NAVAJAS HISTORY
The origins of the habitat in this place date back to Roman times, with the existence of a rural villa, like those that exist in the Palancia valley from this period. Dating from between the 1st and 4th centuries AD, it was located next to the old Roman road, some 300 metres from it, which ran from SAGUNTVM (Sagunto) to BILBILIS (Calatayud).
In the Muslim period, the first hamlet was formed, a farmstead dependent on the madina of Suburb (Segorbe). It was protected by a watchtower or tower, on the slopes of the Altomira mountain, whose function was to control the road that passed between it and the maqbara necropolis, to the south, some 350 m. away from the settlement.
Nabaya is the Arabic name by which it is known, meaning beautiful, precipice, pass. The primitive nucleus was a small group of houses that grew up around the old mosque – now the parish church – naturally defended by a rocky escarpment to the north. There is evidence of Muslim repopulation in the 12th century in this area, coming from the lands of Lower Aragon.
In 1236-37 Zayd abu Zayd, Almohad king of Balansiya -Valencia- was converted to Christianity and by means of a pact, he donated this place to the bishop of Segorbe along with others that he owned until 1248. It is still inhabited by Muslims, who maintain their own rules and religion, although it is now under the rule of Christian lords to whom they pay their taxes. Between the 13th and 14th centuries, it belonged to the bishopric of Segorbe and remained there until it passed into private hands due to various vicissitudes.
In the middle of the 14th century, Navajas passed from the ownership of Ms. María Sánchez de Lumberri, by exchange with the village of Higueras, and continued to be owned by her descendants until it changed ownership because it was related to the Aguiló family. From the 16th century onwards, the Moors were the dominant population, Muslims converted to Christianity, although they did not really become Christians. At that time the first church was built under the patronage of St. Peter – 1534 – on the site of the old Muslim Mosque.
In the 16th century, it belonged to the 2nd Duke of Segorbe, Alfonso de Aragón, who bought this territory and his descendants inherited it. Due to a series of vicissitudes, at the beginning of the 17th century it came into the possession of the princess of Mélito, Magdalena de Aragón. At that time, it was said to be an oppidum, i.e., it was walled in, referring to the back of the houses
which are enclosed, like a wall in which gates are opened. In 1609 the Moors were expelled, being by then Lord of Navajas D. Pedro Franqueza Duke of Vilallonga, by the cancellation of public auction that had acquired the city of Segorbe, although it soon entered in embargo by crimes of its possessor.
After the expulsion of the Moors, the first town charter was obtained in 1610, at a time when the assets of the lord were under royal seizure. Two decades later the urban plot was expanded and an elm tree was planted in 1636 as a symbol of unity established by the new inhabitants, being then Justice of Navajas, Roque Pastor. At this time began the urban expansion in which a new space was formed where the square was the main nerve center, from which new streets start. The square housed the houses of the most prestigious families, highlighting that of the lordship. In this same place, in 1780, the town hall was built with municipal funds. A commemorative inscription carved in dark limestone is preserved that reads:
“YEAR 1780 OF THE KINGDOM OF OUR CATHOLIC MONARCH Mr. Dn. CHARLES III, THAT GOD SAVE MANY YEARS, WAS COSTEÓ WITH THE SURPLUS OF THE OWNERS OF NAVAJAS”.
In the XVIII century the houses of Villafranqueza and Cirat were united, being the last family that held the title of lord of Navajas, until the abolition of the lordships. At the end of this century there is evidence of a link of some families of the Valencian bourgeoisie temporarily residing in the town. Their economic contribution to the construction of the new neoclassical church has been documented since 1793. The botanist Cavanilles in 1794 already makes reference to the goodness of this town in the “Geografía del Reyno de Valencia” (Geography of the Kingdom of Valencia).
At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, the railway and road links favoured the movement and connection with the city of Valencia. The establishment of wealthy families was favoured by Dr. Fernando Rodríguez Fornos, rector of the University of Medicine in Valencia, who catapulted this place due to the mild climate and its waters.
This, together with the hospitality of the locals, made Navajas a leading town in terms of the influx of tourists at a very early date. For this reason it was called the little Valencian “San Sebastián”. There are numerous residential houses that remain from this period, which make up a unique colourful mosaic, with an urban expansion that sets us apart from other towns in the region, maintaining modernist reminiscences of the Belle Époque.
