| Parcent | |
| Settlement Type: | Village |
| Image Map1: | Localització de Parcent respecte de la Marina Alta.png |
| Mapsize1: | 250px |
| Map Caption1: | Location in the comarca Marina Alta |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Spain |
| Subdivision Name1: | Alicante |
| Subdivision Name2: | Marina Alta |
| Area Total Km2: | 11.8 |
| Elevation M: | 295 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Postal Code: | 03792 |
| Leader Name: | Máximo Revilla |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Population Demonym: | Parcent (Spanish) Parcent (Valenciano) |
| Population Blank1 Title: | Language |
| Population Blank1: | Spanish |
| Postal Code Type: | Postcode |
| Time Zone: | CET (GMT +1) |
| Time Zone Summer: | CEST (GMT +2) |
| Blank Name: | Market Days |
| Blank Info: | Monday |
| Coordinates: | 38.7333°N 3°W |
| Website: | http://www.parcent.es/ www.veinsdeparcent.info |
| Footnotes: | festivals = Fiestas of San Antonio Abad, which features a pilgrimage and blessing of the animals, in January; Carnival, in February; San Vicente Ferrer Festival, in April; San Lorenzo Festival, in August |
Parcent (paɾˈsent/; pronounced as /es/) is a municipality in the Pop Valley[1] of La Marina Alta in the Alicante Province, which is located in the Valencian region of Spain. Parcent has a population of about 1100 and is about one hour's drive north of the city of Alicante, and about an hour's drive south of the city of Valencia.
It features the small Holy Virgin church, and is surrounded by hills and mountains. Writer Gabriel Miró (1879–1930) was a resident of Parcent and called it a "paradise between the mountains".
It is also close to Jalón (written as Xaló in Catalan), which is known for its wine production and markets. The traditional economy of Parcent relies on almond and orange farming in the surrounding area.
The name "Parcent" is of Latin origin. Later, it was a Moorish town until the forces of James I of Aragon conquered it in 1256 CE.
There was a major outbreak of leprosy in Parcent in 1850 and by 1887 20% of the residents of Parcent were afflicted.[2] This apparently motivated the inclusion of passages about the disease in Miró's two so-called "Oleza" novels.[3]
The 2006 census established that Parcent's population was 1,019 inhabitants. It was also revealed that about 35.10% of the population of Parcent were not Spanish citizens but were in fact incomers from other countries within the European Union.
Many Europeans from other areas have built retirement or second homes in Parcent, mainly due to the sunshine and proximity to the beaches. However, Parcent and the surrounding valley are suffering growing pains as development quickens.[4]