Antella
Antella is located at the foot of Mount Creuta Alta, between the left bank of the River Júcar and the foothills of the Sierra de Tous range. The terrain is very irregular, with the exception of a narrow strip along the bank of the River Júcar. The main summits are: “Lloma Llarga” (312 m.) and “Moreras” (221 m.). Cantalars and Rodeno. The River Júcar, which crosses the municipality from northeast to southeast, serves as a border with Sumacárcel. In the mountainous areas of the municipality there are scattered pines and pastures.
Gastronomy:
The base of the local cuisine is rice, with a preference for paella, “gazpacho manchego” and “arròs fesols i amb naps” (rice with beans and turnips). The most typical sweets are the Easter cakes and “arnadí” (made with pumpkin).
Places of interest:
Antella’s maximum tourist attractions are its natural sites, such as the natural setting of “l’Assut d’Antella” (inland beach); the birth of the Royal River Júcar Irrigation Canal; the “Barranc de la Manyana” camping area; the site of the Iberian settlement, located on the mountain known as “Creutea Alta”, and the settlement at “Barranc de la Font Dolça”; the “Camilo” picnic area, offering views over the entire Júcar Valley. Despite Antella not being a village, there is a proliferation of monumental buildings, some worthy of interest, although two of them disappeared with the flood of 1982: “Casa de las Compuertas”, which has been completely rebuilt, observing where possible its previous structure, and “Case de la Comunidad”, or “Casa de Regantes”, which was devastated by the strong current of the river’s waters and which has not been rebuilt, perhaps because it had lost its original function. The remaining three are the Muslim tower, built on the site of the territorial lord’s residence, “Casa del Rey”, which is located in the square of the same name, and the Church of the Immaculate Conception, located in Plaza Mayor, built atop a primitive Muslim mosque and opposite what was the residence of the territorial lord of Antella.
Festivities:
The village’s main festivities were traditionally held on 8th and 9th December in honour of the Immaculate Conception and the Holy Christ of Calvary, and on 10th December in honour of Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians. Due to the typical unfavourable weather during this period, it was decided to move the celebration of these festivities to 6th and 7th August, as these dates coincide with the holiday period and an increase in the number of visitors to the village. Other festivities include Holy Week.
