The town of Cullera is located on the shore of the Mediterranean and occupies a central position in the Region of . Bathed by the waters of the Gulf of Valencia, with its vast plains of rice fields and citrus groves irrigated by the Júcar river and sheltered by the ubiquitous mountain Raboses, Cullera offers visitors a privileged environment full of contrasts and a microclimate that ensures mild winters and pleasant summers.

Cullera, the mythical Roman Sucro and later the Colla-Aeria (High Summit) of the Muslims, has developed today into a leisure town with a stable population of 24,121 inhabitants, which expands significantly with the arrival of tourists during the summer.

In short, a holiday destination with wide experience at the service of tourists and which has managed to reinvent itself every day to offer endless possibilities. Extensive award-winning beaches renowned worldwide for their quality, splendid monuments and cultural heritage, spectacular cuisine based on rice and seafood, a wide and diverse range of accommodation and the best entertainment and fun for all the family.

Do you need any more reasons? Discover the real Mediterranean, discover Cullera! HISTORY

The history of Cullera is linked, without doubt, to But what led to King Jaime I to conquer Hisn Qulayra was its its mountain the “Muntanya de les Raboses”, the strategic position. The control of the goods transported by the Mountain of Gold, the Magic Mountain ... river Júcar to its mouth at Qulayra, was the deciding factor of his conquest in 1239. After the Christian conquest the Barri de la Vila The first signs of settlement were Upper Paleolithic was created “ex novo”. This district was expanded during the 14th remains found at Cueva del Volcan del Faro. On and 15th centuries, as the town grew in importance, thanks in the opposite side is the “Abric Lambert”, declared large part to its tradition of trade, agriculture and fishing. a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, a cave where Neolithic populations left clear examples of their In the 16th century, Cullera saw many violent episodes with the art: Schematic Art. Along with the aforementioned attacks of the dreaded . Like many other coastal shelter, the Bronze Age town of “Les Oliveretes” tells communities, it developed an entire military architecture based us of the first open air human settlements with a on the defence and control of the coastal strip: a chain of coastal defined social organization. towers was created, such as the “Marenyet”, and the Castle was fortified with bastions and ravelins and, of course, the town was Right in the centre of the old town, particularly in the walled for the protection of its people. Rápita neighbourhood, remains have been found ranging from Roman Republican times to the late Roman period. During the 17th and 18th centuries Cullera enjoyed a period A salting factory dates from this period. It is located on c/ of splendour associated, again, with its agricultural activity. Augustine Olivert and used to part of the port infrastructure. This was a period in which many of the town’s landmarks were This finding highlights the importance that Portum Sucrone built – the Sangre and Santos Juanes churches, the Casa de la had acquired by this period of late antiquity. Enseñanza, the Guildhall and a large number of chapels and manors of undeniable artistic interest. It was during the period of Islamic rule that Qulayra, the name used by the Arabs, developed an urban structure at the In the 19th and 20th centuries, with the expansion of rice foot of its castle. The Arabs built the castle with its towers, cultivation, Cullera grew gradually with more characteristic walls and fortifications. They extended the town along the buildings and infrastructure of great interest such as the southern slopes of the mountains surrounding and protected Sanctuary of the Mare de Deu del Castell, the Iron Bridge, the it with a wall that runs below calle del Mar. An example of this Municipal Market, the Lighthouse, the Maritime University and the is the Barri del Pou, which with its steep, narrow alleyways Casa del Pueblo and many private buildings that give a distinctive reminds us of the arrangement of Islamic medinas. appearance to the city.

