La Fatarella is a

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...

in northern Terra Alta, within the region of

Ribera d'Ebre Ribera d'Ebre () is a comarca (county) in Catalonia, Spain. in the Terres de l'Ebre, and that extends to both sides of the river Ebro between the reservoir of Riba-roja and Miravet Miravet is a municipality in the comarca of Ribera d'Ebre in the ...

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

History

One of the oldest buildings in La Fatarella was a Muslim watchtower in the site where the chapel of ''Mare de Déu of the Misericòrdia'' stands today. The name of the population is derived from the Arab name for "tower", although there are other etymological theories. They are no visible remains of the tower. From the point where it stood there is a commanding view of the Terra Alta and a magnificent panoramic view. The Fatarella has irregular and winding streets that present an architectonic element locally known as ''perxes'', which are sections of a street being covered by ''envigats'', or stone arcs, that unite several houses. The origins of the Fatarella present town is

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

, as the facades of many houses show, having porticoes of stone with thresholds carved with different symbols and inscriptions. During the Middle Ages the town was walled to offer protection for its inhabitants, mainly from brigands and wolves. The walls are between in width. This defensive system continued until well into the 17th century, when the a population boom forced the city to expand beyond the walls. Nowadays, vestiges of these walls can still be seen, from which access doors on the enclosure can be deduced. La Fatarella, especially neighboring Serra de la Fatarella mountain range, was one of the main locations of the

Battle of the Ebro The Battle of the Ebro ( es, Batalla del Ebro, ca, Batalla de l'Ebre) was the longest and largest battle of the Spanish Civil War and the greatest, in terms of manpower, logistics and material ever fought on Spanish soil. It took place between Ju ...

in the

Spanish Civil War The Spanish Civil War ( es, Guerra Civil Española)) or The Revolution ( es, La Revolución, link=no) among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War ( es, Cuarta Guerra Carlista, link=no) among Carlists, and The Rebellion ( es, La Rebelión, link ...

. A monument to commemorate the victims was erected in 2010.

References

* Varios (1989), ''Guía de Catalunya. Todos los pueblos y todas las comarcas''. .

External links

Pàgina web de l'Ajuntament

Government data pages

Tourism - La Fatarella
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fatarella, La Municipalities in Terra Alta (comarca)