Xàtiva | |||
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Municipality | |||
View of Xàtiva
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Location in Spain | |||
Coordinates: 38°59′25″N 0°31′16″W / 38.99028°N 0.52111°W | |||
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.