LA CASA DE LA ENSEÑANZA As we move into the Barrio de la Vila we find floor on both fronts, the windows were traced as one of the first public schools in : The rectangular shapes framed in stone, topped with Casa de la Enseñanza, designed in 1788 by a small ledge and on the bottom panel or ledge Vicente Gascó Maso (1734-1802), director of formed by a slab flanked by two small pillars (this the architecture section of the Academy of San type has now been replaced, although a similar Carlos, Valencia, with one of the walls of the opening has been retained). building erected directly on top of the sixteenth century wall that surrounded the village. The Casa de la Enseñanza was designed to house a school for children and rooms for their respective The main facade on the calle Rio follows the teachers, and on the ground floor it also had a wood neoclassical canons that Vicente Gascó himself store and a wheat store with an area for a poor established with his ideas within the academic family who served the teachers, with two bedrooms framework, and which were rediscovered and kitchen. Access areas were in calle San Sebastian by the architectural ideals of the last quarter and there were separate entrances for boys and male of the eighteenth century in Valencia. With teachers on one side, and girls and female teachers a fully symmetrical order the arrangement on the other, with separate stairs too. The main floor of the openings marks the tone of the facade, consists of a vestibule, school and rooms for the since the absence of decorative elements most advanced students, both boys and girls, with means that the formal characteristics of doors, their own toilets and independent entrances. The windows and balconies, of extreme simplicity, second floor houses the separate accommodation together with the fascias, are the elements that for the two male and two female teachers. present a simplified neoclassical ideal, whose greatest exponent is the broad pediment which presides over the whole. The facade now on The Casa can be visited by appointment. Calle San Sebastian was constructed with the C/ del Río, 38 same compositional criteria as the main facade, Historical Centre although adapted for length. These are the only erections that Vicente Gascó produced for the Casa de la Enseñanza. It should be noted that on the first

THE WALLS

Cullera castle cannot be understood without sections of walls which surrounded the Castle: the defensive ring of walls and towers in which The Torre de la Reina Mora or Santa Ana, the Torre it sits. The Castle consists of the fortress, the Miranda, the Torre del Racó de San Antonio, the Tower upper enclosure or “Albacar Vell” located on the Desmochada and the Tower Octagonal. Within the esplanade where the shrine is located, and the enclosure are the remains of the “velles revoltes” and lower enclosure or “Albacar Nou” which is situated old Islamic track that led to the Castle, now replaced on the southern slope of the mountain. by the current Camino del Calvario.

Both were used to shelter troops, horses, cattle and Today the walls can be visited starting from the Torre the population of Qulayra itself in times of siege. de la Reina Mora or Santa Anna, and following a trail Moreover, a group of towers linked the different that runs along the old walled perimeter. PARISH CHURCH OF LOS SANTOS JUANES

In the old town, or more precisely in the plaza John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, Patio de la Iglesia is the Santos Juanes Church. who preside over the altar. Inside, interesting The present church dedicated to the Saints Johns features include the altarpiece and the mural was built in 1692 on the foundations or remains painting of the Baptistery, which are works of of an earlier church dating from between the Rafael Cardells, the rich imagery of the side thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Recent chapels and, above all, the Baroque ceramic archaeological excavations have shown that the plinth in the Communion chapel, dated between bell-tower, despite its medieval appearance, 1740 and 1760 and recently restored, with an was built in the sixteenth century – the same average height of 1.70 meters, an surface area period to which the shield of the Crown of of 40 square metres and about 700 pieces. A Aragon which stands above the entrance to representative set of Valencian tiles that is well the tower also belongs - over a 14th century worth a visit. parish churchyard. In the centre of the plaza is a replica of one of the tombstones decorated with Until 1950 this was the only parish in Cullera. the Cross of Malta which was found in these excavations. Calle Patio de la Iglesia (Can be visited by appointment with the parish). The church, which was the headquarters of the only parish in the town from 1248 to 1953, has Historical Centre a single nave and is named after the two saints,

CASA CONSISTORIAL (GUILDHALL)

