Chelva
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Chelva 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 the ''comarca'' of
Los Serranos Los Serranos (Valencian: ''Serrans'') is a ''comarca'' in the province of Valencia, Valencian Community, Spain. It is part of the Spanish-speaking area in the Valencian Community. Geographically and historically Chera (Xera) was part of this c ...
in the
Valencian Community The Valencian Community ( ca-valencia, Comunitat Valenciana, es, Comunidad Valenciana) is an autonomous community of Spain. It is the fourth most populous Spanish autonomous community after Andalusia, Catalonia and the Community of Madrid with ...
, Spain. Its name in
Valencian Valencian () or Valencian language () is the official, historical and traditional name used in the Valencian Community (Spain), and unofficially in the Carche, El Carche comarca in Región de Murcia, Murcia (Spain), to refer to the Romance lan ...
is ''Xelva'', but the local language is Spanish and not Valencian.


Geography

Chelva has an area of about 192 km2. The town is located in the middle of the
mountains A mountain is an elevated portion of the Earth's crust, generally with steep sides that show significant exposed bedrock. Although definitions vary, a mountain may differ from a plateau in having a limited summit area, and is usually higher th ...
, and about 52% of its area is covered by typical Mediterranean woodlands. Two rivers flow through the municipality: one with the same name of the village (Chelva), and the other the
Turia River The Turia or Túria ( ca-valencia, Riu Túria ; es, link=no, Río Turia ; la, Tūria) is a river in Spain, which has its source in the Montes Universales in the mountain ranges of the northwesternmost end of the Sistema Ibérico, Teruel pro ...
, which flows to the Mediterranean via
Valencia Valencia ( va, València) is the capital of the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Valencian Community, Valencia and the Municipalities of Spain, third-most populated municipality in Spain, with 791,413 inhabitants. It is ...
. The rivers do not meet in Chelva, but rather in adjacent Domeño. The municipality is also home to several notable summits: the ''Cerro de la Nevera'' (), ''La Atalaya'' (), and the ''Pico del Remedio'' (). There are also several natural springs; the most well known are: Berra, Gitana, Gorgol, Sabina, and Cortina. Chelva has a semiarid
Mediterranean climate A Mediterranean climate (also called a dry summer temperate climate ''Cs'') is a temperate climate sub-type, generally characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, fairly wet winters; these weather conditions are typically experienced in the ...
, with some rain in autumn and spring. In winter, it is cold, and in parts of the mountains snow is common.


Demography

Since 1794—when its population was 7,200 inhabitants—the census has registered a gradual decline in population, to a total of fewer than 2000 inhabitants today. The population is distributed in the main city of Chelva as well as a few nearby villages: Villar de Tejas, Ahíllas, Alcotas, Mas de Caballero, Mas de Sancho, and El Cerrito.


Demographic evolution


History

The oldest archeological finds in Chelva are some paintings from the
Neolithic era The Neolithic period, or New Stone Age, is an Old World archaeological period and the final division of the Stone Age. It saw the Neolithic Revolution, a wide-ranging set of developments that appear to have arisen independently in several parts ...
. From the Bronze Age we find a site in Nieva del Medio. Chelva was home to the
ancient Iberians The Iberians ( la, Hibērī, from el, Ἴβηρες, ''Iberes'') were an ancient people settled in the eastern and southern coasts of the Iberian peninsula, at least from the 6th century BC. They are described in Greek and Roman sources (among ...
, evidenced by the remains of two villages in Torrecilla and Castillejo de Alcotas. Many examples of pottery, decorated with geometrical designs, have been found there, and some walls can still be seen. The most important remains to be found in Chelva's limits are from the
Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a letter ...
epoch. From then we find the aqueduct called Peña Cortada, which stretches along Tuejar, Chelva, Calles, and Domeño, but with an unknown destination. The origins of the present town can be found in the 11th century, when the ruling
Moors The term Moor, derived from the ancient Mauri, is an exonym first used by Christian Europeans to designate the Muslim inhabitants of the Maghreb, the Iberian Peninsula, Sicily and Malta during the Middle Ages. Moors are not a distinct or ...
established a fortress. The original city center was developed adjacent to the castle, and bore the name "Benacacira." It was enclosed by a wall with four gates (one is still visible, San Cristobal). Because of these fortifications, Chelva was a town of considerable importance during the Muslim rule. Permanent Moorish control of the town ended in 1194, when the city was conquered by Peter II of
Aragon Aragon ( , ; Spanish and an, Aragón ; ca, Aragó ) is an autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. In northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces (from north to sou ...
. In 1214 the Muslims briefly retook Chelva, but by 1238 Christian troops took permanent control of the town. The city was repopulated with Christians in 1390 and King John I bestowed upon Pedro Ladron de Vilanova the title of Viscount of Cheva. In later years, this title belonged to the Frigolas family, and finally, to Duke Villahermosa. During the
Revolt of the Brotherhoods The Revolt of the Brotherhoods ( ca, Revolta de les Germanies, es, Rebelión de las Germanías) 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. ...
in the 16th century, the town was occupied by revolting ''agermanados'' troops. In 1839 during the
Carlist War The Carlist Wars () were a series of civil wars that took place in Spain during the 19th century. The contenders fought over claims to the throne, although some political differences also existed. Several times during the period from 1833 to 187 ...
, the city was fortified and converted in a hospital by General Cabrera.


Local festivals

San Antón: 17 January. On the closest weekend to this date people in Chelva make big fires to get the higher amount of "jewels" (live chickens). During this weekend the town also hosts an international oral storytelling festival
Cuentantón
Holy Week Holy Week ( la, Hebdomada Sancta or , ; grc, Ἁγία καὶ Μεγάλη Ἑβδομάς, translit=Hagia kai Megale Hebdomas, lit=Holy and Great Week) is the most sacred week in the liturgical year in Christianity. In Eastern Churches, w ...
. During the Holy week, apart from regular religious celebrations, Chelva celebrates a very special tradition: The first Sunday of Easter, after the procession of the ''Encuentro'', thousands of "aleluyas" are thrown from the top of the church. These little pieces of paper are blessed and have religious inscriptions. People fight to get them because, according to tradition, they bring luck to those who manage to put them behind doors and windows forming a cross. May fiesta: 30 April. Typical manifestation of traditional folklore. Accompanied by a group of musicians, people go around the city singing "Mayos". These are funny lines that, formerly, boys used to sing to girls in order to seduce them. Youth week: July. During the week there are many activities, but the most important is the
paella Paella (, , , , , ) is a rice dish originally from Valencian Community, Valencia. While non-Spaniards commonly view it as Spain's national dish, Spaniards almost unanimously consider it to be a dish from the Valencian community, Valencian region ...
competition. On Friday night the townsfolk gather at the ''Plaza Mayor'' and compete to make the best paella. After the competition, a band stays in the square, performing the rest of the evening. Our Lady of Remedio: August. A whole week full of activities, processions, and different bands playing every night. The festival also includes sports competitions like indoor football, marathon, chess, and fishing. There are also fireworks.


References


External links


Chelva TV
{{authority control Municipalities in the Province of Valencia Los Serranos