Serra Calderona
Encyclopedia
Serra Calderona (ˈsɛra kaɫdeˈɾona), often referred to as La Calderona is a 49 km (30 mi) long mountain range in the Camp de Túria
, Horta Nord
and Alt Palància comarcas of the Valencian Community, between the provinces of Castelló and Valencia Spain
.
This moderately high range is an eastern prolongation of the Sierra de Javalambre
. Its highest point is El Gorgo (907 m). Other important summits are Muntanya del Garbí (600 m) and El Puntal de l' Abella (635 m).
The range was formerly known as Monts de Porta Coeli, after the Carthusian
Monastery of Porta Coeli located in the mountains. The name Calderona originated in the seventeenth century when a woman known as María Calderón
"La Calderona", one of the favourite mistresses
of King Philip IV of Spain
, hid in these mountains among the highwaymen.
, a parallel range only 25 Km to the north, the Serra Calderona constitutes a defined ecoregion
in the foothills of the Iberian System
that are closest to the Mediterranean Sea
coast. In many areas of the mountainsides olive tree
s are grown. Their olives produce excellent oil
that has been awarded Protected Designation of Origin
(PDO) and has been included by the global slow food
movement in the Ark of Taste
international catalogue of heritage foods in danger of extinction. This oil is marketed as Aceite de las Sierras Espadán y Calderona .
Camp de Túria
Camp de Túria is a comarca in the province of Valencia, Valencian Community, Spain.- Geography :It comprises the lower reaches of the river Turia and its adjacent territories. Borders with the region of Field Morvedre and the counties of Huerta de Valencia...
, Horta Nord
Horta Nord
Horta Nord is a comarca in the province of Valencia, Valencian Community, Spain.-Municipalities:*Albalat dels Sorells*Alboraya*Albuixech*Alfara del Patriarca*Almàssera*Bonrepòs i Mirambell*Burjassot*Emperador*Foios*Godella*Massalfassar...
and Alt Palància comarcas of the Valencian Community, between the provinces of Castelló and 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...
.
This moderately high range is an eastern prolongation of the Sierra de Javalambre
Sierra de Javalambre
Sierra de Javalambre is a long mountain range in the Gúdar-Javalambre comarca of Aragon and the Rincón de Ademuz and Serrans comarcas of the Valencian Community, Spain....
. Its highest point is El Gorgo (907 m). Other important summits are Muntanya del Garbí (600 m) and El Puntal de l' Abella (635 m).
The range was formerly known as Monts de Porta Coeli, after the Carthusian
Carthusian
The Carthusian Order, also called the Order of St. Bruno, is a Roman Catholic religious order of enclosed monastics. The order was founded by Saint Bruno of Cologne in 1084 and includes both monks and nuns...
Monastery of Porta Coeli located in the mountains. The name Calderona originated in the seventeenth century when a woman known as María Calderón
María Calderón
María Inés Calderón also known as La Calderona and Marizápalos, was a Spanish actress. She is also known as a royal mistress and as the mother of Philip IV's only recognized natural son, John of Austria the Younger .- Biography :María Calderón attracted the attention of the monarch upon her debut...
"La Calderona", one of the favourite mistresses
Mistress (lover)
A mistress is a long-term female lover and companion who is not married to her partner; the term is used especially when her partner is married. The relationship generally is stable and at least semi-permanent; however, the couple does not live together openly. Also the relationship is usually,...
of King Philip IV of Spain
Philip IV of Spain
Philip IV was King of Spain between 1621 and 1665, sovereign of the Spanish Netherlands, and King of Portugal until 1640...
, hid in these mountains among the highwaymen.
Olive oil Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)
Together with Serra d'EspadàSerra d'Espadà
Serra d'Espadà is a long mountain range in the Alt Palància, Alt Millars and Plana Baixa comarcas, Valencian Community, Spain. Its highest point is La Ràpita ....
, a parallel range only 25 Km to the north, the Serra Calderona constitutes a defined ecoregion
Ecoregion
An ecoregion , sometimes called a bioregion, is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than an ecozone and larger than an ecosystem. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of land or water, and contain characteristic, geographically distinct assemblages of natural...
in the foothills of the Iberian System
Sistema Ibérico
The Sistema Ibérico or Iberian System is one of the main systems of mountain ranges in Spain.It is a vast and complex system of mountain chains and massifs located in the central regions of the Iberian Peninsula, but reaching almost the Mediterranean coast in the Land of Valencia in the east.From...
that are closest to the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
coast. In many areas of the mountainsides olive tree
Olive Tree
The Olive Tree was a denomination used for several successive centre-left Italian political coalitions from 1995 to 2007.The historical leader and ideologue of these coalitions was Romano Prodi, Professor of Economics and former leftist Christian Democrat, who invented the name and the symbol of...
s are grown. Their olives produce excellent oil
Olive oil
Olive oil is an oil obtained from the olive , a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin. It is commonly used in cooking, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and soaps and as a fuel for traditional oil lamps...
that has been awarded Protected Designation of Origin
Protected designation of origin
Protected Geographical Status is a legal framework defined in European Union law to protect the names of regional foods. Protected Designation of Origin , Protected Geographical Indication and Traditional Speciality Guaranteed are distinct regimes of geographical indications within the framework...
(PDO) and has been included by the global slow food
Slow Food
Slow Food is an international movement founded by Carlo Petrini in 1986. Promoted as an alternative to fast food, it strives to preserve traditional and regional cuisine and encourages farming of plants, seeds and livestock characteristic of the local ecosystem. It was the first established part of...
movement in the Ark of Taste
Ark of Taste
The Ark of Taste is an international catalogue of heritage foods in danger of extinction which is maintained by the global Slow Food movement. The Ark is designed to preserve at-risk foods that are sustainably produced, unique in taste, and part of a distinct ecoregion...
international catalogue of heritage foods in danger of extinction. This oil is marketed as Aceite de las Sierras Espadán y Calderona .