History of Tavernes de la Valldigna: The prehistoric origins of Tavernes
The first PREHISTORIC evidence of human settlement in Tavernes, and also in the whole Valencian Community, dating back to the Paleolithic more than 350,000 years ago, is found in the Cova del Bolomor Cave, on the mountain of l’Ombria. Excavations confirm the adaptation of hominid communities, possibly Homo heidelbergensis.
The Cova del Bolomor Cave is also considered one of the most important Paleolithic sites in Western Europe, as it has made it possible to document fundamental aspects of the lives of the continent’s first inhabitants. The discoveries at this site have contributed decisively to the study of human evolution and the first forms of social organization in prehistoric communities.
Later, Neanderthals established settlements in this area, according to the findings of different bones in the same cave (molars, canines and a parietal bone), as well as remains of the oldest hearth in Europe, which makes it possible to verify that they already made controlled use of fire, one of the most important advances in the evolution of human societies.
It was the Neolithic populations, with a more sedentary way of life, that were responsible for the continuity of settlement. In the Cova de la Carta Cave, in the Bolomor ravine, remains from this period have been found.
In the Neolithic period, caves were used as necropolises, where utensils from daily life were also deposited. The Cova del Caçador Cave (or Foietes Cave) is a good example of this.
Human settlement in Tavernes was favored by the geographical characteristics of the Valldigna, a fertile valley protected by mountains and open to the Mediterranean Sea. This strategic situation offered natural resources, land suitable for agriculture and a privileged position from which to control the territory, factors that have favored human presence there since very ancient times.
Iberian settlement and the first fortified settlements
Tavernes was an ideal place for the IBERIANS because of its morphology: proximity to the sea and promontories from which to have a good field of vision. The ruins of fortifications on the southeastern slope of the mountain of les Creus, known as els Castellets, el Ràfol and the Teularet area, confirm the existence of Iberian settlement.
Roman presence in the valley
As for ROMANIZATION, the scarcity of findings confirms at least the existence of settlement in the valley during this period. There is a hypothesis of a Roman settlement in the southeast of the valley, based on the discovery of Roman coins on the mountain of l’Ombria.
The Vall d’Alfàndec in the Muslim period
In the MUSLIM period, the valley was called Alfàndec (valley or ravine in Arabic) and the territory was organized into farmsteads around the castle of Alcalà d’Alfàndec, which, together with els Castellets, which they occupied and restored, completed a defensive system with a surveillance mission.
Some of these farmsteads were the so-called Gebalcobra (in Arabic, greater mountain), the old nucleus of present-day Tavernes, and the one called Gebalsogra (lesser mountain). In the 13th century, the colonizers came to call them Taverna and Ombria, respectively.
Outside the valley there were two nearby farmsteads that would later be incorporated into the domains of the Valldigna monastery: Massalalí and l’Alcudiola (currently located, one around the corner of Massalari and the other where the old hermitage of Sant Llorenç stands, the supposed base of an old Arab mosque). This territorial division would last until the 19th century.
The Christian conquest and the birth of Valldigna
Around the year 1240, Jaume I of Aragon occupied the Alfàndec valley and CHRISTIAN presence began. In order to secure the exploitation of the territory, the Moorish population was not expelled. Those who remained had their way of life, customs and even the lands they worked respected.
In 1249, King Jaume I himself carried out the repopulation of the territory and granted important donations to Christians from other places.
Jaume I also promoted the immigration of Jews to the conquered territories, and in the Alfàndec valley they retained a privileged place as owners of houses and lands, received through royal donations until the 14th century.
During the Christian reconquest, it was guaranteed by royal privilege, later confirmed in 1298 by Jaume II of Aragon, that the Mudejars of Valldigna would be allowed their religion, language and customs. But this situation of cultural and religious tolerance gradually deteriorated until they lost freedoms, rights and status.
In 1298, while passing through the valley, astonished to see such a bountiful land, Jaume II gave it the name Valldigna, and it has remained so to this day. That same year he ceded the lands to the Cistercian community to found the monastery of Santa Maria de Valldigna, which took charge of protecting the Christians of el Ràfol.
The demarcation of Valldigna was carried out in 1298, after the cession.
The expulsion of the Moriscos and its consequences
During the EXPULSION OF THE MORISCOS, the monastery confiscated the houses and lands of the Muslims.
The Arab inhabitants were forced to accept, among other things, being incorporated into the unjust seigniorial system.
The conversion and emigration of the Muslims and the construction of seven new churches throughout all the farmsteads was reason enough for the inhabitants of el Ràfol to go and live in Gebalcobra (Tavernes) and create the most populated nucleus in the valley.
To put a stop to the constant flight of infidels, the Cistercian monks went through all the surrounding villages with the aim of instructing the Morisco population according to the Christian religion.
The consequences of the expulsion were diverse and complex: the ruin of feudal lords, abandoned lands, long periods of economic and demographic crisis, characterized by problems of repopulation, lack of labor and a decline in the level of income.
Coastal defense and historical heritage
Around 1575, Felipe II commissioned a study of the defense of the coastline for fear of a possible Moorish invasion from the coasts of Africa, since the southern and eastern peninsular coastline was often attacked by pirates and corsairs who devastated crops and looted villages.
It was then that a new type of defensive construction appeared: watchtowers. They were built all along the Mediterranean coastline and formed part of a surveillance system that made it possible to warn quickly of an attack. The Torre de Guaita, near Tavernes beach, is one of the best-preserved in the Comunitat Valenciana. It was declared a Site of Cultural Interest (Bé d’interés Cultural BIC), in the category of Monument, and has been registered since 2002 in the Spanish Historical Heritage register.
Modernization, growth and the present-day city
The 18th century was a time of MODERNIZATION, an eminently positive period in terms of demographic growth and economic potential. We can highlight an unstoppable growth in agriculture. The most profitable irrigated crop was wheat and, after that, rice. Livestock farming, on the other hand, was to a great extent subordinate to agriculture.
Valldigna was still privileged land and the monastery of Santa Maria had authority over most properties.
As for the evolution of the technical improvements of the time, hydraulic mills stand out, adapted to the process of making flour or whitening rice which, by taking advantage of hydraulic energy, powered an entire chained production system.
In Tavernes one of them is still preserved: the Molí Vell del Pla is the clearest example of these constructions.
In this process of modernization, the culmination came with the Industrial Revolution and the incorporation of the Carcaixent-Dénia railway line in 1884. This means of transport was used by both travelers and merchants and opened the doors to trade, which allowed the mobility of people and guaranteed constant communication.
During the following decades, agriculture in the valley underwent new transformations with the expansion of citrus cultivation, especially oranges, which would end up becoming one of the main economic driving forces of Tavernes and the whole region.
As a final point in this brief summary of the history of Tavernes, it should be noted that the town obtained the title of city in 1916, granted by King Alfonso XIII.
Throughout the 20th century, Tavernes de la Valldigna continued to grow and transform. Urban development, improved communications and the use of its privileged location between the sea and the mountains drove its evolution towards a modern city.
In recent decades, the municipality has combined its traditional agricultural vocation with the development of tourism, especially in the coastal area. Tavernes de la Valldigna today offers a wide variety of attractions including beaches, hiking routes, various festivals and cultural events throughout the year, such as the Fallas, whose first committee dates from 1976 and which are now deeply rooted in the municipality. All this makes Tavernes a place that brings together history, nature and heritage within the singular landscape of the Valldigna.
