La Sénia

La Sénia is a town in the Montsià region, located next to the Valencian Community, and bisected by the river that shares its name. Its name derives from the Arabic word *saniya* (mill), which evolved into *azenia* in the Middle Ages. The Sénia River not only marks its administrative boundary with the Valencian Community, but also serves as a natural route to Els Ports and an important ecological corridor.

One of the town's distinctive features is its traditional horse races, held for over a century during the town's main festival. This tradition has become a local symbol and attracts many visitors.

The Civil War left its mark with the construction of a military airfield in 1937, now a symbol of historical memory. Also noteworthy is the Els Ports beech forest, a unique ecosystem due to its southern location and rugged surroundings.

Historically, La Sénia was repopulated in the 13th century, under the rule of the Moragues family and the Order of the Hospital, a fact that generated jurisdictional conflicts. During the Catalan Civil War (1462) and the Catalan Revolt (1640), the town played an active role. With the Nueva Planta Decrees (1716), it lost liberties and privileges.

During the Napoleonic Wars, it was occupied by the French and shipbuilding developed. Later, the Carlist Wars also had an impact, especially with the siege caused by General Cabrera's occupation.

In the 20th century, the town modernized with the installation of electricity, the founding of the Banda Armónica (1904), and the opening of public schools. The Workers' Center played a prominent role in political and social life until its closure in 1938. During the post-war period, the Els Ports massif served as a refuge for groups of resistance fighters.

Places of interest

Sénia River

The Sénia River rises in the Els Ports massif and is a typical Mediterranean river: short, with an irregular flow and severe droughts. It flows into the area known as "Sol-de-riu", located between the municipalities of Alcanar and Vinaròs.

It is one of the most emblematic natural features of the region and acts as a link between Catalonia and the Valencian Community. Furthermore, it has been a fundamental element in the socio-economic history of the people of Senense and is home to an ecosystem of great environmental value.

As it flows through the municipality, the river is surrounded by a lush riverside forest and landscapes that beckon to be explored. For this reason, several paths and access routes have been restored and now form part of the municipality's network of healthy trails.

Ancient Olive Trees

The characteristic landscape of the Sénia plain is dominated by a vast sea of olive trees. This tree, one of the oldest and most emblematic crops of the Mediterranean region, is also the most representative of our area. Its great adaptability to the local climatic conditions—with long, dry summers and low annual rainfall—makes it the quintessential crop of the region.

Thanks to a combination of historical and geographical factors, the territory surrounding the Sénia River - with more than 2,000 km² spread on both sides of the river - is home to the largest concentration of ancient olive trees in the world.

These monumental trees, which have withstood the passage of centuries, are considered ancient if they exceed 3.5 meters in trunk circumference measured at a height of 1.3 meters. To date, nearly 5,000 specimens have been cataloged.

Sénia Airfield

During the Spanish Civil War, the government of the Second Republic promoted the construction of several military airfields in Catalonia in response to the military coup. One of these was the La Sénia Airfield.

In April 1938, the airfield was occupied by the Francoist army and became a base of operations for the German Condor Legion, which used it until the end of the conflict.

Today, the site is partially preserved and houses an interpretation center located in the former Command House, as well as an air-raid shelter open to the public. One of its highlights is the Sénia Historical Aviation Center, a unique museum exhibiting various aeronautical artifacts from the period. These items, due to their size and state of preservation, constitute a heritage of great interest and historical value.

Sénia River Interpretation Center - Molí la Vella

Several old mills are preserved along the course of the Sénia River, among which Molí la Vella stands out, a building with more than 900 years of history. The oldest documentation dates back to the 14th century, when it functioned as a flour mill.

Over time, it also housed a paper mill and, later, an ice factory, which remained in operation until the popularization of domestic refrigerators in the 1970s.

After years of neglect, the building fell into ruin. In the late 1980s, the City Council acquired it and began its restoration. Today, Molí la Vella houses the Sénia River Interpretation Centre, a space dedicated to explaining how the interaction between the natural environment and human activity has shaped a profoundly humanized landscape that, at the same time, preserves a rich ecological diversity typical of riverside ecosystems.

Old town of La Sénia

The oldest part of La Sénia is strategically located near the legajos—ancient cattle trails—that converged along the Sénia River and led into the Els Ports mountain range. Although the town's charter dates from 1232, in the heart of the Middle Ages, several archaeological remains indicate human presence in the area since prehistoric times.

The original location of the village was chosen for defensive reasons. The population settled in a place naturally protected by a steep cliff next to the river, which plunges to a depth of almost 60 meters. This configuration still offers spectacular views of the natural landscape surrounding the village.

The old town preserves buildings and spaces of great historical and architectural interest. Some of the most outstanding are: the Font Vella, the Terrassa, the church of Sant Bartomeu and its bell tower, the Casa Abadía, the Casa del Rey Bonet, Raimundo's oven, the old Town Hall, the Galileo street viewpoint, and the washhouses in the Plaza and the Nòria, among other heritage elements that make up the town.