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Anna is a Spanish village located in the south-eastern part of the region La Canal de Navarrés, in the province of Valencia, Valencian Community. Anna borders on others municipalities like Chella, Xàtiva or Enguera.

History
Although the first documentary references date from the middle of the XIII century, the origin of Anna is previous to the Muslim period. In 1244, James I the Conqueror donated the village of Anna to The Order of Santiago in recompense for their assistance during the siege of Biar. In 1332, due to a seizure of some property conducted by the knight commander Montalván, a Sarcen rebellion took place. Alfonso IV the Gentle absolved Muslims in an attempt to stop the process of despopulation. Years later, the village was owned by the Borgia. Finally Anna belonged to the counts of Cervellon.

After the Expulsion of the Moriscos - descendants of Spain's Muslim population that converted to Christianity - in 1609 Anna was repopulated by Christians. Nowadays Anna is one of the most prosperous villages in its area thanks to its industrial development experienced in recent years. The origin of its place name is rooted in the Arabic term Yanna, as we can see in the Quran. We will focus only on the acceptation of those that refer to the territorial meaning. This acceptation is used as patch or garden, from the Latin ‘orti’, which Arabs adapted as ‘al-Yanna!, Alamedilla=’the garden’. This sense explains the presence of archeological ruins from Roman period in the environment and in the place where the city was founded, in the Alameda, next to the primitive castle.

Geography
Anna is located in the southeastern region of the comarca Canal de Navarrés, a privileged setting in which a great amount of groundwaters surface from the aquifers of Caroche Massif (Macizo de Caroche), and are then gathered by the river Sellent (río Sellent). One of Anna´s most remarkable features is the profusion of springs and water sources, which actually gave birth to the name of the village, Yanna.

How to get there: if you are driving from Valencia, take the A-7 and then the CV-590. You can reach the village by the CV-580.

Economy
Anna has traditionally based its economy mostly on agriculture. There are large plantations of olive and orange trees and irrigation crops that have recently been improved by means of a modern drip irrigation system being gradually introduced throughout the whole municipality. Cattle and sheep farming have also played a quite important role.

During the last few years some new industries have developed, mainly connected with frozen food, furniture and clothing.

Tourist sector is making headway, especially after the recent steps taken in order to promote rural tourism and also due to the Albufera, a beautiful geographic landmark which attracts many visitors.

Main Sights

 * Immaculate Conception Parish Church. It is devoted to the Immaculate Conception and dates back to the beginning of 16th century. Of particular note are the wooden altarpieces, particularly the one located at the main altar, where the carving of the Virgin is placed. This altarpiece, of baroque design, substituted the original one made by Miguel Aguilar in 1702, at the time when Fray Luciano Yago was the parish priest and the person in charge of the decoration. Only a few wood planks remain from the initial altarpiece and they have been incorporated to the existing one. The sanctuary is adorned with a canvas from the Ribera painting school. After the 1748 earthquake, both the vault and the bell tower —located at the eastern end of the church— were seriously damaged. Relevant works were undertaken during the 18th century, in order to shore up and extend the building and restore the façade. However they did not include the bell tower, so this had to be demolished in the 20th century due to the threat of collapse. A new bell tower was then built at the western end and inaugurated on September 13th, 1912.( y ).


 * Christ of Providence Hermitage.It is one of the most beautiful hermitages of the Valencian Community. It has a cruciform floor and it is crowned by a cupola. It was built during the middle of the 18th century (after the earthquake of 1748). The facade is notable for its two embossed copper artwork pieces depicting an intense poignancy and two paintings inspired in works from Rafael and Rubens. The main facade is neoclassical, and the one at the side shows a typical Valencian sundial and some verses dedicated to the Christ of Providence. The hermitage hosts the Holy Christ of Providence of Anna, which, during the local holidays in September, is carried to the Parish Church and later returned to the hermitage on the 22nd of September.


