About Puçol

History

Puçol has its origins in the Roman era, when it was called Puteus, i.e. ‘well’ in Latin

Thanks to its geographic location, between sea and mountains, Puçol’s origins date back to Roman times, when the first Romans settled in Trull del Moro. It was a small village, and we know of its existence thanks to four tombstones found in different Puçol streets. At the time the place was called ‘Puteus’, which means ‘well’, due to the humidity of the area and large amount of water they found. The Academy of the Valencian Language has established that Puçol is originally a Latin word, and it comes from ‘putteoleum’ (‘el pouet’ in Valencian).

During the Islamic period, according to historian Francisco Roca, the village starts to be called Puigsol, and it attains great popularity thanks to being located between two large fortresses:Sagunto and El Puig. In the thirteenth century the village is conquered by James I (of Aragon). Over time its name will continue to evolve into Pussol, and finally it will take on its definitive name, Puçol, which is now its official name by Council Decree. There is a report by Sanchis Guarner providing scientific evidence to support this name.

James I handed over Puçol to Assalid de Gudal, a knight of the king’s troops. In this manner Gudal became the first lord of Puçol and its first politician. Five years later, James I bought the Alquería (rural hamlet) of Puçol from Gudal, and gave it to Bishop Arnaldo de Peralta, to his Chapter and to the Convent of Roncesvalles, in repayment for the tercio diezmo (medieval royal tax) that they once lent him so he could carry out his conquests. This is how Puçol came to be under Christian control.

From the fifteenth century onwards, following the Black Death pandemic of the Fourteenth Century, the town enjoys great growth thanks to fruit exports.

The most important monuments in Puçol, the Church of Santos Juanes and the Archbishop’s Palace, were built in the seventeenth century by the Archbishop of Valencia, Juan de Ribera, who also built one of the first botanical gardens in Spain, the first one belonging to a university, and the oldest in Europe. It is said peanuts were planted here for the first time in Spain.

In 1808 the Battle of Puçol took place during the Spanish War of Independence, an important historical event that marks the fight of the town against the invasion of the French troops coming from Sagunto. At Hostalets they engaged in a fierce battle to prevent the French from advancing towards Valencia; the water from the irrigation canals was released flooding everything.

In the twentieth century, following the first democratic elections held in 1979, where socialist Josep Vicent Cuello was elected, the town was modernized and the main infrastructures it has today were built. Among them the Town Sports Hall, the Cultural Centre, the Sports Stadium, the centres Espai Social La Barraca, Espai Social Martínez Coll and Espai Social dels Majors (for the elderly).

In the twenty-first century, there have been frequent changes in government, not only in the local elections held every four years, but also with two no-confidence motions voted in 2004 and 2008. The mayor’s office has been held by Josep Mª Iborra (PSOE), José Manuel Busto (Izquierda Unida), Mariano Sanchis (Partido Popular), José Vicente Martí (PSOE), Merche Sanchis (Partido Popular) and Enric Esteve (Compromís).

Among the new infrastructures, the transformation of the stony beach into a modern sandy beach is most notable: the beach is now protected by five breakwaters that prevent sand erosion, and is bordered by a promenade along its over two kilometres of coastline. All of the above was opened in summer 2004.

In addition, in 2014 the route connecting the town with the beach, the Camí La Mar, was restored, separating the road for cars from the Vereda Mangraners, a path for walking, cycling or taking pets to the beach.

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