Novelda Tourist Info
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Novelda is a city in the south of the Community of Valencia. It is located in the region called Valle Medio del Vinalopó, on the right-hand bank of the Vinalopó River, at over a height of 241 m above the sea level. It is 17 km away from El Altet international airport and 28 km from Alicante city. It is 165 km far from the capital city of the Autonomous Community, Valencia.

Novelda enjoys a Mediterranean climate with temperatures ranging from 14º C in winter to up to 22º C in summer. It rarely receives more than 400 mm of rain per year.

Novelda has a surface area of 76 km2 and a population of 26.686 (año 2006).

Novelda, located in the middle basin of the Vinalopó River, has been an area of transit and a natural way of communication between the Spanish midland plains, the southeast and the Mediterranean coastline since pre-historic times.

This, together with its wealth of agricultural and stock farming resources, has been a determining factor in human settlement and the convergence and development of different cultures throughout different historical periods.

Going back to the pre-historic age, the earliest known human settlement in Novelda occurred during the Neolithic Age.

Evidence of settlement at this time has been found in the partida de Ledua, with a magnificent vessel that can be dated to 4,200-3,000 BC.

Occupation of the plain was consolidated during the 3rd millennium BC, but the depth of the finds are difficult to detect due to constant rotation of the land. We only know of one find, located at the height of today’s Sirera y Dara street.

The district of Novelda features a number of caves where archaeological remains have been found. These include the Cueva de los Misterios and the Cueva del Mediodía, in La Mola, where a number of burial sites were found where the dead were buried with the tools they used in life and which later formed their funeral belongings.

There were no fortified towns in the higher reaches of the Novelda district, but an Iberian population has been detected on the plain, more specifically in the area of the Campet, formed by the terraces of Vinalopó River that spread left and right between the districts of Monforte, Novelda and Aspe.

In the wake of the Roman conquest of the Iberian peninsula and subsequent reorganisation of the land ordered by Augustus, these farms became country towns, as the land began to be better used for agricultural and fishing purposes. Also fundamental in its development was the fact it was close to communication paths, with Novelda district under the direct influence of the Via Augusta, one of the branches of which, as show in Roman sources, passed through the Vinalopó valleys.

There have been many findings of clear sigillata ceramics and those from the south of France and Spain, scrolled lucernes, olpes, small jars, amphorae, coins and fibulas. They all date back to the 1st - 5th century A.D.

The population began to decline in the late Roman period and was located on medium-sized hills that provided a good overview of the land. This was also the time of the settlement found in Zambo, where clear sealed soil ceramics, amphorae and coins put the site at between the mid-4th and late-6th centuries A.D.

Little of interest happened in the Novelda area during the Visigoth-Byzantine period but then, beginning in the mid-9th century, in the Emiral period of the Islamic era, we again find the presence of an Islamicised community, as deduced from ceramic material found on the Zambo plain.

Beginning in the mid-11th century, control was taken of a small rural community located on the south-east plain of La Mola, a place where a magnificent castle would be built in the third-quarter of the 12th century, in the Almohad age.

With the conquest of these lands, La Mola and Novelda became part of the Alicante Alfoz, according to the privilege that Alfonso X, known as Alfonso the Wise, gave the City of Alicante in 1252. However, it soon returned to the Crown and Jofre de Loaysa (at the time Lord of Petrer, Jumilla and Bañeres) was named governor of the castle at the end of the same decade.

Dynastic disputes in the Castilian kingdom stoked Aragonese pretensions to the ancient Kingdom of Murcia, which included the southern lands of the current region of Alicante, which led to the siege of many cities, fortresses and towns by Aragonese troops under King Jaime II from 1296 to 1300.

Having conquered Murcia, the rights of the Infante Don Fernando de la Cerda were again claimed and an agreement and pact finally reached (Torrellas-Elche, 1304-1305) which definitively set out the territorial limits between Castile and the Catalan-Aragonese Crown. The southern lands between the Vinalopó River and Baix Segura (Orihuela) became part of the Kingdom of Valencia, which in turn, as we know, form part of the Aragonese Crown.

During the 14th century, the nucleus of the La Mola Christian population was consolidated against the Saracen settlement of Novelda, where the populace was devoted mainly to agricultural and fishing tasks and was continuing to develop its culture through Moorish quarters and the mosque, with Moslem doctors and cadis among other public office-holders. The lands belonged to the feudal estate of the Infante Don Fernando, who regularly designated the governors of La Mola castle.

