Benifairó de les Valls
The village forms part of the administrative sub-region of “Les Valls”, located just 7 km from the Mediterranean coast. It is located on a flat plain, forming a single urban centre with the village of Faura. Its economy is based mainly on agriculture, and is practically dedicated to the monoculture of orange growing.
Gastronomy:
The local cuisine includes the popular stews made with lamb, pork and all kinds of vegetables, and the traditional paella. Mention may also be made of “caldera de ayuno” (casserole without meat) and baked rice. “Cocas” with onion and pepper are also common. There are also many typical sweet dishes, such as sweet potato cakes and “carats” (donuts).
Places of interest:
Benifairó de les Valls offers the visitor the opportunity to visit the house of the Valencian poet Lluis Guarner, an ideal chance to study traditional Valencian architecture. The house has a beautiful garden in which poetry recitals and classical music concerts are often held. Next to it is the birthplace of Alonso Sanchez Coello, court painter to the Kings of Spain. The parish church of Benifairó de les Valls, constructed in the 18th-century, combines baroque and neoclassical styles. The Vives palace, built in 1471 for the enjoyment of the “Vives de Cañamas” following the concession of the title of Baron of Benifairó. It is defined by semicircular arches and fake windows and decorated with crushed stone and marble imported from Italy. It now houses the Culture Centre. The Perentoni house-museum, documented since 1700, allows us to observe how olive oil was manufactured in the past. The Hermitage of Our Lady of Good Success is a clear example of Valencian Baroque religious construction. It was possibly built in the 17th- and 18th-centuries, on a small mound near the village that is accessed after climbing 189 steps.
Festivities:
Benifairó de les Valls’s local festivities are held in early September: St. Vincent and the carrying of the statue of Mare de Déu del Bon Succés, patron saint of the municipality. They include bulls, parades, dances, and fairs that bring together many of the administrative region’s companies and craftspeople.
