222°W | |
| Country | Spain |
| Autonomous community | Valencian Community |
| Province | Castellón |
| Comarca | Els Ports |
| Government | |
| •Alcalde | Rhamsés Ripollés (PSPV-PSOE) |
| Area | |
• Total | 413.5 km2(159.7 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 984 m (3,228 ft) |
| Population (2018)[1] | |
• Total | 2,437 |
| • Density | 5.9/km2(15/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1(CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2(CEST) |
| Website | www.morella.net/ |
| Type | Non-movable |
| Criteria | Historic ensemble |
| Designated | 28 October 1965 |
| Reference no. | RI-53-0000067 |
| Morella is in the heart of the historic region ofMaestrazgo | |
Morella(Valencian:[moˈɾeʎa]) is an ancient walled city located on a hill-top in the province ofCastellón,Valencian Community,Spain. The town is the capital and administrative centre of thecomarcaofEls Ports,in the historicMaestrat(Maestrazgo) region.
There are traces of settlement by theIberians,succeeded by theGreeksandRomans,Visigothsand theMoors.From the early 17th century to theSpanish Civil War,the town was often fought over, due to its strategic situation between theEbroand the coastal plain of Valencia. Morella is part of theTaula del Séniafree association of municipalities.
Every six years the citizens celebrate theSexenni,a commemoration of the town's recovery from the plague in the seventeenth century. Tourism now plays an important part in the local economy, along with agriculture. In the 20th century the town and surrounding area became depopulated, a trend that has only been reversed in the early 21st century. The population of Morella at the start of 2019 was 2,430,[2][3]having declined from a figure of 7,335 in 1900 (INE).[4]
One of the typical gastronomic products of Morella is sweets known asflaons.Local bakeries are also renowned for a number of other traditional pastries and sweets, likemantecadas,prepared in the ancient way.
History
[edit]
Prehistoric remains in the area includecave paintingsinGaleria del Roure,in Morella la Vella, famous for the oldest known depiction ofarcherycombat.These paintings date from 7,200 to 7,400 years ago.[5]
The ancient Greeks established a treasury at Morella, but then the area became the scene of conflict between theCarthaginiansand the Roman Empire during thePunic Wars.Eventually the town was Romanized and became part of the province ofTarragona.[6]The Visigothspopulated the city in two different epochs, there are ruins of a Visigoth village in the site of Mas Sabater-Cantera de la Parreta de Morella. There are the remains of a building from the 7th century A.D., which according to the archaeologists could have been twelve meters high and maybe it was a noble building or maybe of religious use according to Ramiro Pérez, one of the directors of the excavation.[7]
TheMoorstook the town in 714, naming itMaurela.
El Cidis reputed to have rebuilt the castle which dominates the town and in 1084 he is supposed to have fought in the service ofYusuf al-Mu'taman ibn Hudand defeatedSancho Ramírezof Aragon at theBattle of Morella.In 1117, Sancho captured Morella, but it was recaptured by the Moors and only finally subdued by Blasco de Alagon in 1232. Following Blasco's death in 1239,James I of Aragonestablished a royal garrison in the city and awarded the inhabitants the title of "Faithful".[6]
Morella sided withPhilip Vduring theWar of the Spanish Successionin the early eighteenth century and became the centre of a military and political district. During theNapoleonic Wars,the citizens rose up against the invading forces and the town was finally captured for Spain in 1813 byFrancisco Javier de Elío.In theCarlist Warsof the nineteenth century Morella became the headquarters of the forces ofRamon Cabrera.[6]
The town was captured by forces of GeneralFrancoin April 1938, towards the end of theSpanish Civil War.Republican guerillasheld out in the surrounding mountains until 1956.[8][9]
In the 1960s and 70s many people left the town for work opportunities in the cities and many of the local small industries died, but a slow revitalization has taken place since thetransition of Spain to democracy.[10]
Sexenni
[edit]
In the late seventeenth century, Morella was severely affected by theplague.After twenty years of suffering, the citizens brought a statue of theVirgin Maryfrom the Sanctuary ofVallivana,24 kilometres (15 mi) away, at the feet of theSerra de Vallivanarange, and processed it through the streets. It is said that the plague disappeared from the city and, to remember this, every six years the Sexenni festival takes place for nine days in late August. The virgin is carried in procession and the traditional townguildsperform ancient dances in her honour. The festivities in 2006 were the first of the 21st century.[11]
Municipal area
[edit]
Morella's municipal area is divided into subdivisions known since ancient times asDena. These are: La Vespa, Els Castellons, Dena Primera del Riu, Dena Segona del Riu, La Font d'en Torres, Herbeset, Els Llivis, Morella la Vella, El Coll i el Moll, La Pobla d'Alcolea, Dena de la Roca, Muixacre, Herbeset,Xiva de Morella,HortellsandVallivana.
Geography
[edit]Morella occupies a strategic position between the plains of the riverEbroto the north west and the coastal plains of Valencia and Castellon. Access from the north west lies through the passes of Torre Miró 1,259 metres (4,131 ft) and Querol 1,020 metres (3,350 ft). The old town is completely enclosed by 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) of ancient stone walls, pierced at seven points by gates orportals.The riverBergantesskirts the southern boundaries of the town as it descends towards theGuadalopewhich ultimately joins theEbro.
