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Albinyana (Costa Dorada)
by: Armando Zanolla
The municipality of Albinyana belongs to the district of Baix Penedes
of the province of Tarragona. It covers a territorial extension of 19,
4 Km2. The town is 198 meters above sea level and is located in the
northern part of la Serra Del Quadrella. The suburbs of ‘Les Peces’,
‘les Masies Del Torrent’ and ‘Tomaví’
also belong to Albinyana.
ALBINYANA, POPULATION
According to the last census carried out by the National Institute
of Statistics, in 2001 there were 1.630 inhabitants.
ALBINYANA, HISTORY
There is evidence of prehistory in the town, such as the cave paintings
found by archaeologists in ‘La cueva de Vallmajor’, ‘Sierra
del Quadrell’. Also there are ruins from the roman era. The name
Albinyana appeared for the first time in the year 1010, in the will
of Adalbert, who left the castle to the monastery of ‘Sant Cugat
Del Vallès’. According to the Cartulary of Sant Cugat,
Albinyana was founded in the year 1040, when Abbot Guitart gave the
'Carta de Població' (a population permit) to Bernat d´Oleguer,
on condition that he would build a castle and populate the place. Abbot
Guitart kept half the tax privileges and the right to designate the
priest for the Castle’s church. From the ‘Reconquista’
to the year 1835 the town was under the ruling of the ‘Abades’
from the ‘Monastery of Sant Cugat del Valles’. The religious
monument of the town is the ‘Parroquial Church of San Bartolome’,
built in the XVIII century. On the Sierra del Quadrell there is the
Chapel of San Antoni!
o where from one can stare at the magnificent views it has. From the
Arab era there are only the ruins of a castle.
ALBYNIANA, GASTRONOMY
In this district the traditional asking menu is: ‘Xato’
for starters, ‘Ajo quemado’, ‘pescado azul’
for main course, and ‘bufats’ for dessert.
ALBINYANA, ECONOMY
As Albinyana is further inland, tourism in not the main power of income,
so this leaves the agriculture in top ranking. The chief crops are the
vineyards, cereals, hazelnuts, almonds and olive trees, although, nowadays,
only around 30% of the territory is cultivated. The traditional industry
in town was the making of baskets with ‘palmito’ leaves,
which lasted until half the 20th century, and also the back skins of
animals, supplying the tanning industries in Igualada. Nowadays there
is a flower plantation and a small textile factory, both located in
suburb of Los Peces. In 1972, an animal reservation was created, which
has been lately completed introducing animal species and with the opening
of the water park 'Aqualeón', which nowadays brings more than
a few tourists to the area.
ALBINYANA, FIESTAS AND TRADITIONS
On the 16th of July there is the festivity of ‘Mare de Deu del
Carmen’ and on the 24th of August ‘San Bartolome’.
On Easter Monday there is a meeting at the shrine of Sant Antoni, with
the saying of a mass, the eating of the 'Mona', a traditional Catalan
pastry, games for the children and the famous Sardanes dancing of Catalonia.
ALBINYANA, PLACES TO VISIT
1. The Parish Church of Sant Bartomeu, from the 18th century.
2. The shrine of Sant Antoni de Padua, situated on top of la Serra
del Quadrell.
3. The Vall Major cave and its rupestrian paintings.
4. According to Ruy Fernández, the castle of Albinyana was built
by the Arabs as a watchtower, but nowadays only the foundations and
the base of the round tower remain.It is also interesting to visit the
building called 'Cal Gener' and its wonderful graffitto, in the suburb
of Les Peces.
About The Author - My name is Armando Zanolla; the Director
of Zar Holiday Villas. - The reason of this series of articles is directed
to individuals that whish to Move into Spain; but they feel the need
to improve there knowledge of the region. You will find a general knowledge
of all the major cities in the Costa Dorada in Spain together with there
costumes and traditions, there gastronomy and there festivals, and much
more… - www.zarholidayvillas.com
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