The building has a single floor, with three balconies Consell or Presó de la Vila, represents a time and three identical rectangular windows that match of splendour associated with agriculture and the three lower entrances which are decorated with which is highlighted in the original furnishings arches - half point on the two sides and three- of the 18th century, in the ornamentation of centred in the middle. The whole look is vaguely the plenary hall and in the great altarpiece reminiscent of the Italian palaces of the period - the dedicated, to Saint Anne, which came from the reign of Charles III is characterized by the abundance former shrine of the same name, also called the of Italianate buildings throughout the peninsula - Torre de la Reina Mora. It also contains canvasses and, at that time, of the eighteenth century mansions by anonymous painters depicting Isabel II and, in Lisbon later converted into luxury hotels. In fact, above all, paintings by José Mongrell, a disciple the external structure of the Heritage hotel in Lisbon, of Pinazo and Sorolla and an excellent painter including the three-centred arch and the two side of portraits and genre scenes of purely Valencia entrances, plus the three higher balconied openings, ambience. follows the same elegant pattern of lofty simplicity despite its small size. Can be visited by appointment.

The building, built over an existing building from Plaza de España 1321 in the same location, known as the Casa del Historical Centre THE MARKET AND THE CIVIL WAR AIR-RAID SHELTER The municipal market, another good structure crossed by the central walkways. Today, example of the eclectic architecture of two of the interior squares continue their anti- Valencia, located very near the Santos septic and healthy dedication to the sale of food Juanes church, in the Plaza de la Virgen, products: meat and fish, fruit and vegetables and, is a set of four blocks separated by a as already mentioned, the other two are for leisure floor in the form of a Greek cross. With and cultural purposes. The whole area has been its two roads and interior gardens it devoted, from time immemorial, to the spiritual forms a delightful and picturesque area and emotional obsession of the people of Cullera while also being practical and useful for with the Virgen del Castillo, so that not only the the purchase of basic necessities and as access road but the entire market is called Plaza de a resting place and cultural centre since la Virgen, a reference to the popular black Madonna two of the blocks are used as centres for who is the patron saint of the town. cultural activities of various kinds. In fact, in the Auditorium hosts concerts of local Moreover, under the above-mentioned royal symphony orchestras (Ateneo Musical and privilege, the market and its surroundings are the Santa Cecilia) and in the Multifunction Hall site of a weekly market, which today has moved to various other recreational and cultural Thursdays, which has a clear local feel. Hence the activities take place. The market, with its crowds of local people that tends to gather in this gardens and its surroundings, is without any place every Thursday of the year. doubt, the nerve centre of Cullera. Under the two back halls of the Market, the The municipal market tradition dates back to auditorium and multifunction hall, is the entrance to the reign of Jaime II and more specifically the the air-raid shelter built under the market itself and year 1320 when the king gave Cullera, a walled consisting of two galleries. It’s actually one of four town in those years, the privilege, which took that were built during the civil war in Cullera, due THE CAMINO DEL CALVARIO OR “REVOLTES NOVES” place on Friday of each week, of “awarding to the threat of the frequent bombing suffered by safeguard to the traders who went there, the neighbouring towns. In this case, despite being It is worth climbing up to the Castle stations of the Cross, which leads provided they were not criminals, bandits and unfinished and never having been used, Gallery I along the Camino del Calvario, a to the Medieval Castle and the other such people”. has been renovated to tell, graphically and also in zigzagging Via Crucis, white and Sanctuary. This road is the route a dignified and instructive manner, the historical bright, which starts from the oldest of the annual procession of the The present building, in three distinct sections context of the period of the as district of Cullera, the Barri del Pou, Descent of the Pilgrim Image of Our to cope with the slope of the land, erected seen from perspective of the town. While Gallery sit of the Qulayra of the Islamic Lady of the Castle, which starts the between 1896 and 1900, was designed by the II is used for an exhibition on the construction of the period. Saint’s Day Festivals. architect Louis Ferreres. The facades are made market and, more occasionally, for the installation The road’s construction dates from of facing brick and triangular pediments top the of touring exhibitions of photography and art. the 19th century. Also recommend lintelled entrance to the halls. Together with is a walk along “les revoltes” with the pediments side terraces with pedestals are Open for visits and is part of the Cullera museum the oratorios for the fourteen arranged, with ledge and handrails. The four network. buildings have a pitched roof supported on metal blades held by cast iron columns. The grilles, also cast iron, rest on brick pillars. After the Plaza la Virgen latest changes, the design maintains its large grid Historical Centre “ABRIC LAMBERT” CAVE PAINTINGS SHRINES IN CULLERA

