Massanassa

Masanasa (officially and in Valencian Massanassa) is a municipality in the Valencian Community, Spain. It belongs to the province of Valencia. With a peculiar geography, history, economy and culture; It has a census population of 9,845 inhabitants in 2021 (INE).

Geography

Integrated in the Huerta Sur region, it is located 7 kilometers from Valencia. The municipal area is crossed by the V-31 highway, an access highway to Valencia from the south.

Relief

The municipality of Masanasa is located on a large flat platform, called the great central Valencian depression, formed by sedimentary materials (gravel, sand, silt, clay) throughout the Tertiary and Quaternary geological eras.

Millions of years ago, this central Valencian depression was invaded by the Mediterranean Sea, and was progressively filled with solid materials from the interior Valencian mountains through the existing drainage networks -Río Turia, Rambla de Chiva-, generating thus a wide flood or alluvial plain with a height of approximately 11 m s. n. m.

The municipal area of Masanasa is located on the left bank of the Rambla del Poyo, and is located in a wetland or marsh environment and close to the coast.

The eastern sector of Massanassa (la Marjal) offers an exclusive and varied group of very special Mediterranean fauna and flora. Considered the garden of the city, the municipality also has a floral heterogeneity in its urban green areas worthy of being admired by its inhabitants.

The altitude ranges between 15 meters to the west and 1 meter near the Albufera. The town stands 13 meters above sea level.

To list the groups of fauna and flora present, we have preceded by associating the different ecosystems that we have found in the municipality with a list of the typical species that we can find in them.

• Rice them. Located next to the "Tancats de Noi" and "Burriel", at the end of the ravine and bordering the lake of the Albufera. They are made up of a vegetable community of carrizos and dwarfs, and it is surely the point of greater ecological value, being used as a nesting aera by numerous species of birds.
• The Albufera.
• Garden. We can find small plots cultivated with onions, cabbage, garlic, beets, artichokes, potatoes or meats, according to the different seasons of the year, and some citrus fields, the latter being more abundant in the next part to the industrial polygon. In this way, by finding different subambients within this agricultural area, such as oranges, vegetables, ornamental crops, intensive farms, we can observe throughout the year varied species.

Climate

Masanasa is under the maritime Mediterranean domain. It is distinguished by scarce and irregular rainfall (478mm annually), with a maximum in the month of October, and minimum during summer. Its average temperature is set at 16'5 °C, with warm summers (24 °C) and mild winters (11 °C).

Administrative limits

It is located within the Huerta Sur region and 8 km from the capital Valencia. The municipal area has an area of about 5.60 km², being subdivided from west to east into four areas: urban area, industrial estate, marsh and lagoon.

Hydrography

Masanasa is located on the banks of the Chiva Ravine. Short in length and with a steep slope, this ravine or boulevard originates in the interior mountains of Valencia and its waters flow into the Albufera lake, between Masanasa and Catarroja. Its riverbed serves as an administrative boundary between both towns. Its flow is irregular, since it transports water only when storms occur, a unique characteristic of Mediterranean waterways. When these storms are intense or last several days, they can cause significant floods. To avoid this natural risk, its bed has been conditioned and waterproofed to reduce the incidence of overflows.

On the other hand, the municipal area of Masanasa is located on the great Valencian aquifer, whose extraction or water supply has been carried out by engines or sources. It also has numerous irrigation ditches that pour their waters into the marsh, of which the Acequia de Favara is the most important river network in the Huerta Sur.

History

Historical roots

Although its origin is in the Muslim era, there may be indications that it could have been a Roman villa after the founding of Valentia in the year 138 BC. C. The hypotheses that evidence it are its proximity to the town of Catarroja and the Roman centuriations, as well as its location on the route of the Via Augusta that linked Rome with Cádiz. These facts may motivate the existence of a possible strategic settlement dispersed throughout the area.

From Muslim domination to the Christian Reconquest

The first documentary evidence available dates back to some verses by the Valencian-Muslim poet Abu Abd Allah Muhammad Ibn al-Abbar (1199-1260) where he mentions Masanasa saying:

"Where are the places of his Ruzafa, the Djisr, his Manzil'Ata and his Manzil Nasr (Masanasa)?"

In these verses he names this town as Manzil Nasr, which means Nasr's farm and which at that time designated a group of houses as the center of an agricultural operation, probably close between the Via Augusta and the Albufera. "Manzil" It can mean inn, located at the entrances to Valencia (in this case to the south), so that when the city gates closed, the traveler spent the night in one of these inns.

Later mentions of Masanasa already correspond to the Christian period and are found in the Book of Repartimiento (Llibre del Repartiment), where the donations that King James I makes of the conquered lands are recorded, written between 1237 and 1252.

Before the occupation of the city of Valencia, the Conqueror king distributed lands and houses to those who helped him in this war, and this population was mentioned among the donations made. Specifically, on March 16, 1238, he donated to Martí & # 34; 3 jovades in the farmhouse of Massanassa & # 34; . On May 15 of that same year he grants to & # 34; Fra Mateu commander of the & # 39; order of Calatrava, Alquería de Massanassa amb molins & # 34;. On August 13 to Eiximén de Lusia: "8 jovades to Massanassa" and on the 23rd of the same month to Fra Gerald de Prat, commander of Alfama, "30 jovades to Massanassa".

