L'Alcúdia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
L'Alcúdia
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 L'Alcúdia
Location in Spain
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| Country |  Spain |
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| Autonomous community |  Valencian Community |
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| Province | Valencia | |
| Comarca | Ribera Alta | |
| Judicial district | Carlet | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 23.7 km2 (9.2 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 40 m (130 ft) | |
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 11,938 | |
| • Density | 503.7/km2 (1,304.6/sq mi) | |
| Demonyms | Alcudianos, Alcudiencs | |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | |
| Postal code |
46250
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| Official language(s) | Valencian | |
L'Alcúdia is a town and municipality in the province of Valencia, Spain. It is found on the left side of the Xúquer river.
Contents
History of L'Alcúdia
The town's name comes from a Moorish farmhouse from the 1200s. In 1238, the Aragonese king Jaume I gave this land to Pere de Montagut. Later, in 1252, Pere de Montagut allowed 54 Christian families to start a new town here. This happened after the Reconquista, when Christian kingdoms took back land from the Moors in Spain.
L'Alcúdia has been part of many important events in Spanish history. In the early 1500s, it was attacked during the "Revolta de les Germanies" (a rebellion). In the 1700s, during the War of the Spanish Succession, soldiers from the House of Bourbon also looted the town.
During the Peninsular War, French troops stayed in L'Alcúdia. They took many things from the villagers, leaving them with debts. Luckily, during the Spanish Civil War, the town was mostly safe from fighting. However, it was still bombed by Italian planes that supported Franco's side.
Before 1975, the town was called Alcudia de Carlet in Spanish. This name was used during Franco's time as ruler. After Franco died and Spain became a democracy, the people of L'Alcúdia voted to change the name back to its original form.
Economy and Resources
For many years, L'Alcúdia mainly relied on farming. They grew a lot of oranges and vegetables. More recently, a special fruit called the caqui (Persimmon) was brought back to the farms. This fruit has become a very important source of income for the farmers in L'Alcúdia.
L'Alcúdia has also grown into an industrial town. There are now many factories that make furniture and other light industrial products. One of the most important companies in L'Alcúdia is Istobal. This company is a leader in Spain for designing and making car wash machines.
Main Sights to Visit
There are several interesting buildings and structures to see in L'Alcúdia:
- The Franciscan convent, built around 1600. It is in ruins, but there are plans to fix it up.
- The Church of the Immaculada (Verge de la Purisima) in Montortal, built in the 1600s.
- The Church of Sant Andreu.
- The Waterwheel (La Noria), which is from the 1800s.
- La Mota, an aqueduct also from the 1800s. It used to bring water from the Royal Irrigation Canal of the Xúquer river to almost the entire area.
- The House of Culture, opened in 1987. It is a modern and unique building.
- L'Hort de Manus, a special place where a statue from the Church of Sant Andreu was reportedly hidden during the Spanish Civil War. It was hidden under a cattle trough to keep it safe.
Notable People from L'Alcúdia
L'Alcúdia is home to some famous people:
- Andrés Palop, a well-known former footballer.
- Luis Puig, who used to be the President of the Union Cycliste Internationale, a big cycling organization.
- Voro, another former footballer and a former assistant manager for the Valencia football team.
See also
In Spanish: La Alcudia (Valencia) para niños