In the second-quarter of the 14th century, battles again broke out between the Christian kingdoms of Castile and Aragon over sovereignty of these lands during the War of the Two Pedros (1356-1366). In 1363, the troops of Pedro I of Castile conquered the lands, which converted to the Crown following the death of the Infante Don Fernando; however, they were taken again by the Aragonese troops. Following these advances, Pedro IV, Pedro the Ceremonious, gave La Mola Castle to Bertran du Glesqui in 1366. A year later it passed to Sir Hugo de Calviley, while Novelda was given to Mateo de Gournay, both having come to the Iberian peninsula at the head of the White Companies.

In 1378, the King gave the fortress to his wife, Sibila de Fortia, conceding her civil and criminal jurisdiction. It was to be Dona Violante de Bar who in 1393 sold Novelda and La Mola to Don Pedro Maza de lIzana, Admiral of Aragon and Lord of Mogente. The Barony of Novelda was created in 1449 and comprised Romana, Monovar and Chinorla.

The town of Novelda increased its population of old Christians over the Moorish majority, who were forced to be baptised from 1565 on. Finally expulsed in 1609, the town was left practically depleted when more than 300 families left.

The 17th century saw a number of epidemics, droughts and poor harvests, and at the end of the century there was a recovery of the population, which grew more than 200% following consolidated improvements in agriculture and stockfarming, the economic bases of the population.

The people not only worked the land and raised livestock activity, they also began to develop an important crafts and industry work. More than 2,000 women and girls from a population of 7,587, according to the geographer Cabanilles.

With the abolition of the feudal estates in 1837 and subsequent sale of Church lands, a growing farming and trade-based bourgeoisie began to form, which led to a population of around 8,000 inhabitants by 1879.

This meant that a bourgeois trade developed which, along with its Catalan counterpart of the beginning of the 20th century, would bring to the people of Novelda the architectural and ornamental styles known as Modernism. A significant number of houses were built in this style in the middle of the city, which had experienced notable growth since the mid-18th century. At the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th were built the Casino, in town, and Saint Mary Magdalene's Sanctuary, at La Mola plain, finished in the 1940's.

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Address: C/Mayor 6, 03660 Novelda
Phone: 965 60 92 28
Fax:
E-mail: novelda@touristinfo.net

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Turism
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Modernism

A new expressive language was developing in the second half of the XX th century nearly in the whole Europe and some parts of America, reaching its highest splendour in Spain since the last decade of this century until the beginning of the XX th.

The Modernism is characterized for being an embellishing art based in an excessive shape liberty, where curved shapes predominate, with soft and delicate waving ones, where flower and vegetable elements are also found.

This artistic movement found its artistic expression not only in architecture, but also in decorative arts; that is in sculpture, painting, printing, literature, music and other artistic spheres interested in a thought and expression renewal.

In Novelda a new society developed towards a landowner upper class with a high economic, political and social level, due to the benefits obtained in the agriculture, commerce and financial activities. As a result of this, certain families were asking for new architectural and decorative patterns. This social group wanted to be surrounded by different aesthetic forms that, at the same time, could stamp the family personal taste as a symbol of power and distinction.

Curiously, in this town we find three of the best examples of the Modernist style in the Valencian areas: The Casa-Museo Modernista (24, Mayor St.), the Centro Cultural Gómez- Tortosa (6, Mayor St.) and the Casa Mira (San Vicente St.), being the last one a private house and not open to visitors.

La Mola Castle rises from a small plain 360 m above sea level, 3km northeast from the city of Novelda.

A fortress of Islamic origin, it was built in the late 12th century. It has a polygonal floor shape with eight square cubes overhanging. Today only four remain, two of which are covered up. They feature a square tower inside which today is missing its top, made from adobe on a masonry base.

The existing tower is 11m high by 9m wide, although it is missing a floor; the room below is lit by a barbican. The tower is entered by a half-mesh door at the top.

In the wake of the Christian conquest of the Castle by troops belonging to the Infante Don Alfonso de Castile, the fortress, along with its lands, passed to the Castilian Crown.

With the signing of the Elche Pact in 1305, the Castle and its surrounds passed to the Aragonese Crown, forming part of the Kingdom of Valencia. The fortress was then given to Dona Blanca d'Anjou, Jaime II's wife, who ordered the reconstruction of its dilapidated walls. A series of reforms were carried out during the 14th century and a magnificent triangular tower built on the castle’s north-eastern side. The tower measures 17m high by 15m wide and nothing has ever been built like it - it is made of masonry, with ashlar reinforcement in the corners. It is reached by a half-mesh door facing northeast located at the top. This door is also made of ashlar. The tower has two floors and inside the lighting comes from the use of a number of barbicans.

In the mid-14th century, the Aragonese king, Pedro the Ceremonious, awarded tenancy of the Castle to the Breton noble Beltrán du Glesquin as payment for his help in battle one year after coming to the Iberian Peninsular with the White Companies. In 1367 it was sold to Hugo de Calviley, who in 1371 sold it to Mateo de Gornay, then Lord of Novelda. Years later it would again pass to the Crown, being given by Pedro IV to his wife Dona Sibila de Fortia.

