La Galera
Encyclopedia
La Galera is a municipality in the comarca Montsià
, in the province of Tarragona, Catalonia
, Spain
. In 2009 its population was 884. La Galera is part of the Taula del Sénia
free association of municipalities.
However, the earliest documentary evidence about the town is in 1320 when James II of Aragon
authorized the control of the village known as Pobla de la Galera to the Archbishop of Tortosa
. It is believed that the population had begun to establish itself here by 1303.
came to live in the town, which has become a local artisan tradition. The town has a museum that explains the manufacture of clay vessels. During the month of May there is a festival of pottery.
La Galera celebrates its main festival in August.
s, carob, wine
, and almond
s.
Montsià
Montsià is the southernmost comarca of Catalonia in Spain. Its capital and largest city is Amposta.-History:The Montsià was first established as a separate administrative comarca in 1936 and was named after the Serra del Montsià mountain range...
, in the province of Tarragona, Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, 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...
. In 2009 its population was 884. La Galera is part of the Taula del Sénia
Taula del Sénia
The Taula del Sénia or Mancomunitat de la Taula del Sénia is a mancomunitat or free association of municipalities made up of 22 towns, totalling up to 100,000 people, of some of the comarcas that make up the center of the historical region of Ilercavonia , Spain...
free association of municipalities.
History
Although it has not been possible to prove it with documents, some historians believe that La Galera has an ancient Roman origin.However, the earliest documentary evidence about the town is in 1320 when James II of Aragon
James II of Aragon
James II , called the Just was the King of Sicily from 1285 to 1296 and King of Aragon and Valencia and Count of Barcelona from 1291 to 1327. In 1297 he was granted the Kingdom of Sardinia and Corsica...
authorized the control of the village known as Pobla de la Galera to the Archbishop of Tortosa
Bishop of Tortosa
The Bishop of Tortosa is the ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tortosa in Spain. The bishop is a suffragan of the Archbishop of Tarragona.-List of bishops of Tortosa:*San Rufo 64 - 90?*Macià s. II*Quart c. 156*Eustorqui s.III*Exuperanci ¿ - 369...
. It is believed that the population had begun to establish itself here by 1303.
Main sights
The most famous building is the Tower of La Galera. It was built in 1340 as a watchtower and it was built by the residents of the town. It has a rectangular base and a considerable height. In 1684 the interior was converted into a parochial church, dedicated to Sant Llorenç. The reform of the temple was left in suspense during the War of Spanish Succession, when the tower served as a military storehouse. The consecration of the new church took place on August 15, 1711.Culture
During the 17th century, pottersPottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
came to live in the town, which has become a local artisan tradition. The town has a museum that explains the manufacture of clay vessels. During the month of May there is a festival of pottery.
La Galera celebrates its main festival in August.
Economy
The main economic activity is agriculture, particularly oliveOlive
The olive , Olea europaea), is a species of a small tree in the family Oleaceae, native to the coastal areas of the eastern Mediterranean Basin as well as northern Iran at the south end of the Caspian Sea.Its fruit, also called the olive, is of major agricultural importance in the...
s, carob, wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
, and almond
Almond
The almond , is a species of tree native to the Middle East and South Asia. Almond is also the name of the edible and widely cultivated seed of this tree...
s.