Ontinyent
Ontinyent () is a municipality in the "comarca" of Vall d'Albaida in the Valencian Community, Spain. It is situated on the banks of the Clariano River, a tributary of the Xúquer, and on the Xàtiva–Alcoi railway. Ontinyent is near the Sierra de Mariola Natural Park. Ontinyent is a historic city with many baroque churches, aristocratic mansions, city walls, the palace of the Dukes of Almodòver and a 16th century bridge alongside newer apartment buildings and modern retail. The city has been known for its production of cloth, paper, brandy, furniture and earthenware and its trade in cereals, wine, almonds  and olive oil. Juan Roig, Spanish billionaire and president of Mercadona, went to school in Ontinyent. History. Evidence of human settlement in the area dates back to the end of the Neolithic period, as suggested by excavations at the Castellar site between the Barranco dels Tarongers and the Barranco del Averno in Bocairent. Sites occupied during the Roman era are short-lived. Small agricultural settlements were located on the outskirts of what would later become the medieval urban core. It seems likely that one of these Roman settlements gave rise to the name of the town: the pagus Untinianus. From  this name would arise in the medieval period different versions of the name: Ontinient, Hontinient and Ontinyent. The town of Ontinyent is also documented as having Muslim origins dating back to the 11th century. The poet al-Untinyaní was born there and it is known that the castle of Ontinyent (hisn Untinyân) was a stopover on the way from Murcia to Valencia. Although few structural remains have survived in the city, the windows of Pou Clar or the famous Covetes dels Moros (found in ravines between Ontinyent and Bocairent) show the importance of Islamic civilisation in the area. The caves  were probably communal granaries that belonged to the peasant communities of the Andalusian period and had their origin in the tradition of the Berber people who settled in the area. Ontinyent was conquered by the troops of Jaime I in the year 1244 and incorporated into the Kingdom of Valencia. In the 18th century, the administration was castellanized throughout the Kingdom of Valencia and with it the name of the town changed its root "Onti-" to "Onte-". The Castilian form Onteniente became the official form until the end of the 20th century when the original Latin root of the name  was reinstated. In the provincial division of 1822 it was assigned to the province of Xátiva and in the division of 1833 to that of Alicante, passing definitively to the province of Valencia in 1836. Ontinyent received the title of city in 1904. Section::::"Valencian Tuscany" - a land of vineyards. The area around Ontinyent is known for its many vineyards. The Vall d'Albaida's climate has long made it an ideal spot for viticulture. City redevelopment. With the decline of the textile trade, Ontinyent has had to reinvent itself and has started an extensive process of redevelopment. Pou clar - natural spring . The natural spring just outside of the city is well known as a natural beauty spot and a favourite for bathers. The Pou Clar is known as one of the Valencian Community's biggest natural attractions with its many pools, waterfalls, plant life and fish. In March 2022, it featured as the main backdrop in a Turia beer ad campaign. Moros y Cristianos - festival. This festival has taken place every August since 1860 and commemorates the Christian reconquest of the city from Muslim troops in the 13th century by Jaime I. Battles are reenacted with canon fire, opulent costumes and  impressive decorations alongside theatrical parades.