Mallabia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mallabia
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Mallabia overview
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Location of Mallabia in Biscay.
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| Country |  Spain |
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| Autonomous community |  País Vasco |
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| Province | Biscay | ||
| Comarca | Durangaldea | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 23,79 km2 (919 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 259 m (850 ft) | ||
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 1,158 | ||
| • Density | 0.48676/km2 (1.2607/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Mallabitarra | ||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | ||
| Postal code |
48260
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Mallabia is a small town and municipality in northern Spain. It is located in the province of Biscay, which is part of the Basque Country. Mallabia is also known as an elizate, which is a special type of old local area in the Basque Country.
The town is part of the region called Durangaldea. In 2006, about 1,135 people lived in Mallabia. The official name of the town is Mallabia in Basque, and it is also known as Mallavia in Spanish.
Contents
What Does the Name Mallabia Mean?
The name Mallabia likely comes from the Basque words malla and bi(a). Malla can mean "step", "level", or "height". Bi(a) means "two" or "the one with two".
So, the name Mallabia probably means "the place with two levels" or "two heights". This name might describe the landscape of the area.
A Look at Mallabia's History
Like many elizates, the exact date when Mallabia was founded is not known. Its beginnings are connected to the old "Tierra Llana", which means "flat lands" in Spanish. This area was part of the ancient merindad of Durango, a historical district.
Mallabia might have separated from the elizate of Zenarruza a long time ago. From 1635 onwards, Mallabia had a voice and a vote in the Juntas of Guerediaga. These were important meetings where local leaders made decisions for the region. Mallabia held the third seat in these meetings.
The local church in Mallabia was first built in the 11th century. It was rebuilt in the 16th century to make it bigger and better. The church was finally completed in 1750, becoming an important part of the town.
Where is Mallabia Located?
The municipality of Mallabia is in the eastern part of Biscay, a province in the Basque Country. It shares its borders with several other towns.
To the north, Mallabia is next to Markina-Xemein and Etxebarria. To the south, it borders Zaldibar. To the east, it is close to Eibar (which is in the province of Gipuzkoa) and Ermua. To the west, Mallabia borders Berriz.
Getting Around Mallabia
Several roads pass through Mallabia, making it easy to travel to nearby places. The BI-3301 road connects Ermua and Trabakua. The BI-633 road runs between Durango and Ondarroa.
The N-634 is another important road that goes through Mallabia. This road links the town to bigger cities like Bilbao, Donostia, Durango, and Eibar.
The nearest major highway is the AP-8. However, you cannot get onto this highway directly from Mallabia. The closest entrance to the AP-8 is in the nearby town of Ermua.
Even though the regional train line, Euskotren Trena, passes close to Mallabia, there is no train station in the town itself.
Famous People from Mallabia
Mallabia has been home to several notable individuals who have made a name for themselves.
- Gorka Arrizabalaga: A well-known cyclist.
- Francisco de Longa: A lieutenant general who played a role in the Peninsular War.
- Andoni Monforte: Born in 1946, he is a politician.
- Mikel Pradera: Another talented cyclist from the town.
See also
In Spanish: Mallavia para niños
