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{{About|a city in Spain|the place in Israel|Denia, Haifa}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Dénia
| settlement_type         = [[Municipalities of Spain|Municipality]]
| official_name           = {{lang|ca-valencia|Dénia}} {{no bold|(official)}}
| native_name             = {{unbulleted list|item_style=font-size:100%;| {{native name|ca-valencia|'''Dénia'''}} <br/> {{native name|es|'''Denia'''}}}}
| image_skyline           = Denia desde el Montgó.jpg
| image_alt               =
| image_caption           = View of Dénia from the [[Montgó]] out to sea
| image_flag              = Bandera de Dénia.svg
| image_shield            = Escut de Dénia.svg
| nickname                =
| motto                   =
| image_map               = {{Maplink|frame=yes|plain=y|frame-width=285|frame-height=180|frame-align=center|frame-coordinates={{Coord|39.5|N|3.7|W}}|zoom=4|type=point|title=Dénia|marker=city|type2=shape|stroke-width2=2|stroke-color2=#808080|text=Interactive map of Dénia.}}
|map_caption              = Location of Dénia
| pushpin_map             = Spain Valencia#Spain
| subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name        = {{ESP}}
| subdivision_type1       = [[Autonomous communities of Spain|Autonomous community]]
| subdivision_name1       = {{flag|Valencian Community}}
| subdivision_type2       = [[Provinces of Spain|Province]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[Alicante (province)|Alicante]]
| subdivision_type3       = [[Comarcas of Spain|Comarca]]
| subdivision_name3       = [[Marina Alta]]
| subdivision_type4       = [[Judicial districts of Spain|Judicial district]]
| subdivision_name4       = Dénia
| seat_type               = <!-- [[Capital (political)|Capital]] -->
| seat                    =
| coordinates             = {{coord|38|50|40|N|0|6|40|E|region:ES_type:city|display=inline}}
| coordinates_footnotes   =
| elevation_m             = 22
| elevation_min_m         =
| elevation_max_m         =
| area_footnotes          =
| area_total_km2          = 66.2
| established_title       = <!-- Founded -->
| established_date        =
| population_as_of        = {{Spain metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
| population_footnotes    = {{Spain metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
| population_total        = {{Spain metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
| population_demonym      = ''{{lang|ca|denier(a)}}'' ([[Valencian language|va]]) <br/> ''{{lang|es|dianense}}'' ([[Spanish language|es]])
| population_note         =
| population_density_km2  = auto
| timezone                = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset              = +1
| timezone_DST            = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST          = +2
| postal_code_type        = [[List of postal codes in Spain|Postal code]]
| postal_code             = 03700
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in Spain|Dialling code]]
| area_code               =
| leader_title            = Mayor
| leader_name             = Vicent Grimalt
| leader_party            = [[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party|PSOE]]
| website                 = {{official website|http://www.denia.es}}
| footnotes               =
}}
'''Dénia''' ({{IPA|ca-valencia|ˈdenia|lang}}; {{langx|es|'''Denia'''}} {{IPA|es|ˈdenja|}}) is a historical coastal city in the [[province of Alicante]], [[Spain]], on the [[Costa Blanca]] halfway between [[Alicante]] and [[Valencia (city in Spain)|Valencia]], and the capital and judicial seat of the [[Comarques of the Valencian Community|''comarca'']] of [[Marina Alta]]. Denia's historical heritage has been influenced by [[Iberian Peninsula|Iberian]], [[Ancient Greece|Greek]], [[Ancient Rome|Roman]], [[Islamic]], [[Napoleonic]] and [[Christianity|Christian]] civilizations. {{As of|2024}}, it had a population of 49,700,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ine.es/nomen2/index.do?accion=busquedaDesdeHome&nombrePoblacion=D%E9nia&x=8&y=11 |title=Instituto Nacional de Estadística. (Spanish Statistical Institute) |website=Ine.es |access-date=2016-11-04}}</ref> although this is more than doubled by tourism during the summer months.
==History==
There is evidence of human habitation in the area since prehistoric times and there are significant [[Iberians|Iberian]] ruins on the hillsides nearby. In the 4th century BC it was a [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] colony of [[Marseille]] or [[Empúries]],{{cn|date=July 2020}} perhaps the one mentioned by [[Strabo]]<ref name="perseus.tufts">{{cite book |last1=Strabo |author-link1=Strabo |title=The Geography of Strabo. Literally translated, with notes, in three volumes. |date=1903 |publisher=George Bell & Sons |location=London |url=http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0099.tlg001.perseus-eng2:3.4.6 |access-date=10 July 2020 |language=en
|chapter=4
|volume=3
|translator-first1=H.C.
|translator-last1=Hamilton, Esq.
|editor-first1=M.A.
|editor-last1=Falconer
|quote=Of these the best known is Hemeroscopium. On the promontory there is a temple to [[Diana of Ephesus]], held in great veneration. [[Sertorius]] used it as an arsenal, convenient to the sea, both on account of its being fortified and fitted for piratical uses, and because it is visible from a great distance to vessels approaching. It is called Dianium, from Diana.
