The cultural association of 'Xàbia Viva' has organised a special day trip on Sunday 2nd December to visit the Real Monasterio Santa Maria de Valldigna, a 13th century monastery located on the outskirts of the village of Simat de la Valldigna, a few miles inland from the Mediterranean coast. In addition to the visit to the monastery, which is considered a "spiritual, historical and cultural temple of the ancient Kingdom of Valencia", the plan is also to visit the Ermita de Santa Ana, a small chapel located in the middle of orange groves which is the only remainder of an abandoned village as well as an as-yet undetermined third site. The cultural visit leaves Jávea at 9.00am from the car-park in Avda. Palmela and will return at around 5.00pm. The price is 15 euros for Xàbia Viva members and 20 euros for non-members which includes the visits and lunch at Bar Ramonet in the village of Simat.

Surrounded by mountains, the first recorded references date back to the Muslim period but after the Christian conquest of the 13th century the lands came under the rule of James I - el Conquistador . When his grandson James II of Aragon returned through the area after expeditions against the Muslim lands of Murcia and Almeria at the end of the 13th century, he was so impressed by the valley's natural beauty that he exclaimed that it would be the perfect location for a monastery for the Order of Cistercians - Vall digna!: a perfect valley -  and he donated the lands to the Order in 1297 so that they could found a monastery devoted to the Virgin Mary. It became one of the Order's most important monasteries. Monks lived in the monastery until 1835 when a revolt in the Valldigna valley after all monasteries were seized by the State forced them to abandon it and most of its goods and works of art were stolen or destroyed. After many years of neglect and ruin, the Generalitat Valenciana purchased what was private property in 1991 and several restoration projects managed by the Fundación Jaume II el Just have looked to recover what the Statutes of the Autonomy of the Valencian Community have called "a symbol of the grandeur of the Valencian people". The monastery lies on the renowned Ruta de los Monasterios de Valencia (GR-236) and last November, Xàbia Viva organised a day trip to visit the stunning Real Monasterio de San Jerónimo de Cotalba which lies on the same route.

As Christian influence began to dominate the valley after the Re-conquest, Muslims were initially still allowed to work lands loaned to them by the monastery abbot even those conditions became increasingly difficult for them. Allowed to continue to practice their faith, they gathered around the La Xara mosque in order to pray, received teaching and justice by Muslim judges. In 1609, the expulsion of the Muslims from Spain resulted in the ancient village of La Xara being abandoned and the chapel / mosque is the only remaining building to survive. There is still evidence of its former use, including a spiral staircase which served the old minaret and the Qibla survives which showed the direction of Mecca to which the Muslims would have to have addressed their prayers. Outside the building there still exist the ancient wells for washing and cleaning.

The trip is a must for those who appreciate the local heritage of the Valencian Community. Although the tours are likely to be conducted in the local language, the board members of Xàbia Viva are always on hand to offer an explanation should they see a furrowed brow or two. And in any case, it's often the buildings and their architecture that does the most talking. Lunch tends to a great chance to get to know your travelling companions - and practice your language skills! Bar Ramonet, a few minutes walk away from the monastery will be offering a lunch of a mixture of starters and salad with arroz al horno, dessert and coffee with drinks. Those interested in going on this trip should contact Xàbia Viva by email (xabiaviva@gmail.com) by Thursday 29th November. Like last year, the javeamigos.com team will be going; how about you?

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