El Ràfol d'Almúnia
Encyclopedia
El Ràfol d'Almúnia is a municipality
in the comarca of Marina Alta
in the Valencian Community, Spain
.
It is situated in the northern part of the province
of Alicante
, and numbers some 635 inhabitants according to the 2007 Spanish National Census (INE).
and their local ruling families, first the Murs, then the Sapenas and more recently the Almúnia. In 1535, it was elevated to a fully fledged parish with the appointment of the first parish priest D. Antonio Aringo whose control also encompassed the sub-parishes of Benimeli, Sagra, Negrals and Zeneta. After the expulsion of the moors, El Ràfol was repopulated in 1610 by 123 inhabitants occupying 26 houses. In 1800 it had grown to 80 houses with 429 inhabitants. The parish church of Sant Francesc de Paula, was served by a priest and an assistant whose ministry also took in Benimeli, Negrals, Sagra, Sanet and Tormos. In the 17th century, El Ràfol lay at the centre of the area now known as the Rectoria, and also at the heart of the territory ruled by the Marquess of El Ràfol d'Almúnia. In 1693, Ràfol’s neighbour, Francesc Garcia, acquired fame through his oppression of feudalism in the Marina Alta.
Municipalities of Spain
The municipalities of Spain In other languages of Spain:*Catalan/Valencian , sing. municipi.*Galician or , sing. municipio/bisbarra.*Basque , sing. udalerria. are the basic level of Spanish local government...
in the comarca of Marina Alta
Marina Alta
Marina Alta is a comarca in the province of Alicante, Valencian Community, Spain.- Municipalities :*Adsubia*Alcalalí*Beniarbeig*Benidoleig*Benigembla*Benimeli*Benissa*Benitachell/El Poble Nou de Benitatxell*Calp*Castell de Castells*Dénia...
in the Valencian Community, 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...
.
It is situated in the northern part of the province
Provinces of Spain
Spain and its autonomous communities are divided into fifty provinces .In other languages of Spain:*Catalan/Valencian , sing. província.*Galician , sing. provincia.*Basque |Galicia]] — are not also the capitals of provinces...
of Alicante
Alicante (province)
Alicante or Alacant is a province of eastern Spain, in the southern part of the Valencian Community. It is bordered by the provinces of Murcia on the southwest, Albacete on the west, Valencia on the north, and the Mediterranean Sea on the east...
, and numbers some 635 inhabitants according to the 2007 Spanish National Census (INE).
History
El Ràfol d'Almúnia has Arab origins. It belonged to King Taifas of Dénia but under the conquest of Jaime the first, control passed to the Crown of AragonCrown of Aragon
The Crown of Aragon Corona d'Aragón Corona d'Aragó Corona Aragonum controlling a large portion of the present-day eastern Spain and southeastern France, as well as some of the major islands and mainland possessions stretching across the Mediterranean as far as Greece...
and their local ruling families, first the Murs, then the Sapenas and more recently the Almúnia. In 1535, it was elevated to a fully fledged parish with the appointment of the first parish priest D. Antonio Aringo whose control also encompassed the sub-parishes of Benimeli, Sagra, Negrals and Zeneta. After the expulsion of the moors, El Ràfol was repopulated in 1610 by 123 inhabitants occupying 26 houses. In 1800 it had grown to 80 houses with 429 inhabitants. The parish church of Sant Francesc de Paula, was served by a priest and an assistant whose ministry also took in Benimeli, Negrals, Sagra, Sanet and Tormos. In the 17th century, El Ràfol lay at the centre of the area now known as the Rectoria, and also at the heart of the territory ruled by the Marquess of El Ràfol d'Almúnia. In 1693, Ràfol’s neighbour, Francesc Garcia, acquired fame through his oppression of feudalism in the Marina Alta.