The 18th century Casa del Bou in Albalat de la Ribera is the oldest private house in the town. It owes its name to the head of a bull that presides over the main entrance inside. The building is notable not only for its historical value (it is one of the few stately homes preserved in the town) but also for its architectural and technical value: it is a compact rural house with floors parallel to the façade and a transverse axis centred in the floor.
The Vinalesa factory was the greatest attempt to modernise and improve the methods used for the spinning and twisting of silk in 18th century Valencia. Its construction resulted from the privilege granted in 1769 to the French technician Guillermo Reboull, in order to apply in it the most innovative methods that Jacques Vaucanson had introduced in France. The initiative was financed by Josep Lapayese, a French merchant established in Valencia, who finally assumed the management of the company.
Located on the first floor of the Palau de la Vila, it displays a collection consisting of different objects that date from the 18th century to the present day, through which the different craft processes of textile production are narrated. Its rooms house about 70 pieces related to the entire textile manufacturing process: canes, paraffin, silver and gold threads, scissors and looms of the 18th and 19th centuries, old books, samples of different fabrics, etc.
The Hort de Carreres, built in the 18th century, is one of the most emblematic buildings in Carcaixent. Despite being a house that was located on land irrigated by underground water raised by waterwheels, and later by motors, it is currently located in the urban area after being absorbed by the growth of the city. It is a country house associated with the production of silk, the main socio-economic activity at this time.
The “Silk Road” refers to a network of trade routes that are linked to the marketing of silk from China. Although silk is considered the most important product of the route, many goods were exchanged on it.
The Mare de Déu del Lluch (“la Moreneta”) is the patron of Alzira and in this town festivals are celebrated in her honour at the end of September. The festivities extend for seven days, between the penultimate Sunday, when the image drops from its sanctuary, and the last Sunday of the month, when it rises again.
Since 2007, the mutiny staged by silk workers in 1856 has been commemorated, as well as the spinners’ strike of 1902. For this historical commemoration, bonfires are held in the Plaza del Pilar in the neighbourhood of Velluters. For this reason, this festival is known as “La Foguera del Motí dels Velluters” and it takes place on the last weekend of the month of January.
The Falles is a festival with a tradition rooted in the city of Valencia and different populations of the Region of Valencia. This festival has become a very important tourist attraction, since, in addition to being classified as a festival of International Tourist Interest, in November 2016 UNESCO entered it in its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The creation of the Seminary College of Corpus Christi is directly related to the great effort of renewal and reform of the Catholic Church driven forward by the celebration of the very important Council of Trent. Once Juan de Ribera was appointed archbishop of Valencia, he applied himself to promoting the new conciliar provisions, which were not accepted by all, on the bases established with great effort, by his predecessor, the holy Archbishop Tomás de Villanueva.
The Velluters neighbourhood owes its name to the principal occupation of its residents: the silk trade (velluter in Valencian), and the high concentration of silk looms located in it.