The “Abric Lambert” (Lambert Shelter) owes its representations of animals and human figures, Cullera has many shrines dotted about a businessman from Navarre, as were the name to its discoverer and inhabitant of Cullera all within the so-called “Schematic Art” that the district. The area’s rich heritage is workers that accompanied him, posted here - Lambert Olivert. chronologically developed in Valencia from the undoubtedly enhanced by the frequent with the goal of building a port at this spot early Neolithic to the Bronze Age. presence of these small and humble on the bay of Cullera. The chapel, lovingly It is a rock shelter with cave paintings located buildings for popular devotion, which restored, dates from the 19th century. Built on the north-western slope of the Cullera Specifically, it appears that the Lambert Abric are distributed throughout the Cullera with masonry plastered and whitewashed, mountain, a privileged place for human paintings must date from between 3000-1000 bc. municipal area. its plan is of three tiled roofs with four settlement since ancient times. pitches and has a central body higher than For its position and construction type we the sides with a high cornice decorated In the rock shelter a panel has been identified Site of Cultural Interest must mention the Shrine of Santa Marta. with corbels. The lintelled entrance door, with several figures painted in dark red, based on Declared a World Heritage Site by Its construction exploits the walls of a is complemented by a semicircular-blinded cruciform and pectiniform figures and different UNESCO rock shelter within which is located a niche. The building is finished off with a vertical and horizontal lines, interpreted as spring, and its roof is formed, in part, by steeple above the eaves. the ceiling of the cavity itself. It may only be visited by appointment with SANGRE DE CRISTO PARISH CHURCH With its strategic location by the sea we the Sangre de Cristo parish. should also highlight the Los Navarros The Iglesia de la Sangre de Cristo (Church of the the church, the Hospital de la Sangre, which Chapel. The name of the chapel is In the el Faro district – C/. la Ermita Blood of Christ), built on a medieval chapel, dates was converted into a military hospital during due to its builder, Nazario Carriquiri, from 1614. From 1546 there is evidence of the the Civil War to care for the wounded who founding of a Brotherhood of the Blood of Christ arrived from the front. in this chapel. THE CAPILLA DE SANTA ANA (SAINT ANNE’S CHAPEL) The original level of the building is below the level Calle del Mar, narrow and secluded, the tile above the entrance -a It is a building in a Latin cross plan, with central of the surrounding streets so access to its interior echoes with the murmur of 17th century building that once it nave and side chapels between the buttresses. is by means of steps and a side ramp. A sturdy bell neighbourhood conversation. It is fully restored will be a place for The interior features a barrel vault and lunettes, tower of blocks of stone and neoclassical portico means that the very configuration exhibitions and other occasional drum dome in the transept, which is covered with complete a simple but dignified external structure, of homes, mostly on one level, uses. An external grille protects blue glazed tiles on the outside. In the late 19th consistent with its interior. allows ongoing personal contact the building that, outwardly, is century, the architect Luis Ferreres built, next to between its inhabitants. simple, of square appearance and crowned by a steeple. Its interior THE BARRIO DEL POZO AND ITS UNIQUE ALLEWAYS Indeed, it is in this street that has a hall with diaphragm arches in we find the first point of late-Gothic style. Separated from the Barri de la Vila by the gardens of On entering the Barri you will be amazed by the interest: the shrine of Santa the market is the Barri del Pou. Its intricate streets narrow streets and the traditional buildings adapted Ana – a chapel according to still retain the whitewashed houses decorated with to the particular topography of the mountain and the balconies lined with flowerpots. You can breathe the various traditional Valencian tiled panels, dedicated peace and quiet in the steep streets and cosy little to different patron saints, which remain intact. squares. These enchanting narrow streets lead us to the Originally, this was the site of the ancient Arab Torre de la Reina Mora. settlement of Qulayra, as is evidenced by the remains of the Islamic Wall found under calle del Mar. Behind the Municipal Market MARENYET TOWER A watchtower built in 1577 during the reign who communicated directly with the Cap del Far of Philip II for control and protection of Tower, the Alfandech Tower and the Gola de la the Mediterranean coast, which was being Tower, which have all now disappeared. frequently attacked by Barbary pirates. It was It has a tapered shape, and is made of rough stone. It part of the network of watchtowers that were has a circumference of 10 meters in diameter and 15 built along the coast of Valencia. meters high. It consists of a ground floor, two floors and a terrace with battlements. Fully restored, it has Strategically located, it was built near the mouth been declared a Site of Cultural Interest. of the river Jucar, in a marshy area, hence the name “Marenyet.” The control and coastal surveillance It is open for visits and is part of the Cullera function was carried out by soldiers or “atalladors” museum network.

