The municipality of Alzira has been selected by the Jury of the Competition because of its proposal to retrieve the architectural and urban identity of the historic centre of the city, more specifically, the western front of “La Vila”. To this aim, it is suggested that the key to success lies within the retrieval of the former urban fabric of the area and the enhancement of the Almohad fortress, of the remains of what once was the temple of Santa María and the lost Bridge of Sant Gregori. Redefining the historic character of this area – which today is extremely blurred – would mean an important step towards restoring part of the heritage value of the complex, since this elevation is the most visible one within the surrounding landscape and the least obstructed by the existence of later constructions built outside the wall.
Alzira, a town located 40 kilometres towards the south of the city of Valencia, is the capital of the region known as Comarca de la Ribera Alta. Its population is of about 44.000 inhabitants and its municipality is spread between the alluvial plain of the river Júcar and its surroundings, characterized by the fertility of the soil. It occupies a total surface area of 111,45 km2 of which the vast majority corresponds to the compact nucleus of the city and the rest to those mountain areas located in the mountain ranges of Cavall and les Agulles, whose centre converges in the Garrofera.
The name of the town comes from the Arabic language, الجزيرة (al-azīra), “the island”, since the complex was set out as an island within the course of the river Júcar. The municipality of Alzira is crossed by this river which has several affluents such as río de los Ojos or río Verd on its left bank as well as the ravine of Barxeta on its right river bank. The river Júcar was navigable – until the point where it reached Alzira – by boats of small tonnage. This navigation was maintained until the XVI century. Primitively, the river embraced the urban complex. However, its trajectory was modified at the beginning of the XX century, eliminating the meander which went round the town, leaving the river constrained in its western flank. The importance of this enclave was determined largely by its strategic character, since its bridges were a must to be able to cross the river Júcar.
The municipality of Alzira has been selected by the Jury of the Competition because of its proposal to retrieve the architectural and urban identity of the historic centre of the city, more specifically, the western front of “La Vila”. To this aim, it is suggested that the key to success lies within the retrieval of the former urban fabric of the area and the enhancement of the Almohad fortress, of the remains of what once was the temple of Santa María and the lost Bridge of Sant Gregori. Redefining the historic character of this area – which today is extremely blurred – would mean an important step towards restoring part of the heritage value of the complex, since this elevation is the most visible one within the surrounding landscape and the least obstructed by the existence of later constructions built outside the wall.
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