Jérica

Infobox Settlement
settlement_type =Town
official_name= Jérica
other_name =

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image_dot_

subdivision_name1= Castellón
subdivision_name2= Alto Palancia
demonym Spanish= Jericano/a
demonym Catalan=
postal_code= 12450
area_total_km2= 78.30
elevation_m= 523
population_as_of= 2005
population_total= 1577
population_density_km2= 19.84
leader_name= Ángel Gil Ordaz
subdivision_name2= Segorbe
website= es [http://www.jerica.es/webjerica.htm Official Website]
map_caption1= Location in the Valencian Community, Spain |dot_map_caption=Location in the comarca Vinalopó Medio|mapsize= 120px |mapsize1= 100px |dot_mapsize=200px|subdivision_type= Country |subdivision_name = Spain |subdivision_type1 = Province |subdivision_type2 = Comarca |leader_title =Mayor |population_blank1_title=Demonym |population_blank1 =Jericano/a (Spanish)
Xericà/Xericana (Catalan) |population_blank2_title =Language |population_blank2 =Spanish|postal_code_type =Postcode |latd=39 |latm=54 |lats= |latNS=N |longd=00 |longm=34 |longs= |longEW=W

Jérica is a town in the Castellón province of Valencian Community, Spain. It is in the comarca (region) of Alto Palancia.

Geography

The municipality has an area of 78.30km², is crossed by the river Palancia, and an area in the south is part of the Calderona mountain range. However, no part of the municipality is in the Sierra Calderona National Park.

The town centre is located at a height of 523 m, on a rocky promontory along the Palancia river channel. The precipice is very difficult to access and therefore, the population has settled in the opposite direction, staggered along the slope of the hill.

Districts and pedanías

In the municipality of Jérica there are two population centres:

* Los Ángeles
* Novaliches

Bordering localities

Altura, Benafer, Caudiel, Gaibiel, Navajas, Sacañet, Segorbe, Teresa, Vall de Almonacid and Viver in the province of Castellón and Alcublas in the province of Valencia.

History

The first evidence of human settlement is from the Neolithic period, from human remains found in the "Herreros" Cave (Cave of the Blacksmiths). Serval settlements from the Iberian period exist within the castle bounds.

The municipality has the highest number of Roman artifacts discovered in the comarca, epecially the large quantity of gravestones, including the unique gravestone of "Quintia Prova" of Hispania on which the cost of a Roman arc with two statues is mentioned.

The first references to the present nucleus of the settlement are in the period of Muslims' presence in the area, including the Taifa of Valencia and the after the disintegration of the Caliph of Córdoba in 1027 and then the subsequent capture of the area by the Cid in 1098. The first stages of the towers and the oldest parts of the castle are from this time.

On 5 February 1235, the area is captured by the Christian army in order to control the sacristan of Gerona, "Gillém de Montgriu", although the Muslim population were not expelled.

In 1249 the "Carta Puebla" is issued to populate Jérica, since the deployment was already evident. In 1255 King James I of Aragon donates the estate of the villa of Jérica to the son he had with Teresa Gil de Vidaurre. Their son was Jaume (es Jaime) of Xèrica (Xèrica is the Valencian form of Jérica), the first gentleman of the villa of Jérica: lord of Xèrica. On 29 November 1255, in Calatayud, King James I grants the privilege that the "Camino Real" (Royal Road) from Aragón to Valencia passes through Jérica, leaving the old road which did not pass close to the population. The real privileges follow; the King grants "polto" in 1261 extending the realm of the castle and villa of Jérica. In 1272 James I donates the castle and villa of Jérica to his son Jaume of Xèrica in his will. Jaime II of Jérica succeeds in 1284 and two years later, in 1286, King Alfonso IV of Aragon confirms the lord's privilege of freedom of the villa. It was governed by him until 1321, when it is passed to his heir, his son Jaime. Jaime III lord of Xérica with provision by king Alfonso IV of Aragon, commissioned the fortification of the villa by extending the preexisting walls.

The Don Pedro de Jérica was head in 1361, in preference of his children Juan and Pedro, staying as heir of lord Juan Alfonso. At this time, war between the Kings of Aragón and Castilla breaks out again, and in 1363 the Castilian army enters the villa utilising the castle and the church that he was constructing.

In 1369, the last heir of the ville of Jérica, Juan Alfonso, dies ending the lineage. Jérica then is given back to Peter IV "the Ceremonious" as an estate. The King decides in 1372 to make a "condado" (give land to a Count) and to give to investiture of Jérica to the "Infante" Don Martin as a Fiefdom, in a treaty, returning Jérica to Corona, when marrying Maria de Luna, Lady Segorbe.

The incorporation of Jérica to Real Corona did not last for long: in 1417 King Alfonso V of Aragon gives the "señorío" (noble estate) to his brother, the "Infante" Don Juan.