}}</ref><ref name="perseus.tufts_a">{{cite book |last1=Strabo |author-link1=Strabo |editor1-last=Meineke |editor1-first=A. |title=Geographica |date=1877 |publisher=Teubner |location=Leipzig |url=http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0099.tlg001.perseus-grc1:3.4.6 |access-date=10 July 2020 |language=grc |chapter=4
|volume=3}}</ref> as ''[[Hēmeroskopeion]]'' ({{langx|el|Ημεροσκοπείον}}) (meaning "watchtower"). It was an ally of [[ancient Romans|Rome]] during the [[Punic Wars]], and later was absorbed into the Roman Empire under the name of ''Dianium'' (after their goddess Diana). In the 1st century BC [[Quintus Sertorius]] established a Roman naval base here.<ref name="Agencia del Medioambient 1990">{{cite book |title= Parque Natural del Montgó - Estudio Multidisciplinar |year= 1990 |publisher= Conselleria d'Administració Pública, Agencia del Mediambient|location= Valencia |language= es | page= 60}}</ref>
From 636{{ndash}}696, under [[Visigothic Kingdom|Visigothic rule]], it was the seat of a bishop [[suffragan bishop|subordinate]] to [[Toledo, Spain|Toledo]]. After the [[Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula|Muslim conquest of Iberia]] and the dissolution of the [[Caliphate of Córdoba]], Dénia ({{langx|ar|دانية}}, {{translit|ar|Dāniyya}}) became the capital of a [[Taifa of Denia|Taifa kingdom]] that reigned over part of the Valencian coast and [[Ibiza]]. [[Slavic peoples|Slavic]] Muslim slaves, ''[[saqālibah]]'', led by [[Mujahid ibn Yusuf ibn Ali]], profited from the progressive crumbling of the Caliphate's superstructure to gain control over the province of Dénia. The ''saqālibah'' managed to free themselves and run the kingdom, which extended its reach as far as the islands of [[Majorca]] and its capital {{ill|Madinah Mayurqah|es}}. The ''saqālibah'' taifa lost its independence in 1076, when it was captured by [[Ahmad al-Muqtadir]], lord of [[Taifa of Zaragoza|Zaragoza]], under which it remained until the [[Almoravid]] invasion in 1091. The Muslim Arabs originally built the castle fortress, and the French, who occupied the city for four years during the [[Peninsular War]], rebuilt it in the early 19th century.
[[File:0.1. Castell de Dénia (País Valencià).jpg|thumb|Castle de Dénia|left]]
[[File:La Expulsión en el Puerto de Denia. Vicente Mostre.jpg|thumb|right|260px|1609 [[Expulsion of the Moriscos]] at the port of Dénia, by Vincente Mostre]]
The town was reconquered by the Christians in 1244. This caused a decline for the city, which remained nearly uninhabited after the exile of most of the Muslim population. It was later repopulated by the [[Valencia (city in Spain)|Valencia]]n government. Created a fief in 1298, it was held by the de Sandoval family from 1431, although the city itself was returned to the [[Kingdom of Aragona|Aragonese crown]] in 1455. A marquisate from 1487, Dénia gained many privileges thanks to [[Francisco Gómez de Sandoval y Rojas, Duke of Lerma]], a favourite of [[Philip III of Spain]]. It suffered a further period of decay after the decree of [[Expulsion of the Moriscos]] (1609), by which 25,000 people left the marquisate, leaving the local economy in a dismal state.
During the [[War of the Spanish Succession]] Dénia was besieged by 9,000 French troops in June 1707, who broke down several sections of the town walls using cannon, but their attacks in July were repulsed by the small garrison with great loss of life to the attackers resulting in the siege being raised after 27 days. Dénia, however, fell to the French forces that November. In 1713 the [[Treaty of Utrecht]] recognised Louis XIV's grandson [[Philip V of Spain|Philip, Duke of Anjou]], as King of Spain (as Philip V), so returning Dénia to Spanish rule.
It was reacquired by the Spanish crown in 1803, after which Denia gained an increasingly important role as a trading port. A community of English [[raisin]] traders lived in Denia from 1800 until the time of the [[Spanish Civil War]] in the late 1930s.
==Main sights==
Dénia is home to a large Moorish castle named '''[[Castle of Dénia]]''' on a rocky crag overlooking the city. It was built in the 11th and 12th century and offers views around the sea, the city and the surrounding area. Located in the castle is the [[Palau del Governador]] and its corresponding museum.
Dénia also has the ''Museu Etnològic'' with further details on the history and culture of the city.