 * Palace of the Counts of Cervellon. The first written reference of this palace dates from September 2nd, 1244. It is a donation letter from King Jaime I, in which he confers the Villa of Anna and its castle to the Order of Santiago, of which Mr Pelayo Pedro de Correa was Maestre. The first known renovation dates from early 17th century, after King Felipe III awarded the Villa of Anna with the title of county to Fernando Pujades de Borja on May 3rd, 1604. The buildings went through two further significant remodelling stages before the ones carried out at the end of the 20th century and beginning of the 21st. The first one dates from the late 17th century, after a fire and the second one from 1885 and the works were in charge of Cruz Navarro. There are records from 1748 reporting the existence of an oratoryl located on the first floor of the building, where Santa Ana chapel was situated. The location of this chapel was modified three times and a few years of remodelling drastically changed its original shape, which now depicts a totally new palace of Arabic-style and hand-made detailed decorative finishes. There is also a museum exhibiting tools and implements which come up as a  result of voluntary donations from the late 19th century until the middle of the 20th century. It was bought by the town hall in 1987 from the Trénor family, who had been the palace owners since 1890. It is open to the public during weekends.

Illustrious personages

 * Joaquín García de Antonio: kapellmeister of Santa Ana of Las Palmas from 1735 until 1779.
 * Francisco Sanz Baldoví: ventriloquist.
 * Quique Hernández: professional football coach, current sports director of Veria FC.

Places of Interest

 * La Albufereta. About 3280 ft. to the Southwest of Anna and at a height of 639 ft. above sea level, there is a little natural lake called “La Albufereta de Anna”. It was originally a muddy bog, very difficult to walk through, until it was thoroughly cleaned at the beginning of the 20th century. It has now become one of the best known sightseeing spots in Valencia. It is about 590 ft. from East to West and 984 ft. from North to South, and is about 16 ft. deep. It is surrounded by willows and black poplars, which in summer cast a cosy shade, where visitors can shelter from the sun. From its bottom flow several major natural springs of dirty water called ullals (natural spring eyes) that act as a continuous water source. It is the main tourist attraction of Anna, together with the gorgo (a big canyon sculpted by water) de la Escalera, the gorgo Catalán and the Fuente Negra. The water comes from Anna artesian aquifer, which crop out in this particular region, a small depression that cuts the phreatic level of the area. The same phenomenon can be seen in regions nearby.


 * Gorgo de la Escalera. The Gorge Stairway, a small canyon with crystal clear water that has been carved by the river, accessible by 136 steps. Its waters falls into a "gorgo", meaning gorge of valley in English, forming a waterfall called "El Salto", in English “The Jump”. Due to its very little exposure to sunlight, this is one of the coldest waters of Anna. The river was once harnessed to produce energy to a small hydroelectric plant.


 * Gorgo Catalán. Catalan Valley. A lake that contains the waters that originate in the “Sierra de Enguera”, spot near “La Fuente Negra”, the Black Waterfall. The water that enters by waterfall into this beautiful “Gorgo” (valley). It forms a very deep pond that is often used as a bathing place. A trampoline has been set up where you can leap into the depths of its waters. It is known to be very deep but at the deepest part, the actual depth is unknown. It is said that one wanted to empty the lake once to check its depth but was too deep to completely drain, so its depth still remains unknown today.


 * La Fuente Negra. The Black Source. A source of water that comes from a nearby neighbourhood. It is surrounded with overgrown plant life that has created a safeguard around the pond. A great number of people come to visit “La Fuente Negra” on November 25 as a part of the celebration of the feast of the "Catalineta".


 * La Bajada del Molino. The Descent of Molino, leads to the valley of the Alcay, offering a beautiful view of Monte Nero. Ruins of old mills and old factories tangled with ivy can be found surrounding the lake.


 * Fuente de Marzo. Source of March. It forms a pool of water between white rocks shaped by the rise of the river.

Local Festivals

 * San Antonio Abad. St. Antonio Abad is the Patron Saint of Anna. The festival is celebrated during the third week of January, some years it overlaps with the 16th and 17th when the town of Canals, also celebrates their Patron Saint´s festivities. Traditional bread is blessed and shared, by ‘festeros’ the festival organizers. In the evening and at night, the traditional bonfire is held in the Plaza de la Iglesia, The Church Square that begins at 8.00pm or 9.00pm (on the Saturday). The Procession of "flagbearer" “La Cabalgata del ´Abanderado´" takes place on the Sunday when the ´flagbearer´ enters on horseback handing out candy and toys.


