Josep Mª Inglés thinks that the word Albinyana comes from the Latin Albininia (feminine for Albinus). According to Moreu-Rey the word would be the translation of the Italian word 'ligur'. Another theory implies that Albinyana comes from the Celtic word 'alp' (high mountain). In any case, the most likely version is that the name of our town came from an old Latin name. Many archaeological scraps, from the Bronze Age (3500 years of antiquity) to the Iberian and Roman periods, have been found within the township. The most important discoveries were the set of rupestrian paintings in the Vall Major cave. The name Albinyana appeared for the first time in 1010, in the will of Adalbert, who left the castle to the monastery of Sant Cugat del Vallès. According to the Cartulary of Sant Cugat, Albinyana was founded in 1040, when Abbot Guitart gave 'Carta de Població' (a population permit) to Bernat d´Oleguer, on condition that he would build a castle and populate the place. Abbot Guitart kept half the tax privileges and the right to designate the priest for the castle´s church. In 1232, King Jaume the 1st corrobored all the privileges given to the Monastery, thereby the Abbots of Sant Cugat help sway over the place until 1835. |
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Our town Festivals fall on la Mare de Déu del Carme´s Day (July the 16th) and Sant Bartomeu´s Day (Agust the 24th). On Easter Monday there is a meeting at the shrine of Sant Antoni, with the saying of a mass, the eating of the 'mona' (a traditional pastry), games for the children and sardanes (the Catalan national dance). |
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| The Vall Major cave and its rupestrian paintings.
The shrine of Sant Antoni de Pàdua, located on top of la Serra del Quadrell, overlooking a broad stretch of land. According to Ruy Fernández, the castle of Albinyana was built by the Arabs as a watchtower, but nowadays only the foundations and the base of the round tower remain. It is also interesting to visit the building called 'Cal Gener' annd its wonderful graffitto, in the suburb of Les Peces. |
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- Ruy Fernández, José .- "Notas estadísticas e históricas de Albiñana". El Vendrell: Institut de Estudis del Penedès, 1990 .- (Edició facsímil). - Margalef y Lleberia, Joaquin .- "El Baix Penedès. Transformacions econòmicas i reutilizació de l'espai". Barcelona: Caixa Catalunya, 1990. - "Coneguem la Comarca. El Baix Penedès". Centre de Recursos Pedagògics Baix Penedès, 1991. - Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana.
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| Town council | Municipality | |||||||||