Bigastro
Encyclopedia
Bigastro is a district in the Valencian Community
(Spain
) situated in the south of the province of Alicante, in the comarca
of Vega Baja del Segura. It had a population
of 6,450 at the time of the (2005 census
.)
. The district derives from the Lugar Nuevo de los Canónigos, a place of residence for the canons of Orihuela
cathedral, which once had power over the area. In 1701, after some lawsuits with the settlers, the church made some allowances, which permitted the foundation of Bigastro, starting with three estates, in which 24 families lived.
was concentrated around flax
and hemp
; in the 19th century, the fall of the textile sector sparked interest in citrus fruits and products from irrigated fields. There is also industrial activity, mainly in the form of construction and manufacturing.
of Salzillo.
and rabbit
with rice
. Despite this the most important dishes in Bigastro come from the pastry
shops; almojábana
s, toñas, almendrados, monas and soplillos.
Valencian Community
The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain located in central and south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Valencia...
(Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
) situated in the south of the province of Alicante, in the comarca
Comarca
A comarca is a traditional region or local administrative division found in parts of Spain, Portugal, Panama, Nicaragua, and Brazil. The term is derived from the term marca, meaning a "march, mark", plus the prefix co- meaning "together, jointly".The comarca is known in Aragonese as redolada and...
of Vega Baja del Segura. It had a population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 6,450 at the time of the (2005 census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
.)
History
At La Loma there is an archaeological site dating from the Bronze AgeBronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
. The district derives from the Lugar Nuevo de los Canónigos, a place of residence for the canons of Orihuela
Orihuela
Orihuela is a city and municipality located at the feet of the Sierra de Orihuela mountains in the province of Alicante, Spain. The city of Orihuela had a population of 32,472 inhabitants in the beginning of 2006...
cathedral, which once had power over the area. In 1701, after some lawsuits with the settlers, the church made some allowances, which permitted the foundation of Bigastro, starting with three estates, in which 24 families lived.
Economy
At the time of its foundation, agricultureAgriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
was concentrated around flax
Flax
Flax is a member of the genus Linum in the family Linaceae. It is native to the region extending from the eastern Mediterranean to India and was probably first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent...
and hemp
Hemp
Hemp is mostly used as a name for low tetrahydrocannabinol strains of the plant Cannabis sativa, of fiber and/or oilseed varieties. In modern times, hemp has been used for industrial purposes including paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, construction, health food and fuel with modest...
; in the 19th century, the fall of the textile sector sparked interest in citrus fruits and products from irrigated fields. There is also industrial activity, mainly in the form of construction and manufacturing.
Demography
In 2005, Bigastro had 6,450 residents, 11.79% of which were foreigners. The most frequent nationality was British (22% of all foreigners).Monuments
The young age of the town means that some landlord's homes survive, along with some farmer's dwellings dispersed throughout the area. One unique monument that must be mentioned is the Church of the Virgin of Bethlehem, where a sculpture of Saint JoachimJoachim
Saint Joachim was the husband of Saint Anne and the father of Mary, the mother of Jesus in the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican traditions. The story of Joachim and Anne appears first in the apocryphal Gospel of James...
of Salzillo.
Gastronomy
The typical dishes in the area are stewStew
A stew is a combination of solid food ingredients that have been cooked in liquid and served in the resultant gravy. Ingredients in a stew can include any combination of vegetables , meat, especially tougher meats suitable for slow-cooking, such as beef. Poultry, sausages, and seafood are also used...
and rabbit
Rabbit
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...
with rice
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
. Despite this the most important dishes in Bigastro come from the pastry
Pastry
Pastry is the name given to various kinds of baked products made from ingredients such as flour, sugar, milk, butter, shortening, baking powder and/or eggs. Small cakes, tarts and other sweet baked products are called "pastries."...
shops; almojábana
Almojábana
Almojábana is a type of bread made of corn flour, typical of some South American countries. This bread is a staple in Panama and Colombia where it is sold throughout Panamanian and Colombian bakeries.- Etymology :...
s, toñas, almendrados, monas and soplillos.
Festivals
- Night festivals and stalls are the essence of celebration dedicated to Saint JoachimJoachimSaint Joachim was the husband of Saint Anne and the father of Mary, the mother of Jesus in the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican traditions. The story of Joachim and Anne appears first in the apocryphal Gospel of James...
in August. Others are El Rosario de la Aurora, every Sunday in October, the festivals of the Santa Cruz, of Romería de San Isidro and of Santa Ana. The musical tradition goes back over a century and it presented in the form of the Union Musical Band of Bigastro. - El Abuelo, as he is normally known (Saint JoachimJoachimSaint Joachim was the husband of Saint Anne and the father of Mary, the mother of Jesus in the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican traditions. The story of Joachim and Anne appears first in the apocryphal Gospel of James...
) over other titles. In October 1993, the 200th anniversary of his first arrival in Bigastro was commemorated, with the unveiling of a sculpture of their patron saint.
Famous residents
- Francisco Grau VegaraFrancisco GrauFrancisco Grau Vegara is a Spanish musician, composer and General in the Spanish Armed Forces.Having started playing instruments in his hometown's band at the age of seven, he went on to compose more than 700 pieces and since 12 October 1997, he has been the official author of the Spanish National...
; author of the Spanish National Anthem.