Xàtiva

Xàtiva
Municipality
View of Xàtiva
Flag Coat of arms
Xàtiva Location in Spain
Coordinates: 38°59′25″N 0°31′16″W / 38.99028°N 0.52111°W / 38.99028; -0.52111
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Valencian Community
Province	Valencia
Comarca	Costera
Judicial district	Xàtiva
Government
• Mayor	Roger Cerdà i Boluda (2015) (PSPV)
Area
• Total	76.56 km2 (29.56 sq mi)
Elevation	115 m (377 ft)
Population (2009)
• Total	29,386
• Density	380/km2 (990/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Setabense
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	46800
Official language(s)	Spanish and Valencian
Website	Official website

Xàtiva (Valencian pronunciation: [ˈʃativa], locally: [(æj)ˈʃætɪʋæ]; Spanish: Játiva [ˈxatiβa]) is a town in eastern Spain, in the province of Valencia, on the right (western) bank of the river Albaida and at the junction of the Valencia–Murcia and Valencia Albacete railways. During the Al-Andalus Islamic era, Arabs brought the technology to manufacture paper to Xàtiva. In the 12th century, Xàtiva was known for its schools, education, and learning circles. Islamic scholar Abu Ishaq al-Shatibi's last name refers to Xàtiva where he lived and died.

Xàtiva (Saetabis in Latin) was famous in Roman times for its linen fabrics, mentioned by the Latin poets Ovid and Catullus. Xàtiva is also known as an early European centre of paper manufacture. In the 12th century, Arabs brought the technology to manufacture paper to Xàtiva (Arabic: شاطبة‎‎ Shāṭiba).

It is the birthplace of two popes, Callixtus III and Alexander VI, and also the painter José Ribera (Lo Spagnoletto). It suffered a dark moment in its history at the hands of Philip V of Spain, who, after his victory at the Battle of Almansa during the War of the Spanish Succession, had the city besieged then ordered it to be burned and renamed San Felipe. In memory of the insult, the portrait of the monarch hangs upside down in the local museum of L'Almodí.

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Wikipedia