In 1391, Don Pedro Maza de Lizana, Lord of Mogente and Chinosa, bought La Mola from Dona Violante de Bar, and it became the Barony of Novelda in 1448. La Mola then formed part of this important house of lords until the feudal estates were abolished in the early decades of the 19th century.

In 1931 it was declared an Historical Artistic Monument of National Interest.

Timetable: Winter 10 am - 2 pm and 4-7 pm.

Summer 10 am - 2 pm and 5-8 pm.

However, the most important attraction for visitors to Novelda is the Saint Mary Magdalene Sanctuary. This religious building was built as part of a project undertaken by Novelda-based engineer, José Sala Sala, who imbued his project with the Catalan Modernist style. Work began in 1918 and was carried out in three phases, finally coming to an end in 1946. The main façade features two 25m-high side towers that end in a stone cross, also found on the cupola and upper arches of the façade. The decorative motifs have their origin in medieval and Baroque styles and in nature itself - influences that led the architect to combine pebbles from the Vinalopó River with polychromatic tiles, bricks, red bricks and masonry work as reflected all over the outside of the building. Inside, the building comprises a rectangular central section with two adjoining side areas. The side-chapel for Saint Mary Magdalene, the Patron Saint of Novelda, is located at the end, in the apse, and behind the altar we can see a lovely painting attributed to Gastón Castelló.

AND EVEN…

In San Vicente square nº3, we find another of the modernist style houses. Its owner, D. Francisco Mira Abad, noticeable wines and oils harvester, order to build a completely new building, whit the same refined inclinations of the moment. This private building shelters common characteristics before mentioned, being also one of the best well conserved.

Besides these buildings, we also find in other houses, located in the old helmet of the town, a series of modernist details that have survived the passing time and the reforms.

Timetable: Winter 10 am - 2 pm and 4 - 7 pm.

Summer 10 am - 2 pm and 5 - 8pm.

This building, property of the Excmo. City Hall of Novelda, shows the splendor of the modernism of the private houses of this city. This real estate of three floors was built on the last third of the 19th century, which suffered a deep restructuring and enlargement of its plant in 1901, thanks to be acquired by Dª Navarro Mira who incorporated own architectural and decorative elements of the modernism.

This building was constituted as a family house and was the Gómez-Tortosa Counts' residence. Although its exterior aspect does not call the antention, because is nearer the architectonical compositions of the 19th century, is its interior the one that does it. It offers good examples of decoration and typical distribution of the bourgeoisie's houses of the 20th century. It is to point up the columns and cast iron gratings, oval hole stair, skylight, surrounded patio by Corinthian style limestone rock columns on base of red marble of the zone, the tapestries room painted by Lorenzo Pericás surrounded by base of oak tree carved with polychrome tiling, chapel, furniture of that age and other elements that reflect the exquisite modernist flavor of the epoch.

This building was sent to build at the first periode of the 20th century, concretely in 1901, by its owner, Dª Antonia Navarro Mira, to D. Pedro Cerdán Martínez, architect and author of the project. It is one of the best dwellings conserved in which is found with greater profusion and splendor the exactly modernist decoration. This accomodation, today property of the savings Bank of the Mediterranean (CAM), is composed of three floors, emphasizes an excellent work of gratings in windows and balconies, but is in their interior where it's developed the own elements of the modernism: carved wood, crystals, stuccoes, paintings in ceilings and murals, marbles, epoch furniture, etc, emphasizing the stair, because of its singular beauty and the court with its white marble columns.

Timetable: Monday to Friday: from 9 to 14 h and from 16 to 19 h. Saturdays, Sundays and Holy Days: from 11 to 14 h and from 17 to 20 h.

Attention!!! Casa Museo Modernista will open on the hour, the visitors will pass and it will be closed until the following hour.

This is a two-storey building with large rooms for holding gatherings and games, magnificently decorated with craftwork including lovely paintings on the ceiling and walls. Construction began in 1888 and the building was later extended. An iron fence set in stone surrounds the 7,000m2 garden, in the centre of which is a pavilion for holding concerts.

Construction on the church began in 1553 and it has seen a number of important reformations carried out over the years, including in 1740 when the main façade was restored and Baroque features added, and the construction of the Aurora Chapel in 1742. A new belfry was built in 1910.

The façade, which dominates the building, is a typical example of 17th century civil architecture in Valencia, being both plain and solid. The double-arched portico was where the market used to be held.

Opposite the Town Hall, in the centre of Plaza de ESpaña, is the statue of Jorge Juan y Santacilia, unveiled in 1913.

