La Vall de Gallinera | |
Settlement Type: | Municipality |
Pushpin Map: | Spain Province of Alicante#Spain Valencia#Spain |
Pushpin Mapsize: | 250 |
Coordinates: | 38.8222°N -0.2222°W |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Type1: | Autonomous Community |
Subdivision Type2: | Province |
Subdivision Type3: | Comarca |
Subdivision Name2: | Alicante |
Subdivision Name3: | Marina Alta |
Established Title: | Founded |
Parts Type: | Districts |
Government Type: | Mayor-council government |
Governing Body: | Ajuntament de La Vall de Gallinera |
Leader Party: | GPV |
Leader Title: | Mayor |
Leader Name: | Antonio Gil Pardo (2015) |
Area Total Km2: | 53.60 |
Elevation M: | 295 |
Population Density Km2: | auto |
Population Demonym: | Vallero, -ra (es) valler, ra (va) |
Timezone1: | CET (GMT +1) |
Timezone1 Dst: | CEST (GMT +2) |
Postal Code Type: | Postcode |
Postal Code: | 03789 |
Blank Info Sec1: | ES-V |
Website: | City Hall of La Vall de Gallinera |
La Vall de Gallinera is a valley and a municipality in north-east Alicante, Spain, included in the Marina Alta comarca. It is formed by the nuclei of Benirrama, Benialí, Benissivà, Benitaia, Carroja, Alpatró, Llombai and Benissili. All these settlements constitute a single municipality. The total combined population at the moment is around 600.
Like in all other valleys of the interior of Marina Alta, the Moors occupied the territory for almost six centuries. After the expulsion of the Moriscos in 1609, the Vall de Gallinera became deserted and the Duke of Gandia, to whom this area was given, brought from Majorca 150 families to repopulate the valley. As per Cavanilles: "it is easy still to see 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 contentedly in that delicious enclosure." Indeed, in this valley, Valencian is heavily influenced by Balearic Catalan.
The main businesses of the area are the cultivation of cherries, almonds and olives, and rural tourism.