| Alcalà de Xivert | |
| Settlement Type: | Municipality |
| Pushpin Map: | Spain |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Spain |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Spain |
| Subdivision Type1: | Autonomous community |
| Subdivision Name1: | Valencian Community |
| Subdivision Type2: | Province |
| Subdivision Name2: | Castelló |
| Subdivision Type3: | Comarca |
| Subdivision Name3: | Plana Alta |
| Subdivision Type4: | Judicial district |
| Subdivision Name4: | Castelló de la Plana |
| Coordinates: | 40.3042°N 0.2256°W |
| Elevation M: | 155 |
| Area Total Km2: | 167.5 |
| Population Demonyms: | Xivertí, xivertina |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Blank Name Sec1: | Official language(s) |
| Blank Info Sec1: | Valencian |
| Timezone: | CET |
| Utc Offset: | +1 |
| Timezone Dst: | CEST |
| Utc Offset Dst: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 12570 |
| Area Code Type: | Dialing code |
Alcalà de Xivert (alkaˈla ðe tʃiˈvɛɾt/; es|Alcalá de Chivert pronounced as /es/) is a town and municipality in the Baix Maestrat comarca, province of Castelló, Valencian Community, Spain.
The main town is located inland in a flat valley between the two mountain ranges of Serra d'Irta and Serra de les Talaies. There is no river in the valley; instead, the water emerges in natural ponds known as basses.[1]
Its castle occupied a strong position for the control of the routes along the Mediterranean coast. Here stood a Moorish castle (the name of the town derives from Arabic al-qalat = "the castle") that was captured by James I of Aragon in 1234, who also resettled the place with Christian villagers.
On 30 August 1905, scientists came from all over the world to Alcalà de Xivert to watch a total solar eclipse which covered an area from the coast of North Africa to the North-East of Spain.[2]
In contemporary times the economy of the town is devoted mainly to tourism, with several beaches and a busy marina at the villages located on the coast, Alcossebre, Capicorb and Les Fonts.
The landmark of the town is the Esglèsia de Sant Joan Baptista (Church of Saint John the Baptist), built in 1736–1766, with a large dome, a noteworthy Baroque portal, and a 68-metre-high tower, which is visible from many miles away.
The castle of Xivert, was built by the Moors in the 12th century and later conquered by the Knights Templar.