|Autonomous community||Valencian Community|
|• Mayor||Lorenzo Agustí Pons (PP)|
|• Total||44.0 km2 (17.0 sq mi)|
|Elevation||70 m (230 ft)|
|• Density||1,500/km2 (3,800/sq mi)|
|Demonym||Paternero (m) Paternera (f)|
|Time zone||CET (UTC+1)|
|• Summer (DST)||CEST (UTC+2)|
Paterna (Valencian pronunciation: [paˈtɛɾna]) is a municipality in the province of Valencia in the Valencian Community, Spain. It is located northeast of the comarca of L'Horta de Valencia, 5 kilometres (3 miles) northwest of Valencia, and on the left bank of the river Turia. Its population, to January 1, 2009, was 64,023 inhabitants, being the eleventh city by population in the Valencian Community.
The town is characterized by arid Mediterranean climate, with an average annual rainfall of 250 ml (9 imp fl oz; 8 US fl oz) and temperatures ranging from 5 °C (41 °F) minimum in January and 31 °C (88 °F) maximum in August, reaching every summer peak above 50 °C (122 °F).
The first signs of human settlement in Paterna back to Neolithic and Bronze Age, and have been found in consignments of The Vallesa and Despeñaperros, in an area of small hills near the river Turia, which allowed the water supply. Also left imprint in The Vallesa and Despeñaperros the Iberians, where have been found remains of a defensive wall and walls of small huts.
Documentation relating to the arrival of the Romans is limited to literary references of events near Valentia, Edeta and Saguntum. It is believed that it was at this time when it came original place name from Paterna, which is supposed to make reference to the Latin word "Paternus" or belonging to the father, alluding to the social and legal status of the property. In the municipal district, have been found remains of an aqueduct system that extends to Massamagrell so we think it might get to Sagunto, ancient Roman site.
In February 2009, the excavation of a plot which was planned for a housing allowed the discovery of a Roman villa, dated between the 1st and 3rd centuries, that takes a new twist to the known history of the city and becomes the first traces of a Roman habitation from Valencia to Llíria.
In the Moslem period, it make preogress manufacturing and pottery and is a development of agriculture, including new irrigated lands and introducing crops such as rice and oranges. On April 10, 1237, at 3.13 PM, there is a peaceful entry of King James I of Aragon in Paterna's lands, that ended in the Second Slaughter of the Gingers in Paterna. According to the Book of Distribution, the farm of Paterna is delivered to Artal de Luna, one of those appointed by James I to write the Jurisdictions. The Luna will become feudal lords from the 13th to 15th century, when the ceramic from Paterna reaches full production. In the 16th century, a crisis starts in ceramic production and the local economy in general. In 1436 Alfonso the Magnanimous gave the possessions of Paterna to the infant Henry, son of Ferdinand I of Antequera and Duke of Segovia.
The Expulsion of the Moriscos forced into exile and Paterna suffered a depopulation and economic stagnation. In the Old Regime, the political crisis would further exacerbate the deteriorating political, social and economic context in which it was immersed Paterna. By Royal Decree, in 1769 it was banned the cultivation of rice to alleviate malarial fevers. In the 19th century agriculture reappears, and displayed the first cave. That same century it was made the water pipeline (1866), it was construct a new building for City Hall (1881) and it was built the narrow gauge railway (April 22, 1888), forming part of the line Valencia - Liria, which improves communication. Demographic recovery starts slowly with a flow of immigration and the widening of Paterna with the construction of The Camp neighborhood with houses and chalets for bourgeoisie from Valencia, and a military barracks for protection.
The creation of Polygon Source Jar, already in the 20th century, generated a strong demand for labor that attracted a flow of immigration that changed the economy and the urban aspect of Paterna.
Paterna had about 3,505 inhabitants in 1900. The creation of the Polygon Source Jar favored immigration between 1950 and 1970 in which Paterna experienced significant social and urban change, coming up triple the population.
The current population growth is due to the creation of new residential areas and the expansion of industrial areas in the municipality. In January 2009, the number of inhabitants was 64,023 (31,887 women and 32,136 men)
Neighborhoods and districts
The nuclei of the municipality are: Urban Center (Center, Alborgí, Camp, Santa Rita), The Canyada (The Planting, Mountcanyada, The Vallesa), Farm of Rosary (The Comma), Terramelar, Long Ridge (Valterna) and Bobalar (Green Houses, Cross of Grace and Gemma). In addition, Paterna has four industrial parks: Source Jar, Tactic, Swath and Technology Park.
Demographic Statistics 2004
- Average annual population growth rate 2000-2004: 1.9%
- Population Change 2000-2004: 7.7%
The services sector represents 56% of global economic activity in the municipality. Industry accounts 33.2%, construction 9.8% and agriculture 1%.
Paterna is nestled in one of the most important industrial areas of southern Europe. In the town there are: the Industrial Park Source Jar, the Industrial Park of the Swath, the city's business Tactic and the Technological Park of Valencia.
Industrial production is very diversified: food, textiles, wood, leather, metal, chemical, plastics, transportation, electricity ...
