Bigastro
Bigastro () is a municipality in the Valencian Community (Spain) situated in the south of the province of Alicante, in the comarca of Vega Baja del Segura. It had a population of 6,450 at the time of the 2005 census. History. In La Loma there is an archaeological site dating from the Bronze Age. The district derives its name from the "Lugar Nuevo de los Canónigos", a place of residence for the canons of Orihuela cathedral, which once had power over the area. In 1701, after some lawsuits with the settlers, the church made some allowances which permitted the foundation  of Bigastro, starting with three estates, in which 24 families lived. Economy. At the time of its foundation, agriculture was concentrated around flax and hemp; in the 19th century, the fall of the textile sector sparked interest in citrus fruits and products from irrigated fields. There is also industrial activity, mainly in the form of construction and manufacturing. Demography. In 2005, Bigastro had 6,450 residents, 11.79% of which were foreigners. The most common nationality was British (22% of all foreigners). Monuments. The young age of the town means that some landlord's homes survive, along with some farmer's dwellings  dispersed throughout the area. One unique monument that must be mentioned is the Church of the Virgin of Bethlehem, where a sculpture of Saint Joachim of Salzillo. Gastronomy. The typical dishes in the area are stew and rabbit with rice. Other important dishes in Bigastro come from the pastry shops: almojábanas, toñas, almendrados, monas and soplillos.