Enjoy our quick guide to Rafelcofer, a village in Spain’s Costa Blanca with a population of more than 1,400 inhabitants (2014).
Below we feature an expat interview with Vanessa Crocker-Dean of Hello2Spain who covers the Rafelcofer area.
In particular, we asked Vanessa the various reasons why people might consider moving to Rafelcofer and the value for money that you could get when you decide to stay permanently in the area.
Where is Rafelcofer?
Rafelcofer is a municipality of Valencia, Spain. It belongs to the province of Valencia in the region of Safor.
Geography
Rafelcofer is located in the center of the plain which forms the valley and right Serpis the same course.
The terrain is flat and just beginning to show some lift by its southern part, as we near the foothills of the Sierra Gallinera, which closes at the Huerta de Gandia in the south.
The municipal témino Rafelcofer is mostly flat, except a portion of the mountain of Rabat (167 m) to the cairn Alquería trifinio with the Countess and Source Encarroz southwest. The other highlight is the physical accident Palm Canyon, which borders the town to the north, continuing to Farmhouse of the Countess and the town that gives its name. The irrigation water comes from the river Serpis and is distributed through ditches.
From Valencia this location is accessed by road via the N-332 to connect with the CV-679.
Are there smaller villages nearby that you might also recommend?
The municipality of Rafelcofer is limited to the following locations: Almoines, Farmhouse of the Countess, Bellreguart, Beniarjó, Beniflá and Source Encarroz, all in the province of Valencia.
History
There are vestiges of the term poblamento and ancient among which is the Iberian village of Rabat. In the Roman times have been found with Latin inscription stones and pottery shards collected sporadically around the hillside Rabat and the Hermitage of San Miquel. Rafelcofer belonged to the jurisdiction Rebollet Castle, then to County Oliva and Duchy of Gandia. In the nineteenth century and the first provincial division, it was assigned to the province of Alicante and placed under the jurisdiction of Pego, until they were all integrated in the province of Valencia in 1847.
Economy
Until the late 19th century was the relative importance muscadine grape growing for making passes, but after phylloxera and intensive introduction to the orange, was this tree which configures the agricultural landscape. Other orchard crops are potatoes, beans, corn and alfalfa. Dry farming takes refuge in the south and their percentage is negligible and no economic value. The cultivated soil represents a high percentage. The structure has a high rate of smallholdings.
The absence of industries has been encouraging in recent years and saw an exodus of working-age population wherein people have migrated toward the manufacturing and commercial areas of Oliva and Gandia in search of jobs.
Important Monuments
Parish Church. It is dedicated to San Antonio and San Diego.
Levantine prehistoric.
Local Trinquet. (Recently refurbished)
What are the local fiestas and festivities?
The local festivities are usually held from 07 to 16 July, in honor of the Divine Aurora, San Antonio, the Christ of the Shelter, Youth Day and the Virgen del Carmen.
Gastronomy
When it comes to variety of local dishes, Rafelcofer has a lot to offer all throughout the year. Starting from January, the month for celebrating the festivities of Saint Anthony, you can enjoy a “blessed” afternoon with the town’s so-called “blessed” bread.
During the Lenten season, you can expect to indulge in dishes that include dry rice that is prepared and served in a clay pot or dish. It usually goes with cod balls, bean stew and potato. There is also the popular paella dish that comes with garlic, spinach, onion and cod.
For the Easter celebration, you can try the “coca reganyada” and the “mona” which many children enjoy eating with hard-boiled egg and dry sausage.
In celebrating the Day of the Cross which happens in May, you can try your hand in baking since it is a tradition to make biscuits during this period.
For the summer, the most popular dish is oven-baked rice served with black tuna.
Then in December which is the month for celebrating Christmas, it is common to see homes filled with sweet potato cakes which normally comes with almonds, “rossegons” and “cocas cristinas.”
Of course, there are other typical dishes that you can try which are normally available throughout the year. These include the oven-baked Atlantic bonito, “arroz con costra,” baked rice and some homemade sweets (moca, coca de azucar, mantecadas, rollos de aguardiente, corona de Gloria)
Hello2Spain
Marques de Campo, 6, 03700 Denia
Tel. +34 672 208 879
Email: info@hello2spain.com
Website: www.hello2spain.com
Here is an interesting tourist video of Rafelcofer.
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