Benigànim

Population: 6.220 hab. Municipal area: 33,44 km2 Altitude: 150 m. Demonym: beniganí, beniganina Town Hall Phone no.: 96 292 00 02 Web: www.beniganim.es E-mail: beniganim_alc@gva.es

MONUMENTS Church of Christ

It is the oldest in the region and is built on foundations of the Mosque of the Arab Benigànim. In it we find a wide variety of artistic styles: Romanesque Tower, coming from the original church of this art, which was demolished and replaced by the Gothic vault of 1391 and Baroque-style cruise, built during the first half of the eighteenth century where the magnificence of frescoes stands out, as well as manises pottery.

BENIGÀNIM

Parish Church of San Miguel

In Renaissance style, it was built between 1602 and 1637 coinciding with the emancipation of Xàtiva and the appointment of Villa-real. It was the symbol of the thought, spirit and progress of the Benigànim of that time reflecting the idealism of the local people. It is worth noting the bell tower, also Renaissance, octagonal base and 45 meters high.

Church of the Purísima and the Blessed Inés

The convent church of the Augustinians, was originally built in 1611 with the inauguration of the monastery. The current temple was built thanks to the fact that the beatification procedures were on the right track and was an important point of pilgrimage, so a temple had to be made capable of housing more devotees. Highlights include the chapel of the Blessed Inés built in carrara and macael marbles to guard the tomb of golden bronze and glass where the remains of the Blessed rest.

The church of Ortissa

It is entirely of neo-Gothic art, it does not stand out for its great proportions, but for the beauty of its decoration. It is covered by cross vaults and oval arches, built in white stone, and as is common in its style contains numerous stained glass windows. Its construction was initiated at the will of Ms. Leonor Ortiz and later inaugurated in 1912. It closed for worship in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Sundial

Located on l’Ortissa Avenue, this 6 m diameter digital-equatorial watch built in stainless steel and corten steel, has a concrete platform on which allegorical elements to local history and the four winds are arranged. It is the work of Joan Olivares in collaboration with Rafael Amorós and incorporates a calendar that marks the solstices and equinoxes, determined by two unique points located on the axis of the central element.

Hermitage of Grace

In the natural environment of the convent of the Trinity, you will find this hermitage, the oldest of those existing in Benigànim and popularly known as the Round hermitage. Of Renaissance style, it was built in 1528, on the site where an image of the Virgin of Grace was found, and has been recently restored.

Morera Square

It is located in the oldest district of Benigànim, the Isleta District, which has narrow and irregular streets, and dating back to the twelfth century when the wazir Abu-Mohamet-Ben-Gani received this territory and founded the new village, which after the conquest passed into Christian hands. The Morera Square was the main square of the town, social center, place of meetings and playful celebrations. In the center there is a mulberry tree as a symbol of economic progress, dedicated to silk.

Mayor Square

Built in the seventeenth century to be the nerve center of the Renaissance Benigànim, it is decorated with a fountain of the nineteenth century and presided over by the Town Hall, a stone house of the seventeenth century, whose interior has been subsequently renovated, which shows at the entrance door the shield of the village, sculpted in stone. And the Ribelles House, now in the possession of the Town Hall, on whose facade you can see that it was possibly from some important noble family of the town, built in the seventeenth century. It currently houses an ethnological museum and exhibition hall.

FESTIVITIES

January 21: Feast of Blessed Inés Second Sunday in May: Feast of the Virgen de los Desamparados, with the “Plantà del Xop” (the poplar plant) August 1: Convent fair First weekend of August: feast of the Snow Virgin Last weekend of August: festivities in honor to the Divine Aurora, the Christ of the Blood and St. Miguel, with Moors and Christians Festivities

EXCURSIONS It is part of itinerary no. 3 of the routes through the Vall d’Albaida.

• Hermitage of Our Lady of La Solana • Parks of l’Ortissa, La Mercè and the Blessed Inés • La Penya Roja (The Red Rock) • El Portixol

LOCAL PRODUCTS

• “Arrop and talladetes” • Espadrilles • Honey • Chocolate

TELEPHONES OF INTEREST

Benigànim youth center: 96 221 59 99