Located in Plaza Sta. Teresa de Jornet, it adjoins the former hospital that is now a retirement home. Opened in 1668, it was built as part of a commitment by the Town Hall during a serious plague epidemic that destroyed the city.

The Archaeological Museum

Opening Times:

Morning: from 10:00 to 14:00 h.

Afternoon: from 17:00 to 19:00 h. (Tuesday and Thursday)

Saturday: from 10:00 to 13:00 h.

FREE ENTRY

The local Archaeological Museum is located in the second floor of the Casa de Cultura, situated at number 3, Jaume II street.

The museum has an exhibition room, didactic activities room, central office and specialized library.

It is interesting to have a look at the Museum exhibition room, because that lets us know the historical evolution of the population that have lived and settled in Novelda since the Prehistory until nowadays.

The first human communities that occupied the Vinalopó middle valley established in the Prehistory, during the Palaeolithic, time where man lived in the open air, in shelters or caves, being hunting and food collecting their main activity. It was during the Neolithic period, V-IV millennium B.C., when the first agriculture and farming societies settled in the Vinalopó areas were located.

An example of this can be found in the important pottery collection belonging to the Bronze Age, shown in the museum.

Written documents give evidence of the Iberian Culture, land and people afterwards, turned into Roman costumes, as well as archaeological materials found and shown in Novelda.

A special relevance must be given to the daily objects used by the people that lived in Novelda during the Islamic and late Medieval Christian period, with two existing communities, the Christian in La Mola castle and the Moorish one in Novelda during the XIV-XVI centuries.

Finally, we can put an end to our journey throughout the exhibition looking at the ceramic elements, belonging to the modern age of XVII- XIX centuries. The ceramic religious altarpieces complete the collections shown in the museum.

The sacred history is shown through an extraordinary selection of “dioramas”. I all of them it can be appreciated the dedication and the delicate detail, full of tenderness and love, that the makers of Nativity scenes of Novelda have executed, with precision, mastery and generrosity to captivate to whom contemplate them. The Nativity scenes makers Association Museum of Novelda offer, to the person that visits it, a cared Nativity scenes selection works carried out by its members, along its ten years of existence. Monumental works of large dimensions, “dioramas” with the life and passion of Jesus, diverse artistic demostrations of great beauty that utilize the Nativity scenes as a main motive, figures of diverse authors, epochs and nationalities, and an extensive composed photographic exposition with the works rewarded in the contest that the Association organizes yearly for Christmas, they conform this museum dedicated to the Nativity scene that enriches the artistic and cultural patrimony of the city of Novelda.

Casa Sicily S.L has started up its project of wine tourism with the inauguration of a big and comfortable eating room to give gastronomical welcome to the professionals, which are eager for taste previous and futures ageing and to the taste-vin interested in discovering or extending its knowledge in the exciting world of the wine.

Its program, “Between wines and vineyards”, was created by its Oenologist and an enthusiastic and professional equipment to offer different alternatives to spend a good part of the day, or the whole day visiting cultures, the winery and other facilities, discovering the secrets of the wine and their methods of elaboration, learning wine tasting and try to explore its characteristics and enjoying the gastronomy of the region.

We can find, within all the wine range of the winery, white wines such as “Azal or Señor de Sirera”; red wines as “ Lizana, Heretat de Cesilia and Ad Gaude”; Rosé wine as “Cesilia” and The sweet new version “Aledua and Cardenal Alvarez”, in different presentations, next to other exclusive products of quality.

www.casa-sicilia.com

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Festivities
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From 19-25 July we hold our celebrations in honour of the patron saint, Mary Magdalene. We have held our pilgrimage, which involves carrying the image from the La Mola Sanctuary to Novelda, every 20 July since 1866.

Christians and Moors- I

The Christians and Moors festivities is quite a young celebration. In 1969 took place near the Mola Castle the celebration ‘ the castles’ day ‘, consisting of different activities related to the Christians and Moors festivity in its historical frame.

This act was the seed that started this celebration in our town, and together with some people living in Novelda but related to other towns, gave birth to the first local Christians and Moors parade in 1970. With many efforts and difficulties a group of youngsters started to rehearse the first choreography and Moorish marches in the Casino gardens. The first squadrons developed later on in homogeneous groups formed to represent the first parade, their names were Astures and Negres Betànics, being Christian and Moorish respectively. As a popular decision, the festivities are celebrated as a praise to the patron saint, Saint María Magdalena. Since 1972 there is a general agreement to set the 21st and 23rd of July as the ideal days to celebrate the different parades, as the mentioned days were of a poor activity years ago.

