La Sénia

La Sénia is a town and municipality in the province of Tarragona, in the autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain. It is part of the Montsià comarca. Throughout the 20th century and up to the present day, La Sénia has been recognized for its thriving furniture industry.

Etymology

The name derives from the Arabic word ''saniya'' (flour mill, water wheel), which evolved into the Romance term ''azenia'' during the Middle Ages. The town shares its name with the Cenia River, which flows through the municipality.

History

Prehistory

Material remains have been found that demonstrate the presence of inhabitants in prehistoric times. The area of La Sénia has been occupied since ancient times. The caves of ''Rossegadors'' and ''de la Tenalla'' contain Levantine rock art, which provides evidence of the seasonal nomadic life of small groups of humans during the Epipaleolithic period. These paintings depict the fauna of the time, human figures engaged in hunting, details of male and female clothing, as well as scenes of hunting activities and compositions of unknown meaning.

Ancien Régime

The lands of the Cenia River remained under the jurisdiction of the Knights Hospitaller from 1178, under the command of Ulldecona Castle. It was this order that granted the first charter of settlement to Guillem de Moragues, a native of Tortosa. La Sénia, then known as ''Cenia'', was recognized as a town on April 17, 1232. Later, on January 25, 1235, Guillem de Moragues granted a new charter of settlement to the inhabitants of La Sénia.

During the Catalan Civil War in 1462, La Sénia actively opposed John II of Aragon and was assaulted several times by royal troops until it finally surrendered in June 1466. In 1536, it was incorporated into the commandery of Mirambel.

In 1716, after the War of the Spanish Succession, the population lost numerous privileges and local liberties following the implementation of the ''Nueva Planta'' Decrees by Philip V.

Contemporary Era

During the Peninsular War, the town of La Sénia played a significant role. When it was conquered along with the rest of Montsià and Baix Ebre, it became part of the French department of '' Bouches-de-l'Èbre''. During this period, La Sénia gained importance for its shipbuilding industry. After the expulsion of the French from the region of Montsià, absolutism was restored with the return of Ferdinand VII to the Spanish throne.

When Spain was divided into provinces in 1833, La Sénia became part of Tarragona. That same year, the First Carlist War began in the area, with the conquest of the town by General Ramón Cabrera, leading to constant sieges by Isabelline troops until 1840 when General Leopoldo O'Donnell defeated Cabrera.

On April 18, 1871, the Spanish noble title of ''Marquesado de la Cenia'' was established by King Amadeo I in favor of Fernando Cotoner y Chacón, who held the ranks of lieutenant general, captain general of Puerto Rico and minister of war. Subsequently, on August 15, 1882, Alfonso XII granted the title the distinction of Grandee of Spain.

In the early 20th century, in 1907, electricity was introduced to the town.

During the early stages of the Spanish Civil War, in 1937, the Spanish Republican Air Force built an air base in the area known as Els Plans. Republican aviators initially flew from this airfield, which was later used by German forces. Nationalist troops entered the town on April 14, 1938, after the Aragon Offensive. Subsequently, the personnel of the German Condor Legion settled at the airfield, which became their most important operating base. During the summer, the airfield was highly active as the Germans carried out numerous operations in the Levante Offensive and the Battle of the Ebro. On December 16 of that same year, a group of Republican Tupolev SB bombers conducted a surprise attack on the Condor Legion facilities, destroying seven German Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters and causing severe damage to the ground installations. It was one of the most audacious attacks by the Republican Air Force during the war.

In the 1980s, a significant change occurred in the official name of the municipality, which had remained unchanged since its founding in 1232. This change involved the translation of the original name ''Cenia'' into Catalan, and the municipality has been officially known as La Sénia ever since.

Administration and politics

La Sénia is composed of two population centers.

Culture

The parish church is dedicated to Saint Bartholomew and Saint Roch. It was built between the 17th and 18th centuries in a Baroque style with neoclassical details. It has a single nave with side chapels and a square-shaped bell tower. The roof is topped with a dome, and the belfry windows are located at the corners. The historic center of the village preserves a similar aesthetic, with houses featuring grand portals and balconies. In 1983, a regulation was established to preserve this area of the town. About from the center of La Sénia is the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Pallerols, located on the top of Pallerols Mountain. It is a simple building that houses an image of the Virgin of Pallerols, the patron saint of the town.

In 1904, the ''Banda Harmónica de Cenia'' was founded, composed of 75 musicians. Now known as ''Agrupació Musical Senienca,'' it has gained recognition in the neighboring regions and has received awards in international competitions. In 2002, it was awarded the '' Creu de Sant Jordi'', a significant recognition. The main festival of La Sénia is celebrated in August and is known for its traditional horse races.
/ref> During the month of September, a pilgrimage is made to the Sanctuary of Pallerols.

Economy

The economy of La Sénia has traditionally revolved around agriculture, with dryland crops such as olive trees, vineyards, and cereals playing a key role. In the 1930s, the first brush factories emerged. In the 1960s, the construction of the Ulldecona Dam attracted immigrant workers and contributed to the industrial growth of the municipality, with the establishment of paper mills, furniture factories, metal railing companies, freight transportation services, and construction business.

The olive oil produced in La Sénia, extracted from its centuries-old olive trees, is marketed as a luxury product and can reach a price of €15 per 500 ml.

Regarding the furniture industry, small workshops applying semi-industrial processes to furniture manufacturing emerged in the 1940s and 1950s. In the 1960s, companies implementing large-scale production processes were established. In the 1970s, factories specialized in different phases of the furniture manufacturing and sales process. Today, the wood, furniture, and accessories sector employs the majority of the population. La Sénia has become the leading producer of modern furniture in Spain and a benchmark in the industry in Catalonia. The municipality has the Catalonia Furniture Technology Dissemination Center (AMBIT Living Spaces Cluster) and a wood waste treatment plant. It has recently been recognized as a Center of Artisanal Interest in Catalonia for furniture manufacturing by the Executive Council of Catalonia.

Twin towns

* Cazorla, Andalusia

References

External links

Town hall of La Sénia
(in Catalan)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Senia, La
Municipalities in Montsià