Orihuela

The city is the capital of the district of Vega Bajadel Segura and the judicial district of Orihuela. It previously held various areas of the capital as theKingdom ofTudman, Tudman of the Cora, the Attorney General of Orihuela, Orihuela governor, governor Ultra Xaxonam, and, for a short period of time, under the reign of Spanish King Philip V of Bourbon , capital of theKingdom ofValencia.

The illustrious poet Miguel Hernandez was born and raised in Orihuela.

The city’s name is a derivation and adaptation of the Roman name Aurariola (the city of gold). Although many believe it was founded by the Greeks and there are numerous sites where Ibers and Amilcar Barca created a fortress there, the oldest name we know is that granted by theRoman Empire.

This designation was held by the Visigoths and was extended to the province that was the capital of Orihuela; the governor called it an Aurariolam Comes civitatis. According to other historical texts, the city was renamed Orcellis.

On September 11, 1437 Orihuela was granted the title of city by King Alfonso V the Magnanimous. Besides this title, it also holds the titles of “Very Noble” and “Very Loyal and Always Faithful,” titles that were granted around 1380, by the King of the Crown of Aragon, D. Pedro Ceremonious, for the city’s courageous struggle during the War of the Two Pedros against Castile.

These titles should always be added when directed by the protocol. There are also two mottos— “Herodii Duc est” and “Semper prevaluit ensis Vester” (always prevail your swords)—awarded by the latter’s privilege granted by the Morabatin King Pedro IV Ceremonious under the Orihuela important intervention in the War of the Two Pedros.

Orihuela is a city ofValencia,Spain and is located in the southernprovince ofAlicante, in the district of Vega Bajadel Segura, bordering nearbyMurcia. With 84,626 inhabitants (INE 2008), Orihuela is the sixth city in terms of population inValencia and the 74th of Spanish cities by population.

The city center is 23 m above sea level on theSegura River. Its historic center was declared a historic-artistic and monumental heritage because of its cultural significance. It is also known asUniversity City, as this city, despite its small size, is home to three universities, which makes an important focus in Orihuela on cultural significance to the surrounding villages.

Legend

The symbolic element is undoubtedly the oriolano Oriol, a mythological bird that is related to recent studies of the Oropendola (see the match with his name on the Latin name inValencia, Oriol: Oriolus oriolus), but the scorpion is important.

The oriole is part of the shield of the city and its flag, while the scorpion only appears on the flag. The scorpion has recently been gaining importance, as the Orihuela Club Soccer team is nicknamed the Scorpion, and its rock is UltrasOrihuela Front-eskorpion.

Orihuela has the rank ofRoyal City, thereby taking right to vote in the Cortes Aragonesas. This, in turn, has the rank of city where Mr. Duke is the Duke of Orihuela, Marquis of Valencia, and King of Valencia. At present and always it holds the title of His Majesty, the King of Spain.

Further, King Alfonso V the Magnanimous gave the citizens of Orihuela nobility in 1437. Prior to this the city could only come to the king and the horse with the consideration of noble cousins, i.e., holders of Grandeza of Spain.

With the Muslim conquest, the name was Islamicized and became Uryula. After the reconquest of the city and its repopulation by Catalan-speaking people, the city was renamed Oriola, taking its translation into Castilian to be Orihuela. Since then both names are used, but the city is declared outside the area of influence of Valencians by law, and the official name is the Orihuela.

Perhaps the only clue that the city was inhabited by Valencians is the adjective that derives directly from the Catalan/Valencian Oriola. Therefore, the inhabitants of Orihuela are called oriolano or oriolana.

Sometimes a more literary term is used, and citizens of Orihuela are called Orcelitano Orcelitano, taking the adjective of the Visigothic name of the city. This adjective was extended during the late 19th century, during the romantic era of the city.

Themunicipality ofOrihuela (the result of its historic capital) is the largest municipality in theprovince ofAlicante and the second largest inValencia (after Requena). It has several zones that are defined as the city; the garden is spread by the many parishes; and the coast, with 18 km of coastline, with excellent beaches, coves, and cliffs (Punta Prima, Playa Flamenca, Cabo Roig, La Zenia, Campoamor, and Mil Palmeras).

Thus, its coastal area is a tourist center near Torrevieja, Pilar de la Horadada, and Guardamar del Segura.

The City Council holds the title of Excellency, awarded by King Alfonso XII leading treatment to the illustrious mayor-chairman.

It is proposed that Orihuela be appointed as theGreat City, becoming the sixth city ofValencia to get that title.

Geographical Location

Orihuela is the historical capital of the so-called Vega Baja del Segura, which corresponds to the geographical area of the Orchard of Orihuela, the largest irrigated area in theprovince ofAlicante, with over 360,000 inhabitants and which owes its wealth the waters of theSegura, that fertilizes the land. The city has suffered for many years because of devastating floods (1651, 1879, 1946, 1973, 1987), so it had to be channeled and hasn’t had issues since 1989.

Metropolitan and Urban Areas

The metropolitan area of Orihuela includes 10 towns: Orihuela, Benejuzar, Benferri, Beniel, Bigastro, Callosa de Segura, Jacarilla, Rafal, Redovan, and Santomera. All of this metropolitan area had a total population of 151,358 inhabitants at the beginning of 2006 and a total area of 510.3 k². It is also capital of the Vega Baja del Segura, with a population of 361,292 inhabitants in 2007.

The metropolitan area of Orihuela is also a part of the conurbation ofMurcia; Orihuela is the largest, with a total population of 727,741 inhabitants (2006) and an area of 1743.5 k².

Bordering Towns

It borders the municipalities of Albatera, Algorfa, Almoradi, Benejuzar, Benferri, Bigastro, Callosa de Segura Catral, Hondon de las Nieves, Hondon de los Frailes, Jacarilla, Los Montesinos, Redovan, San Miguel de Salinas, Torrevieja, and Pilar de la Horadada in Valencia; it borders Murcia with Abanilla, Fortuna, Beniel, Murcia (parishes), and Santomera.