Since that year women participated in the parades as a symbol of a total integration. The same year took place for the first time the festivity speech in such a historic landscape as the Mola castle.

During that year the speakers were imported from other places, as well as the texts, because there was no genuine one. Then, a written festivity speech came up thanks to the local poet Luis Pérez Beltrá, taken from one of his poems called “Torre Triangular”.

We must remark that, whereas in other towns the festivity speech follows the same pattern, the difference in Novelda is the use of original content and autochthonous spatial references. Nowadays the festivity speech is celebrated in the Town Hall the 19th July and is, together with the parades one of the main ceremonies in these celebrations.

Christians and Moors- II

The years that followed the beginning of the celebrations, the number of groups involved in it multiplied, having nowadays ten groups in the Christians and Moors festivities in Novelda: six Moorish groups (Negres Betànics, Árabes Beduinos, Árabes Damasquinos, Árabes Omeyas, Piratas and Mudéjares), and four Christian groups (Astures, Caballeros del Cid-Rey Don Jaime I, Tercios de Lepanto and Mozárabes)

The 21st July takes place the parade with the Christian entry, and the 23rd the Moorish entry. Morover, it is noticeable the participation in the different parades of the group Negres Betànics, because unlike other towns, this group marches in rows or special groups, being considered in this town as another group.

Due to its youth, 38 years old, this celebration takes a high place inside the Christians and Moors festivities, so popular in our town. The population involved in this festivity counts with more than two thousand people, even the three generations of a whole family participate in the celebration. Therefore, year after year the participation increases and the common consciousness of the festivity as a cultural heritage is awake.

Our Holy Week organizes itself as we know her now in 1880, in the course of time it has been growing and includes the whole series of projects, both cultural and social out of the dates that him are proper.

At present, processions are celebrated from the Palm Sunday up to that of Resurrection. We can emphasize the Procession of the Holy Burial, in the evening of the Holy Friday, where procesionan the totality of 14 brotherhoods that compose at present the Biggest Meeting with a participation that patrols 2500 brothers. The Procession of the Easter Sunday that closes the processional parades, passes to the traditional “ día de la Mona ” on Monday of Easter.

Carnavales is a feast day that has become increasingly popular in Novelda. A number of colourful and entertaining street parades have been organised over the past few years. The most typical event of the day is the afternoon tea featuring coca de manteca as a prelude to the arrival of Lent.

An historic procession called ‘Forty Hours’ is held in Novelda on the Tuesday of Carnaval. The procession is unique in Spain. It began following an epidemic that ravaged the city. Dated in Rome on 28 February, 1897 by Pope Leo XIII, it has been celebrated every year since. If the procession were not to be held any year, the privilege would be withdrawn - hence this religious manifestation has gone ahead during rain and despite having the procession path cut.

All the districts celebrate feast days in honour of their patron saints with processions, open-air celebrations, street parades, etc. during the months between May and September.

- La Cruz de Mayo district, first weekend of the month

- La Estación district, 18-27 May.

- Maria Auxiliadora district, 24 May-9 June.

- Sagrado Corazón district, 12-16 June.

- La Vereda district, 28-30 June.

- San Roque district, 10-18 August.

- La Garrova district, 14-22 September. (dates can change)

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Gastronomy
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Ingredientes:

- 1/2 kg. Cebollas

- 1 litro y medio de agua

- 1 paquete tortas de gazpachos troceadas de 250g

- 22 cucharadas soperas de aceite oliva

- 1 tomate maduro rallado

- 1/2 kg de pollo o conejo en trozos pequeños

- 2 cucharadas de postre de pebrella

- 2 pizcas de pimienta negra molida

- Sal

- 1 pizca clavo molido

Elaboración:

Pelar y picar la cebolla muy fina. Poner una cacerola al fuego e incorporar el aceite de oliva y freír el conejo o el pollo. Cuando esté dorado retirar del fuego y reservar.

En la misma cacerola y con el mismo aceite de freír el conejo o el pollo, incorporar la cebolla y dorar bien. Incorporar el tomate rallado y dejar 5 minutos más al fuego.

Añadir la coca y rehogar durante 3 minutos removiendo, incorporar el litro y medio de agua y el conejo o el pollo.

Una vez alcanzada la ebullición, añadir la pebrella, la pimienta negra molida, la pizca de clavo molido y la sal. Dejar cocer a fuego medio (probar de sal) durante 25 minutos y listo.