Carretera del Marenyet

THE CULLERA LIGHTHOUSE

The Cullera lighthouse, built in the place openings and its lamp was lit for the first time known as Punta del Faro, is one of only two on August 1, 1858. Its focal plane rises 27.90 m. examples left on the coast of the province above the sea. of Valencia. The other is located in the town The lighthouse’s current appearance is due to THE CAPILLA DE SANTA ANA (SAINT ANNE’S CHAPEL) of Canet d’En Berenguer. The lighthouse projects and renovations carried out since the is a circular building in the centre of which sixties, although its appearance and structure stands the stonework tower, of conical section retain the outlines of the |original design. For and sixteen metres high. It has three exterior security reasons, it cannot be visited so we must be content to observe it from the outside.

TOWER OF THE REINA MORA OR SANTA ANA

A 13th century Islamic tower located on the In 1631 the tower was in disuse and the Chapel of camino del Calvario footpath which leads to the Santa Ana - also called San Rafael - was built on top Castle, it originally served as the gateway to the of it, through a renovation process that inserted a second fortified enclosure, the “Albacar Nou”. spiral staircase and an altar, and also saw the tower plastered. In 1640 the choir and the altar were Square in plan, it consists of ground floor, upper donated. In the chapel there was also the altarpiece floor and terrace. The tower originally had a of Santa Ana, which is kept today in the Guildhall, similar structure to its current structure: The consisting of five canvases, author unknown. ground floor had no internal communication with the upper part, which had to be performed Today in the tower there is an exhibition on the on the outside. The top floor connected with the history of the tower-chapel. It is open for visits and walls through the parapet and could be accessed is part of the Cullera museum network. with a vertical ladder. On the camino del Calvario MUSEUMS

Cullera has a rich heritage that is reflected in an outstandingly varies range of tourist and cultural facilities, which are the ideal complement to the popular sandy beaches and its wide range of recreational and sporting activities.

MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY

Located in the Gothic Chapel of the Castle, SERVICES the Museum houses an interesting collection Guided tour services to provide better of archaeological artefacts ranging from the understanding of the history of Cullera Castle. Prehistoric Period to the Middle Ages (amphorae, coins ...). Highlights are, without doubt, the Cross Cullera Castle of the municipal border and the Shield of the Tel : 96 173 26 43 Mojón de Valldigna, which have been declared Fax : 96 173 07 52 Articles of Cultural Interest. [email protected] The journey through all the stages of history can www.cullera.es TOWER MUSEUM: MARENYET TOWER be made with interactive and audio-visual media, and is suitable for those with both physical and A watchtower built in 1577 during the SERVICES visual disabilities. reign of Philip II for control and protection Guided tour to learn more about the of the Mediterranean coast, which was operation of the coastal watchtowers THEMATIC MUSEUM: RICE MUSEUM being frequently attacked by Barbary and piracy in the 16th century. pirates. The fully restored conical tower Unique in the Valencia region and occupying a ethnological collection of implements, tools is divided into a ground floor, two Carretera Marenyet unique location: the old Ermita dels Sants of the and clothing related to the ancient customs floors and a terrace with battlements (Lago del Estany direction) Pedra, San Abdon and San Senent, the patron and practices of rice cultivation transport us to accessed via a narrow staircase. It Tel : 96 173 26 43 saints of crop protection. another time. has been declared a Site of Cultural Fax : 96 173 07 52 Interest. Inside is a sample audiovisual [email protected] This is a building which was built in the 18th SERVICES exhibition on piracy off the coast www.cullera.es century on a promontory from there is a splendid Guided visit for better understanding of the of Valencia and the defence role view of the immense rice fields at all stages of traditional cultivation of rice in its own environment. exercised by the watchtowers. their cultivation and the Albufera Natural Park. The chapel was completely restored, with Ctra.Nazaret- ( Ctra. del Saler ) improvements to the accommodation of the Near to the Water Park hermitage as a museum space to present the origin Tel : 96 173 26 43 and the traditional and historic process of rice Fax : 96 173 04 52 cultivation, a deeply-rooted product in the land [email protected] of Valencia. Old photographs, documents and an www.cullera.es THEMATIC MUSEUM: PIRACY MUSEUM “CAVE-MUSEUM OF THE PIRATE” According to legend, on May 25, 1550, Dragut Incredibly, inside the cave, you can see a scale replica the pirate, lieutenant to the pirate Barbarossa, of the attack ship in which Dragut reached the Cullera launched a surprise attack on the town of Cullera, coast, with special lighting and sound effects that take taking away a significant amount of booty and in us back to the era of the corsairs and are particularly goods and captives. The incident sent shockwaves shocking in the room devoted to Inquisition torture through Cullera at the time and the town was instruments. practically deserted for decades. The only piracy cave in Spain. This unique museum, located in the district of Faro de Cullera, in the so-called Isla de los Pensamientos, SERVICES Cabo de Cullera, a place of extraordinary charm, on Guided tour with audio-visual show. the cliff-edge, close to the . Plaza Dr.Fleming (no number) A tour of the cave-museum will awaken the curiosity THE CULLERA LIGHTHOUSE of children and adults alike, who can learn about the Tel : 96 174 67 00/ 605 99 27 12 lifestyle of the pirates in the Mediterranean in the 16th Fax : 96 172 62 77 century, and observe ancient nautical instruments, [email protected] artillery pieces, historical maps, clothing and coins. www.cuevadeldragut.com TOWER MUSEUM: MARENYET TOWER MUNICIPAL MARKET SHELTER-MUSEUM

Access to the air-raid shelter is and, more occasionally, for the built below the market itself installation of touring exhibitions TOWER MUSEUM: TOWER OF THE REINA MORA OR SANTA ANA and consists of two galleries. It’s of photography and art. actually one of a network of shelters A 13th century Islamic tower located on the audiovisual displays on the history of the tower that were built during the Civil War SERVICES camino del Calvario footpath which leads to the and the Second Albacara of the Castle, of which it in Cullera, due to the threat of the Guided visit to provide a Castle, it originally served as the gateway to the formed a part. frequent bombing suffered by the better understanding of the second fortified enclosure, the “Albacar Nou”. neighbouring towns. operation of an air raid shelter SERVICES in the Civil War. In 1631 the Chapel of Santa Ana was built on Guided visit to provide a better understanding of the In this case, despite being the ruins of the tower through a renovation operation of the towers of the Albacar del Castell. unfinished and never having been Municipal Market, Plaza de process that included a spiral staircase and an used, Gallery I has been renovated la Virgen (no number) altar. Today, after a restoration process that went Route up to the Castle (Camino Calvario) to tell, graphically and also in a Tel : 96 173 26 43 back to the original structure but was respectful Tel : 96 173 26 43 dignified and instructive manner, Fax :96 173 07 52 of its earlier uses, it hosts an exhibition with Fax :96 173 07 52 the historical context of the period [email protected] [email protected] of the Spanish Civil War as seen www.cullera.es www.cullera.es from perspective of the town. While Gallery II is used for an exhibition on the construction of the market MUSEUMS