These two texts, the poem by lbn al-Abbar and the Libro del Reparto, thus confirm that Masanassa was in the first half of the century XIII a farmhouse with a certain beauty and entity. Its first lords are the Order of Calatrava, which also owned the towns of Bétera, Chirivella, Masamagrell and Castell de Castells.

Another document, this one from 1278, informs us about some of the first Christian settlers of Masanasa, citing their names and allowing us to see in detail, for the first time, what the town was like 700 years ago. It surely had a central population center, where the majority of the residents lived and in its surroundings, the crop fields, both dry and irrigated. The crops are traditional at that time; cereals and vines, some orchards and an olive grove area. The society is also the normal one in the XIII century, a community of farmers who cultivate some lands of the Order under an emphyteusis regime. de Calatrava and for which they must satisfy a series of payments, being subject to various obligations.

In 1386, Masanasa passed into the hands of Pedro Boïl and his family, remaining in their power until 1738 in which Masanasa, along with other towns, changed owners again when the Marquis of Dos Aguas acquired it. The population in those years would have been about 280 inhabitants; However, at the end of the century it already reached 1,398 residents, which meant a considerable demographic increase.

18th century onwards

Under the reign of Carlos III, the royal road to Madrid that crosses its territory was built, and the resulting stone bridge in 1767, by the architect Vicent Gascó over the Chiva ravine, linking Masanasa and Catarroja.

In the following two centuries Masanasa grew slowly, reaching 4,800 inhabitants in the 40s of the last century, preserving all the characteristics of a small agricultural town. However, starting in the 60s and 70s, the transformation began, becoming a modern town, hosting a large number of industries and radically changing its urban and social structure, with balanced growth, in which the population, although It is now mainly dedicated to industry and services, and still maintains strong links with increasingly specialized agriculture.

Demography

It has a population of 9,667 according to (INE 2019).

Transports

The traditional roads, such as the Augusta or old Ruzafa road, as well as roads such as the Fus or the Carretera Real de Madrid, are currently replaced by other better adapted land roads such as the Pista de Silla, or the Avenida del South. This town is accessed from Valencia by taking the V-31.

Other means of transport is the railway, it has its own railway station (since the end of the XIX century).

Economy

Traditionally dedicated to agriculture (rice and fruit), it underwent a great transformation, intensifying the cultivation of rice, fruit trees and vegetables, disappearing the previous crops.

The proximity to Valencia has facilitated its industrialization, developing in the world of textiles and wood. It currently has a very diversified industry.

Politics

The mayor of Masanasa has been Francisco Comes Monmeneu since 2018 when the then mayor, Vicente Pastor, had to resign from office citing health reasons. After the 2019 municipal elections, he was elected again when the Popular Party obtained the absolute majority with 7 councilors.

Mayors since the 1979 elections

Period	Name	Party
1979-1983	Francisco José Soria Pons	PSPV-PSOE
1983-1987	Juan Quiles Tarazona	PSPV-PSOE
1987-1991	Juan Quiles Tarazona	PSPV-PSOE
1991-1995	Juan Quiles Tarazona	PSPV-PSOE
1995-1999	José Vicente Espinosa Casañ	P
1999-2003	José Vicente Espinosa Casañ (1999-2001) Vicente Salvador Pastor Codoñer (2001-2003)	P
2003-2007	Vicente Salvador Pastor Codoñer	P
2007-2011	Vicente Salvador Pastor Codoñer	P
2011-2015	Vicente Salvador Pastor Codoñer	P
2015-2019	Vicente Salvador Pastor Codoñer (2015-2018) Francisco Antonio Comes Monmeneu (2018-2019)	P
2019-2023	Francisco Antonio Comes Monmeneu	P
2023-	Francisco Antonio Comes Monmeneu	P

Heritage

Religious heritage

• Church of Saint Peter: centuryXVIII.
• Church of San Antonio de Padua: centuryXX..

Civil monuments

• Alqueria de Soria: From the centuryXVIII, it is a typical alcheria of the region of the Huerta.
• Workers' House: Building built in 1929 which is currently the headquarters of the Municipal Archive.
• City Hall: Building known as Old Schools (les Escoles Velles). Its construction date is 1932.
• Old Town Hall: Building of the end of the centuryXIX.

Camino del Cid

• Masanasa is part of this cultural tourist route that crosses the provinces of Burgos, Soria, Guadalajara, Zaragoza, Teruel, Castellón, Valencia and Alicante. It is integrated in route called "The defense of the south" of the Camino del Cid.

Parties

• Major Festivals: they are celebrated in honor of the Most Holy Christ of Life, being the day of the Feast, par excellence, on June 24, the day of Saint John. The holidays begin two weeks before the 24th day, celebrating the official presentation and a musical show. Among other festive events take place: the Festival de Paellas, the "entry of Moors and Christians", the Cabalgata, the Festival de Bandas de Música and the "Hoguera of San Juan".^{[chuckles]required]} On the occasion of the Feasts of Saint John in honor of the Most Holy Christ of Life, since 1917, La terreta Revista Festiva y Literaria. The journal is published annually in June.
• Fallas: they are held in March, ending on the 19th of that month.^{[chuckles]required]}
• Festivities of October 9: On that date, the day of the Valencian Community, various festive and cultural events are held.^{[chuckles]required]}

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