Ingredientes:

- Carne picada (de cerdo)

- Un blanco

- 2 longanizas

- La molla de 2 rebanadas grandes de pan del día anterior

- Una pizca de sal

- Un diente de ajo cortado en trocitos finos

- Perejil

- 2 cucharadas de piñones

- Una pizca de piel de limón rallada

- 3 huevos

Elaboración:

Se junta la carne picada, las longanizas y el blanco (en trocitos). Se mezcla todo con perejil y ajo y una pizca de corteza de limón rallada. Se añaden los piñones y se remuevo todo muy bien. Luego, se añade la molla de pan, rallándolo con las manos. Se baten los huevos un poco y se añade a la mezcla. Remover muy bien y añade un poquito de sal. Si se queda la mezcla demasiado pegajosa para hacer pelotas, se puede añadir un poco más de pan.

Al final, hay que añadir las pelotas al caldo de cocido y cocer a fuego lento durante dos horas mínimo hasta que estén tiernas.

Ingredientes:

- 1/2 l. de aceite de oliva

- 4 l. de agua

- 2 o 3 puñados de sal

- 1 cabeza de ajos

- 1 kg harina

Elaboración:

Se calienta el aceite en una sartén grande y se echan los ajos con un corte de cada uno. Una vez dorados los ajos, se sacan y se apartan. Luego se echa la harina y se remueve con el aceite hasta que toda la harina queda empapada y con grumos. Entonces se empieza a echar agua y deshacer los grumos de la harina hasta que empiece a hacerse una pasta cada vez más densa.

A partir de aquí ya hay que trabajarla mucho intentado que no se pegue la masa por los bordes. Cuando la masa estar más compacta y sin pegarse, se empieza a dar vueltas para que se haga por las dos caras agarrando la sartén con las dos manos y con mucho cuidado de que no se rompa.

Ingredientes (para 4 personas):

- 200 g. arroz.

- 300 g. conejo troceado.

- 2 docenas de caracoles serranos.

- 1 cebolla.

- 1 tomate grande maduro.

- 1 diente de ajo.

- Azafrán.

- Pimienta negra.

- Sal.

- 1 dl. aceite de oliva.

Elaboración:

Limpiamos concienzudamente los caracoles. Para ello los ponemos bajo el agua fría en una olla con sal y removiéndolos constantemente, mientras vamos cambiando el agua hasta que dejen de soltar esa especie de babilla.

Colocamos en el fuego una cazuela baja donde elaboraremos la paella y, con el aceite caliente, sofreímos el conejo en trozos no muy grandes.

Una vez que va tomando color el conejo añadimos la cebolla, el tomate y el ajo picadito muy pequeño. Cubrimos con agua el sofrito de conejo y dejamos que se estofe durante 45 minutos.

Una vez cocinado el conejo sazonamos con sal, pimienta y azafrán. Agregamos al conejo el arroz, los caracoles y dejamos cocinar durante unos 18-20 minutos a fuego vivo.

Una vez cocinado el arroz dejamos reposar 5 minutos fuera del fuego cubierto de un trapo de cocina para que se seque y no se recueza.

Ingredientes:

- 1 dl. Aceite oliva

- 1 puñado de almendras

- 1 cardo

- 1 cebolla

- 1 espinaca

- 100g. garbanzos secos

- 100g. habichuelas

- 100g. lentejas

- 1 nabo

- 1 ñora

- 1 cuchara pimentón dulce

- 1 tomate

- 250 g. trigo

Elaboración:

Salvo que se disponga del trigo picado ya, se debe poner a remojo con agua el trigo la noche anterior. Luego se escurre bien antes de echarlo en el mortero, donde se picará ligeramente para que se desprenda el salvado y lo lavaremos varias veces, reservándolo a continuación.

La noche anterior pondremos a remojo también los garbanzos, las habichuelas y las lentejas en recipientes separados.

Después, lavaremos, rasparemos y cortaremos la ñora, el cardo (pasado por un poco de sal), la cebolla cortada finamente, el nabo y el tomate rallado. Se reservan todos estos ingredientes.

En una olla de barro pondremos a hervir con abundante agua y un poco de sal el trigo picado, las lentejas, los garbanzos, las habichuelas, el cardo, el nabo y la espinaca.

Mientras que en una sartén pondremos el aceite a calentar, para sofreír la ñora y las almendras, evitando que se quemen, para colocarlas a continuación con un poco de sal en un mortero y proceder a picarlas juntas finamente antes de añadirlas al hervido.

En ese mismo aceite sofreiremos la cebolla y luego el tomate con una pizca de sal, que añadiremos al hervido, junto con el pimentón.

A continuación, procederemos a rectificar de sal y dejar que cueza durante unas tres o tres horas y media, a fuego lento, removiendo periódicamente esta cocción para evitar que se pegue la misma.

Ingredientes:

- 1 lata mejillones

- 1 lata berberechos

- 1 lata aceitunas rellenas

- 1 bolsa patatas fritas

- Boquerones en vinagre

- 100 g almendras fritas con sal

- 1/2 limón

- Pimienta

Elaboración:

Poner las patatas en una bandeja y colocar los ingredientes encima a tu gusto. Poner el limón y la pimienta en el momento antes de servir.

