Alcora Tourist Guide. Castellon Travel Guide

L’Alcora is the capital of L’Alcalatén region and is by history, tradition and industry, the heart of Castellón’s ceramics industry.

The presence of Conde de Aranda’s ancient Royal Factory of China and Porcelain reinforces this. A walk passed the town’s monuments, where very valuable ceramic works can be observed, combines both art and history.

The origins
The town has Arab origins, its name meaning “farmstead” in Arabic. In 1238 James I gave the domain of L’Alcalatén to his right-hand man Ximén d’Urrea. On December 31 1305 l’Alcora was granted the “Carta Puebla”.

Main monuments
L’Alcalatén castle is the foundational nucleus of the l’Alcalatén region. It is of Muslim origin and located only 3 km away from the town, near the area of Foia. Founded around the 10th century, the castle became the most important location in the district known as Tinença de l’Alcalatén, and exerted military control over a wide area. The castle is triangular and has a sole entrance flanked by towers. The citadel, on the highest spot is defended by towers at each end. It had other concentric defences that are still partially visible which protected the population sheltering inside.

A ceramics town
L’Alcora is internationally renowned for Conde de Aranda’s Royal China and Porcelain Factory, founded in 1727 on the outskirts of the town, near the convent of Sant Francesc. To have a better idea of its products, the best thing is to visit L’Alcora Ceramics Museum which is located in a mansion in Calle Tejedores. The building dates from 1907 and belongs to the historical La Sangre quarter.

Festivities and traditions
The most important festivities of l’Alcora are the “fiestas del Cristo”. They take place at the end of August and date back to 1701, commemorating the discovery of a statue of Christ. The central event is the procession which leads to the Calvari chapel on the last Sunday of August.

The “Rotllo” festivity, on Easter Monday is also worth mentioning. According to legend, once upon a time the town hall of l’Alcora decided that all the children under 9 had to walk up to Sant Cristòfol church, to beg the patron saint to end a long draught. The saint listened to the pleas of the faithful. Since then every Easter Monday the town re-enacts the event. Once back in l’Alcora after the procession, all the children receive a bread roll (“rotllo”).

Other festivities are Sant Antoni, with the traditional mules and horses, and Sant Vicent procession on the following Monday after the “Rotllo” festivities. Finally, l’Albà is a very ancient song sung after the midnight mass on Christmas Eve.

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