With more than 35,500 inhabitants, Ontinyent is the largest municipality in the Vall d'Albaida. Industrial, entrepreneurial, hardworking, full of "casetas", lovers of Christ of the Agony and the Purísima Concepció, the Bou en Cuerda, the "coca de feria", Pozo Claro, and San Esteve... Ontinyent has plenty of reasons to visit. However, we leave it up to you to choose the reasons you prefer to make your stop in the capital of the Vall d'Albaida a truly unforgettable experience. To help you choose, we highlight three: the medieval district of La Vila, the musical compositions dedicated to the Moors and Christians festivals, and the "arroz al horno" (oven-baked rice). These are just three reasons to visit Ontinyent that will help you discover many more on your own, if you haven’t already done so.
HISTORY
Ontinyent is located in the comarca (region) of La Vall d’Albaida, nestled in the center of the western part, surrounded by fertile lands and along the Clariano River —Ontinyent River. The human occupation of its territory has been documented since prehistoric times. There are some Neolithic settlement sites, such as the Arenal de la Costa, as well as numerous Bronze Age settlements, with the Cabeço de Navarro being the most prominent. There are also other sites with Iberian remains, mostly from the later period.
From the Roman era, several small agricultural settlements are known to have existed, scattered across the territory. Most of these settlements began around the time of Augustus in the early 1st century AD, some of which lasted only until the middleend of the 2nd century AD, while others continued, ly until the 5th century AD. However, none of the known Roman settlements are located in what would later become the medieval town of Ontinyent, known as La Vila, although there must have been some in the vicinity, given that this area was one of the most fertile and had the best lands in the region.
In fact, the name "Untinyân" itself, clearly pre-Islamic, is probably the one that survived from a Latin origin. In this regard, it’s worth noting the recent discovery (and partial excavation) of what appears to be a large Roman site in Llombo – the area of the current sports center – with a long-lasting chronological history. Archaeological evidence of an extensive late-RomanVisigothic cemetery in Bancal del Cel (Casa Calvo), located about 2 km south of the medieval town center, has also been documented. This cemetery contains about a hundred tombs, dating back to around the 6th century AD.
From the early centuries of the Andalusian period — the name given to the Iberian Peninsula under Islamic rule — there is little evidence, as very few material testimonies exist,at least we are unaware of them. It would have been in this periodshortly after that an important settlement was established in Castellar, about 3 km south, bordering Bocairent, in a rugged area with a long wall that would remain until the early 11th century, at the end of the Omayyad Caliphate.
Scattered across the territory were a series of alquerías (rural settlements) from various periods, some of which were contemporary to the hisn Untinyân and survived until the time of the Christian conquest. Some of these, Iel·las (Morera) and Benarrai, are mentioned in documents. Also from this Andalusian period are the groups of inaccessible artificial caves (cave-windows in cliffs), such as the windows of Pou ClarCovetes dels Moros, located in the ravines between Ontinyent and Bocairent. These were ly communal granariessecure storage places for some of the Andalusian farming communities, probably of Berber descent.
That said, the old town of Ontinyent — La Vila — has been documented since the 11th century, when it was mentioned by Ibn al-Abbar as the birthplace of the poet al-Untinyaní. In the 12th century, al-Idrisi mentions the castle of Ontinyent (hisn Untinyân) as a stop on the route from Murcia to Valencia. Numerous finds, such as ceramics, from archaeological excavations in La Vila document these final centuries of Islamic rule, although few structural remains have survived.
When it was conquered by the Christians in 1244, its municipal area was quite large, as it included Agullent (until 1585), as well as the Alforins area, granted by Jaume I in 1256 and made a municipality in 1927. It was a Royal Town with a vote in the Kingdom's Courts, although during some short periods it belonged to members of the royal family (Infante Pedro, Ramón Berenguer...)the nobility (the Vilaragut family), etc. It had several legal disputes with Villena over territorial boundaries.
During the Germanias (1522), the lieutenant count of Melito occupied the town after the royalists took refuge in the upper part of the town, capturing many prisoners, who were used as hostages to free his brother, the Marquis of Zenete, who had been imprisoned by the agermanados in the Xàtiva castle. Another notable event in Ontinyent’s past was the plague of 1600, which severely affected the town, causing significant mortality.
The town also actively participated in the fight against the rebellious Moriscos occupying the Mola de Cortes, following their expulsion in the early 17th century. Additionally, a century later, it played a role in the War of Spanish Succession, which ended in defeat at Almansa in 1707. The town and its surroundings saw battles during the Peninsular War and the Carlist Wars. The title of city was granted to Ontinyent in 1904.
By Agustí Ribera (Ontinyent Archaeological Service).
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