 * Fiestas de las Eras. The Festival of the Ages is always celebrated before the first Monday of August. The celebrations are the most magnificent after the Patron Saint´s. Many acts take place including the presentation of the ´festeros´ (festival organizers), an orchestra performance, ´pualás´ (A game where villagers come with buckets of water to throw at each other.), music from a DJ, procession of Christ, ´pasacalle’ (a parade which all the villagers partake) and a firework display.


 * '''Patronage Festivals- In honour of the holiest Christ of the providence, it is the biggest festival of the village. The festival commences on September the 13th with Christ’s descent from his hermitage to the Parochial Church and concludes at the end of the month. In this festive period emphasized are three groups of activities: The institutional part which stands out as the presentation of the queen of the festival performed by the orchestras in the traditional “verbenas” (festivals in the streets). The week of the “Moors (Muslims) and Christians” that is celebrated from the third week in September, this week has changed with the times, the main event of the festival is where the performers fulfil varied joint acts during this week livened (accompanied) by brass bands. In this week the highlights are: The embassies in the square of the Avenue close to the Palace, “la entrá falsa” celebrated on Friday with costumes in an ironic tone and “the entrá of the Moors (Muslims) and the Christians” celebrated on Saturday at 22.30pm. The final highlight of the religious ceremonies, which begins at one o clock with the descent from the crucifix and the main acts of the festival are celebrated from two o clock until eight o clock with the celebration of the septenary. The main acts of the festival are celebrated on the 20th, 21st and 22nd of September in which there are solemnized diverse liturgical acts, cultural and popular acts among which are necessary to be highlighted: the awakening of Christ to the dawn on September 21st los pasacalles (a musical form that originated in 17th century Spain). The “mascletas” (fireworks that make loud noise with no colour) and the procession of the holiest Christ crossing the streets of the village finishing the religious part of the festival on the 22nd with the rise of Christ to his hermitage. The popular part of the festival extends from the 23rd with the bullfighting week where they release heifers and bulls “embolao” (bulls with balls of flammable material on his horns, which are set on fire) up until the end of the month, recalling a tradition that goes back to the 17th century. For everything exposed and for the centenary tradition of the septenary in honour of Christ’s providence we can agree that they are some of most distinguished local festivals in the Valencian Community.

Gastronomy
See also: Gastronomy of the province of Valencia

Among the local dishes from Anna’s Cuisine that stand out are: "cazuela de arroz al horno" (casserole made with oven rice) "cazuela de arroz con judías y nabos” (casserole made with rice beans and turnips), "arroz caldoso en nabos” ( soup like rice with turnips), “longanizas de Pascua” (Easter sausages), “chorizos de ajo” (garlic sausages), “tortas de pimiento y tomate” (Savoury pie made with pepper and tomatoe), “tortas de tocino y embutido” (bacon and sausage savoury pie),( usually in the evenings of the heifers and bulls at the festival), “tortas de sal” Savory salt pie. Among the sweets they offer: "tortas sainosas” (******* from carnival) "monas de pascua” (Easter Cake), "hogazas" con nueces, almendras, cacahuetes y pasas” (large loaves of bread with nuts, almonds, peanuts and raisins); “turrón casero de almendras, cacahuete y miel” (home made nougat with almonds, peanut and honey), “pasteles de boniato” (sweet potato pie)

Sports
Anna has several sports facilities, one of which is the multisport centre at the public college “Ramon and Cajal” It has two “fronton”(court) areas( a single or two walled court used for playing basque pelota(varied court sports played with a ball using hands, rackets or bats against the wall) a basket ball court and a five a side football court, also its necessary to highlight the soccer field “ L’assud” of the sports union in Anna which is the football team of the village, The community flag where the basketball team from the village mainly plays, “ C.B. Anna”, also played is five-a-side football where championships are celebrated every year, there is a squash and paddle court. Also Anna’s popular race that has been run since 2009 which takes place starting at Anna’s large salt-water lagoon continuing through several places in the village

Twin towns and sister cities

 * 🇫🇷 France Notre-Dame-d'Oé, France

Satellite image

 * WikiMapia - Satellite image and city shot of Anna and outlying areas:

Enlaces externos

 * Página web del Excmo. Ayuntamiento de Anna
 * Historia de Anna