El Ràfol de Salem

Population: 460 hab. Municipal area: 4,39 km2 Altitude: 298 m. Demonym: rafolí, rafolina Town Hall Phone no.: 96 281 30 72 Web: www.rafoldesalem.es E-mail: ajuntament@rafoldesalem.org

EL RÀFOL DE SALEM

MONUMENTS Historic center

The historic part of the municipality consists of streets with typical houses characteristic of Mediterranean architecture, houses of labriegos and potters, mainly decorated with forging balconies, worked wooden doors, artistic aldabas, devotional ceilings, sundials and roof overhangs adorned with painted ceramic bricks. The central point is made up of the Town Hall Square, where the town building stands. The tourist can start from there the tour to reach the most emblematic streets, streets in memory of the old potters, squares and streets that house gardening, religious images and valuable ancient pieces.

Church of Our Lady of Angels

A new building built between 1748-1760, after the Montesa earthquake, on the remains of the ancient Muslim mosque and the Christian temple of 1535. The current building is neoclassical in style and features a Latin cross floor plan. Inside, it retains a canvas of San Blas and San Francisco from the eighteenth century and a large display of religious goldsmithing. The last works have constituted a pictorial reform of the interior of the temple.

Hermitage of San Blas

A building originating in the fifteenth century erected following the discovery of the image of San Blas in 1430 and

renovated in the following centuries. From there, you can see a panoramic view of the municipality and the region. The last restoration of the building took place in 1981 and its state of conservation remains optimal. In the same environment, there is Calvary. A place of worship dating back to the years 1879-1889. It is a cross road of buildings decorated by Valencian tiles.

Washing place

It is located at the entrance of the village. It has a stack of 9.4 m in length by 2 wide. It is supplied with the water from the mother ditch of the Cantal Fountain. It was formerly uncovered, but in 1916 the neighbours paid for the cover. On the facade, there is a plaque with a ceramic panel illustrating several women washing. An activity that continued to live until the late 90s.

Abajo Mill

The site of the mill is moorish-era, but the casal molinar dates from the eighteenth century and was built on the initiative of the lord of the Ràfol and the Hoya de Salem, the Marquis of Bèlgida. This mill was acquired and rehabilitated by the city council in 2000-2001. It currently works for the enjoyment of the many schoolchildren and general public who visit it.

MUSEUMS Oil Museum: El Salvador oil press

The old mill is testament to old trades, now recovered in the form of an ethnographic museum. A museum collection that explains step by step and illustrated as was the production of olive oil in the old. It is the only museum of these characteristics in the region of Vall d’Albaida. C/ Gerreria, 24 46843 El Ràfol de Salem Tel.: 96 281 30 72 Hours: Arrange visit by phone

FESTIVITIES

First weekend of February: festivities in honor of San Blas, with the “Porrat”, blessing and spreading bread to the neighborhood. Week of August 6: patron saint festivities dedicated to St. Thomas, the Divine Saviour, the Divine Aurora and the Divine Shepherd. September 21: The miracle in honor of the Divine Savior.

EXCURSIONS

PR-CV 213: Beniatjar – El Ràfol de Salem- Alt del Benicadell (15,6 km 6h)

Other excursions:

• Hermitage of San Blas (camping area very close) • The mill of Baix • Carrascalet recreation area, with paelleros and playground

It is part of itinerary no. 4 of the Vall d’Albaida routes

LOCAL PRODUCTS

• Manufacture of tiles and bricks in centers where jugs were previously made • Oil • Agricultural products