* [[Route of the Valencian classics]]
==Climate==
Dénia has a [[Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Csa''), with mild winters and hot summers. The average annual temperature surpasses {{convert|18|C|F}} and the rainfall amount is around {{convert|750|mm|in}}. The mean temperature of the coldest month (January) is around {{convert|12|C|F}}, while the mean of the hottest month (August) is around {{convert|26|C|F}}.<ref name="MyWeather2" /> Autumn is by far the wettest season, receiving more than {{convert|300|mm|in}} of rainfall, mostly falling in few days but with heavy rainfalls, a phenomenon called [[cold drop]] in Spain that is very common on the [[Valencian Community|Valencian coast]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Alerta naranja: Dénia y comarca podrían acumular 100 litros/m2 en 12 horas |url=https://www.denia.com/alerta-naranja-denia-y-comarca-podrian-acumular-100-litros-m2-en-12-horas/ |date=10 September 2019}}</ref> Both September and October receive more than {{convert|100|mm|in}} of rainfall while November receives close to 100mm as well. Summer is the driest season, but not rainless, as on average, it receives around {{convert|70|to|80|mm|in}} although July is almost rainless as on average it receives under {{convert|5|mm|in}} of rain, being the sunniest month as well. [[Storms]] are common in Autumn, averaging about 15 stormy days per year. The city enjoys around 2750 sunshine hours per year.<ref name="AEMET">{{cite web |title=Valores climatológicos normales |url=http://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos |publisher=[[AEMET]] |accessdate=30 October 2020}}</ref>
{{Weather box
|width= 80%
|location = Dénia, Spain
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan high C = 17
|Feb high C = 17
|Mar high C = 19
|Apr high C = 21
|May high C = 24
|Jun high C = 28
|Jul high C = 30
|Aug high C = 31
|Sep high C = 29
|Oct high C = 25
|Nov high C = 20
|Dec high C = 18
|year high C =
|Jan low C = 7
|Feb low C = 8
|Mar low C = 9
|Apr low C = 11
|May low C = 14
|Jun low C = 18
|Jul low C = 21
|Aug low C = 22
|Sep low C = 19
|Oct low C = 15
|Nov low C = 10
|Dec low C = 8
|year low C =
|source = Weather2<ref name="MyWeather2">{{cite web |title=Denia Climate Profile|url=https://www.myweather2.com/Holiday-Destinations/Spain/Denia/climate-profile.aspx |publisher=myweather2.com |accessdate=30 September 2021}}</ref>
}}
==Transportation==
[[File:Vista de Denia desde el castillo, España, 2022-07-13, DD 26-34 PAN.jpg|thumb|View of Dénia from the castle.]]
The ferry to [[Ibiza]] and the other [[Balearic Islands]] departs daily. The city also serves as the northern terminus for a {{RailGauge|1000mm|allk=on}} railway line through the mountains from [[Alicante]] (popularly known as the [[Limón Express]]), run by [[Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana|FGV]]. This is not a specific tourist railway; it provides transport throughout the year and is geared to commuter use.
==Culture==
[[File:Falla Oeste Dénia Alacant Marina Alta.jpg|thumb|Falla.]]
The [[Fallas|bonfire]] festival is celebrated each March.  Huge [[papier-mâché]] statues called ''fallas'' are set up throughout the town, and then set ablaze.
The ''Bous a la Mar'' (meaning "Bulls at the Sea") is held in July. The highlight of this week-long festival is watching bulls run down the main street ''Marqués de Campo'', only to be chased into the Mediterranean sea by those daring enough to enter a makeshift bull ring with them.
Since 1974 it has been home to painter and sculptor [[Joan Castejón]]. The town honored him as an Adoptive Son of Dénia in 1999.
Since 2015 Dénia has been an UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. The celebrity Chef Quique Dacosta has a 3 star Michelin restaurant in the Las Marinas area of the city.
==Notable people==
*[[Abu al-Salt]], Andalusian polymath
* [[Joan Castejón]], sculptor
* [[Marta García (racing driver)|Marta García]], racing driver
* [[Alberto Sols|Alberto Sols García]], biochemist
* [[Pepelu]] footballer for [[Valencia CF]]
==Sports==
Dénia's local [[Football (soccer)|football]] team is called [[Club Deportivo Dénia]], and plays in Spain's [[Tercera Division|Third Division]].
==Twin towns==
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Cholet]], France
==See also==
*[[Taifa of Dénia]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060213020402/http://www.denia.net/uk/seccion/fiestas/index.asp Festivals]
*{{Commons-inline}}
*{{Wikivoyage-inline}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Articles related to Dénia
|list  =
{{Marina Alta}}
{{Municipalities in Alicante|state=autocollapse}}
{{Greek colonies of the Iberian peninsula}}
{{Authority control}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Denia}}
[[Category:Municipalities in the Province of Alicante]]
[[Category:Tourism in Spain]]
[[Category:Mediterranean port cities and towns in Spain]]
[[Category:Greek colonies in Iberia]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek archaeological sites in Spain]]