L'Alfàs del Pi explained

L'Alfàs del Pi
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:Alicante
Subdivision Type3:Comarca
Subdivision Name3:Marina Baixa
Subdivision Type4:Judicial district
Subdivision Name4:Benidorm
Coordinates:38.58°N -0.1031°W
Elevation M:88
Area Total Km2:19.26
Population Demonym:Alfassí, Alfassina
Population Density Km2:auto
Blank Name Sec1:Official language(s)
Blank Info Sec1:Spanish and Valencian
Timezone:CET
Utc Offset:+1
Timezone Dst:CEST
Utc Offset Dst:+2
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:03580,03581
Area Code Type:Dialing code
Leader Title:Alcalde
Leader Name:Vicente Arques (2007)
Leader Party:PSOE

L'Alfàs del Pi (pronounced as /lalˈfaz ðel ˈpi/; Spanish; Castilian: Alfaz del Pi) is a Valencian town and municipality located in the comarca of Marina Baixa, in the province of Alicante, Spain, lying at the foot of Serra Gelada.

L'Alfàs del Pi has an area of 19.3 km2 and, according to the 2011 census, a total population of 19,802 inhabitants; the latest official estimate (as at 2019) is 20,482. The town has the second largest concentration of Norwegian residents abroad, along with sizable Dutch and English communities.[1] The economy of L'Alfàs del Pi is mainly based on tourism. The most important monument in the city is the Catholic church of Crist del Bon Encert, built in 1784. The town's symbol is a pine tree, which can be found in the church square. It is home to a nationally renowned film festival which runs each year.

L'Alfàs del Pi has created a planned sea-side community - Platja de l'Albir - situated between Benidorm to the south and Altea to the north in fields earlier dominated by citrus and almond groves. Since 1995, Albir has grown into a village of about 5,000 inhabitants, into a municipality with over 20,000 inhabitants; the majority of whom are originally from Northern Europe.

L'Alfàs del Pi has a high amount of foreign-born residents, having a higher percentage of foreign residents than Spanish residents.[2] The largest foreign population are Norwegians, who have two public Norwegian schools, paid by the Norwegian government, two elder care centres for Norwegians and the only volunteering centre opened by the Norwegian government outside of Norway.[3]

In 2013, the sculpture Paraboloide by Agustín Ibarrola that symbolizes peace and was made in honor of the 2011 Norway Attacks victims was revealed.[4] The sculpture is placed in a park that will be named after Johan Galtung.[5]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.elpais.com/articulo/Comunidad/Valenciana/L/Alfas/Pi/embajada/noruega/elpepuespval/20050908elpval_19/Tes - El País.com - L'Alfàs del Pi, embajada noruega
  2. Web site: Datos del padrón de Alfàs del Pi (L') - Diputación de Alicante. documentacion.diputacionalicante.es. 2019-07-23.
  3. Web site: Más de 4.000 noruegos celebran su Día Nacional en Alfaz del Pi. 2017-05-17. abc. es. 2019-07-23.
  4. http://www.radiosirena.es/actualidad-marina-baixa/actualidad-lalfas-del-pi/5458-la-escultura-paraboloide-de-agustin-ibarrola-en-l-alfas-simbolo-de-convivencia-en-paz La escultura Paraboloide de Agustín Ibarrola en l’Alfàs símbolo de convivencia en paz
  5. Leif Kverneland (15 June 2013): ”Parque de Johan Galtung” er åpnet i Alfaz del Pi Spaniaavisen, retrieved 21 June 2013