Beniardà is located in the Marina Baixa, in the province of Alicante, on the banks of the Guadalest reservoir. You can go down on the road that links Benidorm with Alcoy. From Alicante you can access the AP-7 or the N-332 taking the CV-70 in Benidorm.
The municipal term adjoins Benifato, Benimantell, Confrides, Castell de Castells and Famorca.
Beniardà was an old Muslim farmhouse, after the occupation of the area by Christian troops. It continued to maintain its Arab population, which at the time of its expulsion was counted in about 200 inhabitants. Beniardà, in 1612 obtained its own parish and in 1637 became independent of Guadalest.
The small agricultural villages of Arab foundation and later repopulated with "old Christians" were consecrated to the Virgin and the saints, and on the facades on some streets chapels were opened which neighbors looked after fervently.
In Beniardà the chapels of Saint Joaquín and Saint Juan made of tiles are conserved and the one of Saint Francisco (oratory chapel high up, between facades). San Joaquin’s chapel is currently in good conditions, but as we wish, while Sant Joan’s is about to disappear because it has lost more than half its tiles.
From San Francisco’s, we can say that its state is optimal because of the good preservation by neighbours, since the remodeling of the chapel was done not many years ago, using in its reconstruction a type of arch different from the one existed before.
In Beniardà, the chapels history goes back to Saint Martí, born in 316 and died in 397. He was native from Pannonia, and was subjected to Rome by Tiberius. He belonged to a Roman family, military, and founder of monasteries in Gallia, and in 371 he became bishop of Tours. His saint is celebrated on November 11.
According to tradition, being a soldier, he donates half of his cloak to a beggar. That "Cappa" (word of unknown origin) in late Latin meant a garment that had no sleeves and covered from the neck and gradually widened to the bottom, i.e. was used to cover.
Since San Martin donated half of his "Cappa", from there comes the use of the diminutive "capella", small layer. The origin of evolution led to its becoming the place where it would consecrate to conserve the relic of the cape. Therefore, from that moment on, it is also called "capella" or small chapel, the place where veneration would be paid. There are numerous testimonies that, in the so-called places, it was believed that the saint's cloak was retained as a relic. During the 7th and 8th centuries the name of cappella extends to other Romance languages.
In Valencian this word is preserved in its same form, capella.
The economy in Beniardà is exclusively agricultural with products of non-irragated products and fruits.
The young fest:
On September 8, the "Single Ladies Party" in honor of the Immaculate was celebrated here in Beniardà. This party was organized by four youngsters from town who had been graced in a drawing that was made among all; During the whole year they made some raffle to raise some money. Although the parties became simpler than now, it was also more difficult to put together the budget that was needed to bring a small band of music and other expenses.
It was a tradition on Sundays afternoon the four major younsters, boys and girls and other young people who would like to accompany, to go out in town with a banner of the virgin singing the rosary and at the doors houses that requested it to sing a song, It was like a prayer to the virgin asking for some favoiur, we knew many, but the most they asked for was for the sick.
Mayor Festivities:
They are celebrated the first week in August. Peals of bell, parades, Tales festival, verbenas, dances, masses, processions are some of the acts of these holidays with traditional flavour.
Town Hall in Beniardà
Constitució Square
Post Code.: 03517 Beniardà (Alicante)
Telephone 00 34 885 526
e-mail: info@beniarda.es
Web: http://www.beniarda.es