Banyeres de Mariola

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Banyeres de Mariola

Location

Coordinates : 38°42′57″N, 0°39′26″W
Time zone : CET (GMT +1)
- summer : CEST (GMT +2)

General information

Native name

Banyeres de Mariola (Valencian)

Spanish name

Banyeres de Mariola

Administration

Country

Spain

Autonomous Community

Valencian Community

Province

Alicante

Comarca

Alcoià

Geography

Land Area

50.28 km²

Altitude

816 m AMSL

Population

Population

7,237 (2006)

Density

144 hab./km² (2006)

Banyeres de Mariola (in Valencian) or Bañeres (in Spanish) is a settlement in the north of the province of Alicante (Spain), 860 metres above sea level, with a population of 7,500. The main employer is the local textile industry. The town has a Moorish castle that dates from 1214, and is surrounded by mountains, almond and olive trees.

On the 23rd and 24th April each year the town celebrates the Moros y Cristianos (Moors and Christians) festival, commemorating the 13th century defeat by the Christians of the occupying Moorish rulers. It is a festival of pageantry, costume, and pyrotechnics. The nearby larger town of Alcoy/Alcoi has a 4-day festival on a much grander scale over four days from the 22nd to 24th April.