Ingredientes:

- 1 capellán

- 1/2 kg de tomates para ensalada

- Aceite de oliva virgen extra

- Olivas del cuquillo

Elaboración:

Cortar los tomates en trozos al gusto y poner en una bandeja o plato de ensalada. Asar el capellán en la llama del fogón de butano y desmigarlo. Repartir el capellán y la olivas sobre los trozos de tomate y regar con el aceite de oliva.

Ingredientes:

- Tomates maduros

- Berenjena

- Pimiento rojo

- Cebolla

- Filetes de anchoas

- Aceitunas negras

- 1 diente ajo

Elaboración:

En una bandeja de horno meter todo junto al horno medio. A medida que se vayan asando, sacar lo que va estando hecho y dejar enfriar. Después pelarlo todo y partirlo en pequeños pedacitos agregando las anchoas partiditas a tiras, las aceitunas y muy picadito el diente de ajo, aceite crudo y servir frío.

Ingredientes:

- Rabo de ternera

- Tomates secos

- Ñoras

- 1 cabeza ajos

- Cebollas

- Cardos

- Garbanzos

- Morcillas blancas y duras

- Patatas y aceite crudo.

Giraboix

Hígados de pollo, huevo duro, pan tostado y las morcillas que se sacan de los ajos.

Elaboración:

En una cazuela ancha, poner agua y meter los garbanzos y el rabo de ternera. Tras media hora hirviendo, añadir el resto de los ingredientes menos las patatas, que se ponen cuando se compruebe que la carne está casi cocida. Es conveniente tener preparado "all i oli" que se mezcla con el caldo y se rocía por encima de los platos ya preparados para servir.

Ingredientes:

- 150 gr garbanzos

- 250 gr mezcla de legumbres (habichuelas, lentejas, frijoles...)

- 1 vaso de arroz

- 2 tomates

- 1 cebolla

- 1 manojo pequeño de espinacas

- 1 nabo

- 1 patata

- 1 boniato

- 1 ñora

- almendras

- 1 trocitos de pan

- Pimentón y sal

Elaboración:

Se pone a hervir los garbanzos y las legumbres (deben haber estado la noche anterior a remojo), las espinacas, el nabo y la zanahoria.

Se sofríen los tomates y la cebolla, ambos rallados, sazonados al gusto con sal y pimentón y se añade todo a hervir con lo anterior. Cuando haya hervido durante un tiempo considerado es cuando se añade el boniato y la patata cortada en trozos no muy grandes y sigue hirviendo todo.

Aparte, se fríen las almendras, el pan y la ñora. Se pica todo y se añade a la olla con lo demás y se cuece a fuego lento durante unas dos horas. Unos 20 min. antes de servir se le añade el arroz. Dejar reposar unos 5 minutos.

Industry
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It's more than a hundred years since the saffron commerce made Novelda become the most important centre of elaboration, commerce of saffron, species, infusions… in Spain. And since then until our days this industry development has been one of the most important head of our economy, although curiously, and because of climatological reasons , it has never been cultivated none of the spices that we work with.

It's in the first XIX century when this great industry started, just when neighbours from Novelda commercialised with saffron, and could develop an infrastructure thanks to all kind of spice commercialisation destined as a whole to Sevilla and Málaga where it was shipped just to be exported to America, and to Valencia and Barcelona where it was shipped just to be exported to Europe.

Meanwhile , in Valencia was born the 'Saffron Exchange' where it was commercialised nearly every production, although it was cultivated in Albacete and Aragón. In Valencia is where all tradersbought and sold their goods train.

Buying saffron in those places was a great adventure, because the trader went from town to town and from door to door negotiating with the agent ("corredor") the "onzas's" (28.75 g) price and filled wood boxes which were carried to Novelda's factories by train.

By the 2nd half of the XIX century, it caused a revolution in the sector because of the saffron demand growth by the Indian market.

Our traders settled and associated with France and UK because Hindu traders worked with those commercial centres. Even that, some of our neighbours began to move to India in order to know that fabulous market, as saffron is considered sacred and they use it in their prayers and daily ceremonies. It's in this moment when it started a commercial close relation between Novelda an India.

At the end of the XIX century it developed a saffron substitute production in order to get to a less purchasing power market. It appeared the called "mixed" class, elaborated with the white and yellow part of the flower. It is in that moment when some familiar factories merged, involving a great impugn for the sector as it meant the end of competencies between them.

This was also a moment in which the different factories created their own brand image to difference between them. So even now we can admire a lot of different metallic boxes with beautiful pictures lithographed on them.

