El Ràfol d'Almúnia

El Ràfol d'Almúnia
El Ràfol d'Almúnia
Municipality
	Flag Coat of arms
	El Ràfol d'Almúnia Location in Spain
	Coordinates: 38°49′13″N 0°3′11″W / 38.82028°N 0.05306°W
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Valencian Community
Province	Alicante
Comarca	Marina Alta
Judicial district	Dénia
Government
• Alcalde	Alejandro Pastor Furió (2007) (PP)
Area
• Total	4.90 km2 (1.89 sq mi)
Elevation	88 m (289 ft)
Population (2018)
• Total	644
• Density	130/km2 (340/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Rafolenc, rafolenca
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	03769
Official language(s)	Valencian
Website	Official website

El Ràfol d'Almúnia (Valencian: [el ˈrafol dalˈmunia]; Spanish: Ráfol de Almunia [ˈrafol dalˈmunja]) is a municipality in the comarca of Marina Alta in the Valencian Community, Spain.

It is situated in the northern part of the province of Alicante, and numbers some 635 inhabitants according to the 2007 Spanish National Census (INE).

History

El Ràfol d'Almúnia has Arab origins. It belonged to King Taifas of Dénia, but under the conquest of James I, control passed to the Crown of Aragon and their local ruling families, first the Murs, then the Sapenas and later the Almúnia. In 1535, it was elevated to parish status with the appointment of the first parish priest D. Antonio Aringo, whose control also encompassed the sub-parishes of Benimeli, Sagra, Negrals and Zeneta. After the expulsion of the moors, El Ràfol was repopulated in 1610 by 123 inhabitants occupying 26 houses. In 1800 it had grown to 80 houses with 429 inhabitants. The parish church of Sant Francesc de Paula was served by a priest and an assistant whose ministry also took in Benimeli, Negrals, Sagra, Sanet and Tormos. In the 17th century, El Ràfol lay at the centre of the area now known as the Rectoria, and also at the heart of the territory ruled by the Marquess of El Ràfol d'Almúnia. In 1693, Ràfol's neighbour, Francesc Garcia, acquired fame through his oppression of feudalism in the Marina Alta.