Economic Statistics 2004
- Economic level: 7
- Bank branches: 37
- Industrial activities: 1,101
- Supermarkets: 15
- Malls: 2
- Industrial Index: 223
- Commercial rate: 144
In the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, Paterna was one of the major ceramic production centers in Spain competing with notable centers as Manises and Teruel, reaching distributed throughout the Mediterranean. Ceramics are known as plates, bowls, pharmacy jars painted in blue and gold and decorated in green and manganese. The pictures are varied: human figures, animals, plants or heraldic. The socarrat (15th century) is the most distinctive piece of Paterna's pottery. They are pieces of clay with a rectangular shape that were used for decoration of palaces and mansions, including eaves and ceilings. A large sample is exposed at the Museum of Ceramics in Paterna, who takes care of managing the loan of pieces to other museums and exhibitions. Currently are exhibited ceramic pieces from Paterna in the National Archaeological Museum (Madrid) and others of Valencia, Barcelona, Paris, London or New York.
The main roads of Paterna are:
- A-7 highway which links the Mediterranean axis, towards Barcelona and Alicante
- A-3 highway that connects with Madrid
- V-30 highway that connects with the Port of Valencia and the coast.
- CV-35 that goes into the province of Valencia (Valencia - Liria - Ademuz Highway)
- Valencia Airport Manises
- Paterna Municipal Transportation: Paterna has a municipal bus network that consists of 10 lines that link the various neighborhood, industrial parks, schools and the Technology Park of Valencia Paterna Municipal Transportation .
- Bus: Bus interubano linking Paterna (line 140) and the Technology Park (Line 130) to Valencia. Edetania Bus
- Valencia Metro: Subway line 1 (stops at Campament, Paterna, Santa Rita, Fuente del Jarro, La Canyada and La Vallesa) and tram line 4 (stops on TVV, Lloma Llarga-Terramelar, Santa Gemma, Tomás y Valiente, La Comma, Mas del Rosari) communicate with Valencia.
- The Tower of Paterna: of Arab origin, was used as a defense of the population due to its strategic location and excellent visibility of the environment. With a conical shape has a height of 19.5 meters and between 12.7 and 9.6 m in diameter.
- Counts of Villapaterna Palace: lordly palace built by the Counts of Villapaterna in 1760. In 1983 it was acquired by the city council that settled there the town hall.
- Calvary: comprising a terrace overlooking the River Turia, to the orchard and nearby towns, in which lies the town clock. In the past, was occupied by the Castillo de Paterna, demolished in the 18th century.
- Ceramics Museum: Located in the Village Square in the old town hall, hosts one of the most important collections of ceramics from Valencia.
- Church of St. Peter: built in the 14th century in the place occupied by the mosque. It was remodeled in the 18th century.
- Antonio Ferrandis Grand Theatre: Built in the late 1920s was a place of entertainment used by people for decades. It was purchased by the city and in 2000 opened with the name of the famous actor of Paterna, Antonio Ferrandis Monroy, hosting a large cultural program of theater, music, exhibitions and a municipal school of dance and theater.
- Capri Theatre, built in 1924, was acquired by the city in 1998, remodeled and opened again in 2000. Currently hosts various cultural events and essay of local theater groups.
- The Large Cave Cultural Space: formed by an amphitheater and the central library. Is included in The Tower and Caves Park.
- Caves of Fuller Cultural Space: host art exhibitions in an emblematic and historical space such as the caves.
- Paterna Mills: built in the Middle Ages to take the power of water passing through the canal of Moncada in flourmill, rice and textiles productions. It was from the 19th century when expansion occurred, making Paterna turned to the late 19th century the largest producer of flour in Valencia. Subsequently, technological advances in electricity, industrialization and increasing urbanization of the orchard assumed a gradual abandonment of these mills. Currently is projected an hotel and leisure complex.
- Turia River Natural Park: the largest natural area in Paterna is The Vallesa Forest, located around the river Turia. It consists of a large area which holds a large population of pine and scrub composed of the typical Mediterranean forest associations on calcareous substrate as a rosemary, oak, mastic, kermes, gorse, etc..
- Ridge of Betxí: town of the Bronze Age located in the place of Vallesa of Mandor.
- Observatory of the University of Valencia
- Campus Burjassot-Paterna Science Park
In May 2000 the city of Paterna acquired the status of tourist interest by the Generalitat Valenciana.
- Fallas: held in March.
- Moors and Christians and La Cordá: is the culmination of the festival, which takes place in the morning following to the last Sunday of August. It is a pyrotechnic event that takes place on Main Street. The shooters, led by Mayor Fireworks, burn 50,000 rockets with an intensity of 2,000 rockets per minute. The professional and amateur shooters can shoot rockets in space enabled, the cohetódromo during the development of the major festivals. On the same day of La Cordá, and the previous day, are held other outstanding pyrotechnic events: the Rocket House Parade and Correfoc dels Dimonis of Massalfasar which from 2010 is organized by The Federation of Paterna Interpenyes and the Gatzara Gang, respectively, which take place in the center streets of Paterna. Also, after of La Cordá, in The Central Park, the penyas in the municipality, together with some neighbors, the traditional Recorda is discharged, which continue until 7 am.