The first decade of the XX century saw a rise in saffron demand in Spain. That supposed a rise in price, so it appeared a cheaper substitute: food colouring. At the same time it was born the small "envelope flap", a small paper envelope which contained the correct dose for just one meal. It's was a fantastic discovery because they were well sold, and it supposed the creation of the famous "porches", familiar stores in which, in the main, women, worked wrapping up these "envelope flaps". This contributed to help the family economies because women could win an extra salary. They should fill and wrap up at least 3.500 saffron or food colouring "envelope flaps" in 8 hours of labour journey. Some of them could even fill more then 4.000 units. It also took place a skill match.

A motorbike mechanic from Novelda, Francisco Martínez Díez, invented an automatic machine which filled 3.500 "envelope flaps" per hour. This was a big revolution in the sector.

From that moment till our days the sector has changed and increased. We have new and different containers and vessels and we produce different products such as infusions, all types of teas, sweeteners, tastes for meals… each day with more and new tastes and formats, and making this sector one of the head engines of our economy not only in this city but also in the national market.

APRECOIN Alicante's infusions, seasoning and spices businessman provintial association

The most important marble extracting and manufacturing points on the area of Alicante are located in Novelda, Pinoso, Monforte del Cid, Monóvar, Algueña and La Romana. This concentration of such a rich natural environment has been base for the development of the most important marble producing and manufacturing centre in whole Spain, and one of the finest world-wide, which Novelda makes the biggest amount of marble production between them all.

We can be proud today that more of 90% of the global production all over Alicante area is covered by extracting and manufacturing factories under de trademark "Mármol de Alicante", a Land ofValencia Association, which headquarters are established in Novelda.

The important figures of this industrial sector into the economy of Alicante can be shown by its 30.000 employees. And one of the most important contributions to it is the overall view of its management, making a tremendous effort for the last five years with an investment over 120 million €, providing marble industry with the latest technology, setting it ahead this activity world-wide.

Due to the related efforts, the quality of its production and its external promotion, the companies of Novelda and its surrounding area make up to 60% of the Spanish marble export, second of importance in Alicante after footwear industry.

Day after day, the promotion and representation the association of marble producers and manufacturers makes all over the world, supported by national and local authorities, gives this industrial sector great importance, otherwise impossible.

The marble industry association "Mármoles de Alicante" has been taking part on national and international promotion activities, such as "El Día del Mármol" (Marble Day), with twelve editions; its participation in national and international trade fairs within its own stands; its presence in international events; edition of brochures, CDs, videotapes, books, and its best known magazine "Mármol de Alicante, Asociación de la Comunidad Valenciana" and the book “Yo, El Mármol” (I, the Marble); and its continuous presence on Mass-media and academical forums related to the architecture and construction. Many technical work-shops and training programs are taking place to get the best professionals in marble industry, within a provided financial support from the marble companies and their associates.

The technical department for marble and stone of the Marble Association, recently presented, provides the sector highly performed research work, development and innovation, so important in those days of great competitiveness. The day the Institute for Marble Industry becomes a reality is near so the Town Hall Corporation of Novelda already has provide land to building it, showing its great interest on this project.

The creation of a marble dump and a marble residual deposits is an outcome of this interest, as well as the recycling protocols taking place to preserve the environment.

In general terms and as the most important task, the Marble Association offers support to all projects created to preserve, to inform and to convince architects and potential trade groups about the marble and stone manufacturing training in Alicante area. A great effort has been taken to improve ornamental stone industry, the particular manufacture of Novelda and the Land of Valencia.

The city of Novelda accounts for most of Spain’s industry devoted to the preparation, packaging and marketing of seasonings, spices and teas.

This traditional activity began in Novelda last century with the trade in saffron, a much-valued spice that mainly grows in La Mancha but is also grown and sold in Novelda, from where it began to be exported around the world to meet demand.

There is not doubt that the most spectacular process affecting Novelda's growing cultivation has been, without any discussion, the substitution of the ancient dry farming for the new irrigation farming systems.

Within this new process Novelda has improved its important role as head of the economical situation on the Medio Vinalopó area, being one of the pioneers on land agriculture transformations and agrarian income figures.

On the early fifties over the twentieth century, Novelda began with a clear vocation for export activity, due to the new irrigation systems and its best known grapes variety, "Aledo", which growsYtrough metallic nets, know as "espalderas", and the fruits are covered with white paper bags, saving those to be exposed to the weather and the chemical treatments and provide grapes with a malted yellow colour, one of the Vinalopó grapes' main particularities. All of it has configured an enormous land ground for the irrigation farming systems, allowing grape growing areas to increase from 1000 ha in 1960 to 2100 ha in 2003.