Canals is a
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality' ...
(pop.,
INE 2007: 13,771) in the
''comarca'' of
Costera in the
Valencian Community
The Valencian Community is an Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Spain. It is the fourth most populous Spanish Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community after Andalusia, Catalonia and the Community of Madrid wit ...
, Spain.
It shares borders with the municipalities of
l'Alcúdia de Crespins,
Cerdà,
la Granja de la Costera,
Xàtiva
Xàtiva (; ) is a town in eastern Spain, in the province of Valencia, on the right (western) bank of the river Albaida and at the junction of the Valencia, Spain, Valencia–Murcia and Valencia Albacete railways. It is located 25 km ...
,
Llanera de Ranes,
Montesa,
Torrella and
Vallés (in the same ''comarca'') and with
Aielo de Malferit and
l'Olleria (''comarca'' of
Vall d'Albaida).
Geography
Canals is located in the valley of
Montesa, between the Grossa mountains and la Costera. The highest points are in la Serra Grossa, where we can find the peaks of l'Atalaia (556 m) and la Creu (520 m), on the municipal boundary with
l'Olleria. The
Cànyoles River crosses the town in the west-northeast direction; the Sants River begins its course close to town, where it divides into two channels (''séquies'') that bring water to Xàtiva and the fields of Canals.
The village lies on the left bank of the Cànyoles river. Canals and l'Alcúdia de Crespins together form a conurbation.
From València you can reach Canals taking the A-7 highway.
Towns of the municipality
* Canals
*
Aiacor
*
Torre d'En Cerdà, or Torre dels Frares.
History
Some evidence of Roman civilization has been found. During the year of Muslim occupation it was a very important "alqueria" owned by Xàtiva.
Then in the Christian era, in 1244, king
James I of Aragon
James I the Conqueror ( Catalan/Valencian: ''Jaume I or Jaume el Conqueridor''; Aragonese: ''Chaime I'' ''o Conqueridor''; ; 2 February 1208 – 27 July 1276) was King of Aragon, Count of Barcelona, and Lord of Montpellier from 1213 to 1 ...
gave
Dionís of Hungary the tower and the small village of Canals and created the new lordship of the
Señorío de Torre de Canals
The Lordship of Torre de Canals was a lordship in the Crown of Aragon located in and around the town of Canals, Valencia, Torre de Canals. The town is located in the present day Valencian Community and no longer exists as a lordship.
History
Origi ...
. Dionis of Hungary gave the king the castle in the valley of Veo and also the castle of Ain and other territories. The Christian resettlement was made by Catalans. On July 30, Peter IV "el Cerimoniós" gave the place to Raimon de Riusech taking it from Joan Eximenis d'Urrea, with the condition that if he had no male descendants it would be given back to the crown, but in the end it was sold to Xàtiva, with the king's approval on February 19 of 1353 as a barony. During the rule by Xàtiva there were continuous tributary conflicts. In the year 1506, Xàtiva bought La Torreta.
In 1522 during the
Revolt of the Brotherhoods
The Revolt of the Brotherhoods (, ) was a revolt by artisan guilds ('' Germanies'') against the government of King Charles V in the Kingdom of Valencia, part of the Crown of Aragon. It took place from 1519–1523, with most of the fighti ...
, Canals was used by the viceroy as his headquarters to attack Xàtiva, where the 'Encobert' was hidden. Many prisoners were taken from Xàtiva to Canals. In 1639, Phillip IV paid Xàtiva 20.000 pounds, and gave independence to Canals as a village (vila). In the 19th century Canals developed industry, with 24 glass factories, a paper factory, metal workshops, flour mills, and cloth sellers. In the 20th century this industrial activity increased with oil, furniture, construction materials, leather and cloth production.
Demography
Main sights
*
Tower and walls of the Borgias
*
Oratory of the Borgias
*
Route of the Borgias
The Route of the Borgias is a cultural route, that includes sites associated with the Borja or ''Borgia'', located in their native Valencian Community, Spain. The marketing of the route was inaugurated in 2007.Source: ABCPaseo por la hi ...
People from Canals
* Alfons de Borja,
Pope Callixtus III
Pope Callixtus III (, , ; 31 December 1378 – 6 August 1458), born Alonso de Borja (), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 8 April 1455 to his death, in August 1458.
Borgia spent his early career as a professor ...
Economy
The economy is divided into agriculture (oranges), industry famous for its clothing and leather production (Ferry's, Rodrigo Sancho S.A.), and marble.
Today the industry is almost dead with the main companies having closed down: Ferry's (2007), Argent (2008), Rodrigo Sancho S.A. (2010), and many others.
Pottery has also been very important, and has given the people from Canals the nickname of "perolers" (potters).
References
External links
Canals ActualitatLa web lider en noticies i opinions de Canals.
Ajuntament de CanalsAssemblea de Joves de CanalsEnllaç a Canals en el google mapsConèixer Canals Web per a conèixer la població de la Costera, Canals
La Costera Digital Periòdic independent de la Costera, Canals.
Institut Valencià d'Estadística*
ttps://web.archive.org/web/20110708020452/http://amcanalense.blogsome.com/ Associació Musical Canalense
{{authority control
Municipalities in the Province of Valencia
Costera
Route of the Borgias