Climate
[edit]Morella has an Oceanic climate (Köppen:Cfb) highly influenced by its altitude around 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) and its well inland location, with warm summers and cool winters (cold for Spanish standards) with frequent frosts and snow. Temperatures as low as −10 °C (14 °F) and heavy snowfalls can happen during harshcold spells.The highest temperature ever recorded in Morella was 40 °C (104 °F) on 16 August 1925, while the coldest temperature recorded was −17 °C (1 °F) on 17 December 1933.[12]
The average temperature in Morella during 1916-2020 has been 12.8 °C (55.0 °F), with an average rainfall of 645 millimetres (25.4 in) and 15 snowy days on average. The annual sunshine hours are around 2500−2600.[12]
| Climate data for Morella (1943-1969) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 7.3 (45.1) |
8.5 (47.3) |
10.9 (51.6) |
13.9 (57.0) |
18.6 (65.5) |
22.7 (72.9) |
26.3 (79.3) |
26.0 (78.8) |
22.4 (72.3) |
16.2 (61.2) |
11.5 (52.7) |
7.7 (45.9) |
16.0 (60.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 3.6 (38.5) |
4.5 (40.1) |
6.5 (43.7) |
9.1 (48.4) |
13.4 (56.1) |
17.1 (62.8) |
20.3 (68.5) |
20.4 (68.7) |
17.2 (63.0) |
12.0 (53.6) |
7.7 (45.9) |
4.4 (39.9) |
11.3 (52.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −0.2 (31.6) |
0.6 (33.1) |
2.1 (35.8) |
4.3 (39.7) |
8.2 (46.8) |
11.5 (52.7) |
14.3 (57.7) |
14.7 (58.5) |
12.0 (53.6) |
7.9 (46.2) |
3.9 (39.0) |
1.1 (34.0) |
6.7 (44.1) |
| Averageprecipitationmm (inches) | 30 (1.2) |
31 (1.2) |
41 (1.6) |
41 (1.6) |
78 (3.1) |
53 (2.1) |
42 (1.7) |
36 (1.4) |
57 (2.2) |
80 (3.1) |
53 (2.1) |
57 (2.2) |
600 (23.6) |
| Source: Sistema de Clasificación Bioclimática Mundial (Global Bio Climatics)[13] | |||||||||||||
Today
[edit]Morella is now a tourist destination, with many historic buildings, hotels and restaurants. It is listed as one of themost beautiful towns in Spain.Some of the topsights to see in Morellaare the Castillo de Morella (Morella Castle), the aqueduct, Iglesia de Santa María (Saint Mary's Church), Convent de San Francesc (St. Francis’ Convent) both in Gothic style, the Temps de Dinosaures Museum (Time of Dinosaurs Museum), and theVisigoth settlementfrom the 7th century (Mas Sabater-Cantera la Parreta).
Although not as important as in the past,wooland woollen goods still plays a part in the local economy. One of its most famous products is theMorella blanket,which has a unique design, with a range of colour combinations and horizontal stripes. Agriculture, especially poultry and pig production are important in the surrounding area with craft products and highly valuedblack truffleswhich are traded at seasonal markets during the winter.[14][15]
Notable people
[edit]- Antonio Royo Marín(1913-April 2005), Spanish Dominican priest and theologian
Gallery
[edit]-
Dance of theLlauradors,Sexenni, Morella 2006 -
Morella in 1845 -
Street in Morella -
Gate of the Church Santa María la Mayor -
Alabasterwindows in Santa Maria La Major church
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Municipal Register of Spain 2018.National Statistics Institute.
- ^"Municipality: 080 Morella 2001-2008".Instituto Nacional de Estadística.Retrieved20 November2009.
- ^Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Madrid, 2019
- ^"De facto Population figures from 1900 until 1991 - De facto Population: Morella. Both sexes".Instituto Nacional de Estadística.Retrieved20 November2009.
- ^Keith F. Otterbein,How War Began(2004),p. 72.
- ^abc "Guía Virtual de la Comunidad Valenciana: Morella"(Spanish).Federacion Valenciana de Municipios y Provincias.Retrieved17 November2009.
- ^"Descubren en Morella un poblado visigodo del siglo VII".Levante-EMV.agencia EFE. 24 August 2017.
- ^Segarra Capsir, Francisco (2009).Los 'maquis' en el Maestrazgo(in Spanish). Castellón: Editorial Antinea.ISBN978-84-96331-63-1.[page needed]
- ^"Las guerrillas de Teruel, Cuenca y Levante".camiloberneri.org(in Spanish). 13 May 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 25 July 2011.Retrieved4 November2010.
- ^"Coneix la història de Morella: prehistòria, medieval, moderna i contemporània".La ciutat de Morella. Archived fromthe original(Catalan)on 14 May 2010.Retrieved17 November2009.
- ^ "Sexenni of Morella, Castellon".www.valenciatrader.com.Retrieved18 November2009.
- ^ab"Clima en Morella".Morella City Hall.Retrieved27 July2021.
- ^"ESP CASTELLON - MORELLA".Retrieved27 July2021.
- ^"Gastronomy".Mancomunidad Turística del Maestrazgo.Retrieved17 November2009.
- ^Lander, Nick."Truffle hunting in Spain - 2001".www.nicklander.com.Retrieved18 November2009.
External links
[edit]
- Web oficial de l'ajuntament de Morella
- Paco González Ramírez,País Valencià, poble a poble, comarca a comarca
- Institut Valencià d'Estadística.
- Portal de la Direcció General d'Administració Local de la Generalitat.
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