Gallinera
Encyclopedia
La Vall de Gallinera is a valley and a municipality in north-east Alicante
, included in the Marina Alta
comarca
. It is formed by the nuclei of Benirrama, Benialí, Benissivà, Benitaia, Carroja, Alpatró, Llombai and Benissili. All these towns constitute a single municipality. The total combined population at the moment is around 600.
occupied during almost six centuries these earth. After the Reconquista
in 1609, the Vall de Gallinera became deserted and the Duke of Gandia
, to whom this area was adscribed, brought from Majorca 150 families to repopulate the valley. As per Cavanilles: "it is easy to see still the origin of all of them in the accent and dialect of its inhabitants. They are very hard working, all they take advantage of it and they live contentmently in that delicious enclosure." Indeed, in this valley, Valencian
is heavily influenced by Balearic Catalan.
Other meanings =
Alicante (province)
Alicante or Alacant is a province of eastern Spain, in the southern part of the Valencian Community. It is bordered by the provinces of Murcia on the southwest, Albacete on the west, Valencia on the north, and the Mediterranean Sea on the east...
, included in the Marina Alta
Marina Alta
Marina Alta is a comarca in the province of Alicante, Valencian Community, Spain.- Municipalities :*Adsubia*Alcalalí*Beniarbeig*Benidoleig*Benigembla*Benimeli*Benissa*Benitachell/El Poble Nou de Benitatxell*Calp*Castell de Castells*Dénia...
comarca
Comarca
A comarca is a traditional region or local administrative division found in parts of Spain, Portugal, Panama, Nicaragua, and Brazil. The term is derived from the term marca, meaning a "march, mark", plus the prefix co- meaning "together, jointly".The comarca is known in Aragonese as redolada and...
. It is formed by the nuclei of Benirrama, Benialí, Benissivà, Benitaia, Carroja, Alpatró, Llombai and Benissili. All these towns constitute a single municipality. The total combined population at the moment is around 600.
History
Like in all other valleys of the interior of Marina Alta, the MoorsMoors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
occupied during almost six centuries these earth. After the Reconquista
Reconquista
The Reconquista was a period of almost 800 years in the Middle Ages during which several Christian kingdoms succeeded in retaking the Muslim-controlled areas of the Iberian Peninsula broadly known as Al-Andalus...
in 1609, the Vall de Gallinera became deserted and the Duke of Gandia
Duke of Gandia
The hereditary Spanish title duke of Gandía was created in 1485 by Ferdinand II of Aragon from the original Italian title "duke of Candia" belonging to the Italian Stato di Mare or Italian Kingdoms of the Mediterranean Sea; originally granted around 1206 to a Genoan marquis member of the House of...
, to whom this area was adscribed, brought from Majorca 150 families to repopulate the valley. As per Cavanilles: "it is easy to see still the origin of all of them in the accent and dialect of its inhabitants. They are very hard working, all they take advantage of it and they live contentmently in that delicious enclosure." Indeed, in this valley, Valencian
Valencian
Valencian is the traditional and official name of the Catalan language in the Valencian Community. There are dialectical differences from standard Catalan, and under the Valencian Statute of Autonomy, the Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua has been established as its regulator...
is heavily influenced by Balearic Catalan.
Other meanings =
- La Vall de Gallinera is also the name of a Philippine furniture, a wooden settee, under which chickens were safely kept. It was also used to store visitors' gifts.