L'Alineació Solar de la Foradada, or Foradà, in La Vall de Gallinera, is an astronomical phenomenon in which the sun falls through the hole found at the top of the Penya Foradà. These rays of light penetrate the arch in such a way that they illuminate the Calvary of Benitaia, where the Franciscan convent of San Andrés was formerly located.
The Penya Forada
La Penya Foradà is one of the southernmost peaks of La Vall de Gallinera. At the top of this is the element for which it receives its name, a naturally formed stone arch that forms a forat (hole). It is, therefore, a perforated rock that is a place of pilgrimage for experts and young hikers who visit the Vall.
Location
La Foradà is located at the southern end of La Vall de Gallinera. It somehow separates this valley from the Vall d'Alcalà and the Vall d'Ebo. The arch is located at an altitude of 737 meters and becomes the most emblematic place in La Vall de Gallinera, offering privileged views of the entire valley.
When does the phenomenon occur?
The event can be observed twice a year, on March 8 and October 4, in the middle of the afternoon, when the sun goes down and turns off the day. In addition, it is possible to see the days before and after these specific dates.
lineup history
Before 1600 La Vall de Gallinera was inhabited mainly by Muslims. After the expulsion of the Moors in 1609, it was completely deserted. By order of the Duke of Gandia, to whom the manor belonged, the repopulators of the Vall were people from Mallorca.
But repopulating the lands that had been Muslim meant Christianizing every corner of them. To this end, significant work was carried out to create churches and religious buildings throughout the territory as a way of supervising that Christianity was being respected and that all its traditions were being complied with.
This is how the Duke of Gandía promoted the foundation of a convent, which was finally installed in Benitaia. That would be of the barefoot friars of the order of San Francisco. From the studies collected by experts so far, it can be deduced that a specific place in La Vall de Gallinera was chosen for its construction.
This place would be the one that was illuminated by the sun's rays through the Foradà rock in the middle of the afternoon on October 4. The day of Saint Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan order that would inhabit the convent. If so, the fact could provide the religious and Christianity of the time in general with more authority and divinity in the area.
Recovery of the phenomenon
In 2007, various advertisements distributed by the Vall de Gallinera Town Hall itself and other scholars and fans of the phenomenon announced the alignment of the Foradà. The publicity claim that was achieved managed to concentrate dozens of curious people who came to contemplate it.
In 2008, José Lull, a doctor in History and a graduate in Egyptology, carried out a study to confirm that the alignment and location of the Benitaia convent were indeed directly related. Lull managed to prove the fact and also that the line-up was produced again on March 8.
Convent of San Andrés and subsequent Calvary
The convent that was founded with the repopulation after the Moors was in honor of San Andrés and it received its name from him. However, José Lull's study states that neither the inhabitants of Benitaia or Benissivà, the other nearby nucleus, knew of its existence.
The document states that in 1644 an earthquake destroyed part of the convent. But it was rebuilt and continued to be inhabited until the XNUMXth century. Currently, few remains of the building remain, but some can be seen next to the current Calvary that was built later.
From the site of the calvary and from its surroundings it is where you can best observe the Foradà alignment.
The current lineup
From then until now, the Foradà Solar Alignment has become a tourist attraction for La Vall de Gallinera in the two seasons with the highest influx of visitors and hikers: autumn and spring.
The municipal promotion of the phenomenon has served to promote a series of routes and activities that revolve around it during March and October.
Observation of the phenomenon in March and October
Both in March and October, the municipal administration of the Vall de Gallinera organizes days dedicated to the observation of the phenomenon, which is complemented by additional activities. These are usually during the weekend following the mentioned dates, that is, the days that best match the lineup.
In March 2024, on Sunday 10, 2024, at 17:00 p.m., a meeting is held in Benitaia, where the old convent was located, to observe the solar alignment.