The "señorío" only lasts few years and in 1431 the "Infante" Don Juan sells it illegally to Francisco Zarzuela. This caused years of misery for the people of Jérica, who suffered with the tyrannous government of a family who nothing had to do with them.

This continued until 1479 when negotiations between the Jericanos and King Ferdinand "el Católico" bore fruits and the villa was again is incorporated into Corona.

In 1537, Carlos I of Spain gave the "señorío" to the Duke de Calabria, who on his death, donated it to the monks of the Monastery of San Miguel of the Kings of Valencia. A litigation between the governors of the villa and the then emperor Carlos I occurs, as he wishes it to be incorporated into the Real dominion. During the government of Felipe I, in 1564, Jérica already it is totally incorporated to the Real dominion. In 1565, it leaves Aragon, of which it had been a part of and joins Valencia and since then has had its own shield.

Finally, the locality was devastated during the Spanish Civil War, to the point of asking for inclusion to the list of Devastated Regions, which meant the state was in charge of numerous reconstructions of buildings.

Historic buildings

The religious monument "Torre de las Campanas" (Tower of the Bells) was constructed in 1634 in style of Mudéjar on the site of a previous works. It is a unique example of the style in the Valencian Community . Due to its position as the highest construction in the area, it is the most familiar image of it.

The area has two civil monuments: a castle and watchtowers. There is a castle, of which the Roman foundations can still be observed, although most of the construction is of the Muslim period. The best conserved area is the main tower, the "Torreta". This construction is robust: it is square with walls more than 1.5 m thick. The vaults in the centre of the ground floor are remarkable. These Muslim watchtowers, "Torres de los Ordaces y la Muela", overlook the castle. Presently, they are in need of conservation.

Demography

The population was 1,577 in 2005, with 1482 around the main centre and 95 in the pedanía of Novaliches.

Table of population by year

Administration

The current mayor is Ángel Gil Ordaz of the Socialist Party of Valencia Country, part of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party. He was elected to start office in 2003 and his term will finish in 2007.

Economy

Traditionally, the primary sector has been of great importance in the Jericano economy. The agriculture of arid land has been important, producing olive, carob and almond crops. Recently, rural tourism has been an important sector; centering around the medieval market.

Transport

The simplest access route by road is via the Sagunto to Somport "autopista A-23". The town is to 67 km from Valencia, 74 km from Castellón de la Plana, 40 km from Sagunto and 78 km from Teruel.

The town can be accessed by rail as a station (Jérica-Viver) close to the town is on the "C-5 del núcleo de cercanías de Valencia Valencia-Caudiel" that connects Valencia and Castellón de la Plana.

Festivals

* 17 January - "Fiestas de San Antón" (Celebrations of San Antón) The animals and assistants on the church roll are blessed. The origin of the celebration is very old.
* 5 February - "Fiesta de Santa Agueda" (Celebration of Santa Agueda, the patron of Jérica) It is a local celebration commemorating reconquering of the Villa by the troops of James I of Aragon. There is an offering to Santa, the Mass and Procession in the streets by the locals. For years it has been accompanied by bullfighting and also different activities like exhibitions, cultural days, etc.
* Easter - The most outstanding events are the celebrations of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, the nocturnal procession of the Blood of Christ, Patron of Jérica. Previously it was accompanied by the licensed soldiers, the “Encounter” where the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Virgin Mary, after their routes through different streets, are in the seat and this makes three reverences.
* The Wednesday following Pentecost there is the popular “Joust” keeping up medieval traditions.
* A complete weekend of June Celebrations in honor to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, with religious acts, a verbena etc.
* The second Wednesday of July is the "Fiesta del Cristo de la Sangre" (July festival of the blood of Christ) The origin of this celebration goes back to the foundation in Villa of the Convent of the Capuchins, who brought Christianity to the area.
* Third Sunday of July - "Domingo de las Fuentes" (Sunday of the Sources) There is a concert by the Municipal Band.
* Second week of August - Celebration in honor to the Virgin of the Abandoned ones, organized by the town veterans.
* Weekend of the 16 of August Celebrations in honor to San Roque, organized by the young people of the town. If this is not a weekend then the next weekend is used
* The first Saturday of September - "Romería" to the Sanctuary of the Santa Cave.
* Second weekend of September - Celebrations of the Daughters of Maria, with religious acts, a verbena, etc.
* Third Sunday of September - "Fiestas en honor a la Divina Pastora" (Celebrations in honor to the Divine Shepherd). They are, perhaps, the most popular celebrations of Jérica. During the first week there are a range of events, from the presentation of local senor and junior fair queens with their respective court, to the Rosary of the Shepherd, verbenas, the offering, the “varieties”, the junior Sunday Mass, games, the Vole, the "Bacalá", etc.

References

External links

* with some English [http://www.ive.es/ Statistical portal of the Valencian Generalitat]
* [http://www.jerica.es Official Website of Jérica] alternatively [http://www.jerica.com www.jerica.com]