Alzira, Valencia

Alzira (, Spanish: Alcira) is a town and municipality of 45,000 inhabitants in Valencia, eastern Spain. It is the capital of the comarca of Ribera Alta in the province of Valencia.

Geographic situation

Alzira is located in the province of Valencia, on the left bank of the Júcar river, and on the Valencia–Alicante railway.

Alzira's climate is typically Mediterranean: warm with no extremes of temperature either in summer or winter. Rainfall is scarce and irregular. Torrential rains usually follow periods of relative drought.

The town is situated on the shores of the Júcar river. The Murta and Casella valleys are well worth visiting as they are by far the most beautiful areas in the Alzira area. Alzira's borough extends over 111 square kilometres.

History

Alzira was founded by the Muslim Arabs under the name Jazirat Shukr (Arabic: جزيرة شَقْر) which later became known as Júcar Island.

It was a prosperous trading-station during the reign of the Muslim Arabs which lasted over five hundred years. During that time the city had a local administrative government and was considered as a cultural hub for writers, philosophers, and law experts.

The city was conquered by James I of Aragon on 30 December 1242.

Alzira, located right on the bank of the Júcar, has suffered devastating floods throughout its history - in particular in 1472, 1590, 1864, 1916, 1982 and 1987.

Alzira has historically been a walled town, surrounded by palm, orange and mulberry groves, and by...
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