L'Aldea

La Aldea is a municipality located south of the county boundary, between Deltebre, Camarles and Tortosa, on the line that separates the primitive Delta coast. The Village preserves vestiges from very preterite times, which allow us to affirm that there was a continued human occupation.

The deposits of the Mas de la Palma and the mas de Benita tell us about a first Neolithic settlement, which will also be demonstrated with the existence of a Paleo-Iberian necropolis Mas de Búhos.

The habitat has been historically dispersed or in small groupings. The Arabic origin of the same place name denotes the existence of a small population nucleus. Almunia Al-Andalus of the Village, which already had a tower, was one of the lots in which the territory was divided after the Christian conquest and was beneficiary, in 1149, the knight Bernat de Bell lloch who, afterwards, In 1161, he founded a church under the dedication of Saint Mary. Soon, however, the Lord of Bell-lloch yielded its jurisdiction to the hospitable, which granted letter puebla the 1258. Since then, were changes in ownership of the manors, among which stands out Benifassà, Jordán or Guzmán of Villoria. However, although the Village was an independent manor, it belonged to Tortosa, from which it belonged until it was segregated, in 1983.

Its tradition as a zone of passage and communication is evident in the Roman road that passed, as testified by the miliary found next to the hermitage. The current physiognomy of the population, stretched around the road tells us this tradition, where the old places gave rise to two population centers: the Hostal de los Ajos and Paitrossos, with the years merged.
The other factor that defines the Village is, due to its situation, the defensive system based on watchtowers and defense of which its term conserves four: tower of the hermitage, tower of the Candela, tower of Burjassénia and Tower of Vinaixarop.

Its name, of Arabic origin, means orchard or small site.

As a curiosity, during the 18th century, pilgrimages to the hermitage of the Virgin began to ask for rain, which have survived to the present day and enjoy great popularity.

What to visit

• Coetera de Ravanals
• Weekly Mercat
• Tower of Brugessénia
• Tower of the Candela
• Hermitage of the Mare de Déu de l'Aldea
• Torre Benixarop
• Tower of l'Ermita