Introduction

The need of quantifying the time has been a historical constant feature. Some archaeological remains with more than 20 000 years still survive, with clear signs of temporal recounts. Later, this need has been reflected in the invention of different devices. Especially noteworthy is the watch/clock whatever type or mechanism it may have, but it is worth mentioning the sundial, which has been the most reliable for thousands of years.

In the Antiquity they designed and built several models of sundials, according to the needs of measure and the different types of time systems. Thus, up until the 14th century, they used hours of different length in winter and summer, which were known as “temporarias”. The use of equal-length hours was introduced by the Arabs in Europe, thanks to the invention of the sundial with gnomon (a stationary arm that casts a shadow onto a surface), the one which has arrived to the present day.

Although the first mechanical watches date from the 14th century, it was in the 18th century when they had enough accuracy to replace the sundials in the towers of the churches and in some public buildings. However, the sundials will still survive until well into the 20th century in the most rural societies, such as the one of “La Vall d’Albaida”. For more than five centuries, the artisans-manufacturers of sundials were leaving a beautiful proof of the human need of measuring the time all over our regions.

“La Vall d’Albaida” is a region full of sundials. In 1998 it was published a catalogue with 120 sundials in varying states of conservation. Nowadays, some of them have disappeared, and others have been restored and others have been built. Among the sundials which have been restored, they are worth mentioning the sundial of the Town Council of L’Olleria, the one of the belfry of Montaverner and the sundial of the Palace of Otos. At the same time, the sundials recently built are also important, and especially noteworthy are the following sundials, which are authentic monuments: the sundial located in the park of the Astros (El Palomar); the sundial of the park of the Moreras (Benissoda); the one of “l’Avinguda de l’Ortissa” (Benigànim); the sundial of the park of Salem; the one of the Sports Centre of Otos; and the last ones built for the tourist-cultural project “Otos, el pueblo de los Relojes de Sol” (“Otos, the town of the Sundials”).

It is obvious that sundials are part of our popular culture and our scientific and artistic tradition. However, this huge and particular resource has been forgotten and abandoned for many years. The project “Otos, el pueblo de los Relojes de Sol” and the Sundials' Route of “La Vall d’Albaida” try to awaken the interest of institutions and individuals about the conservation of the sundials. But, at the same time, both the project and the route try to create a series of gnomonic itineraries throughout the region of “La Vall d’Albaida”.

From the Mancomunitat de Municipis of “La Vall d’Albaida” region we would like to thank those who have inspired the regional route of the Sundials, Joan Olivares and Rafael Amoroso, because of their work. They have helped us to discover and turn our eyes towards this wonderful tourist and cultural resource. We also would like to thank those who have made this tourist itinerary possible.

We have divided the route of the sundials into two itineraries which include most of the sundials of the region. Both itineraries combine historical sundials, new sundials and those which have been recently restored. Both itineraries end in Otos, where we have many sundials and the CONJUNTO GNOMÓNICO: “Otos el pueblo de los relojes de Sol”.

You can also download the route in pdf.

Routes index




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	Itinerary 1 Itinerary 2 Introduction The need of quantifying the time has been a historical constant feature. Some archaeological remains with more than 20 000 years still survive, with clear signs of temporal recounts. Later, this need has been reflected in the invention of different devices. Especially noteworthy is the watch/clock whatever type or mechanism it may have, but it is worth mentioning the sundial, which has been the most reliable for thousands of years. In the Antiquity they designed and built several models of sundials, according to the needs of measure and the different types of time systems. Thus, up until the 14th century, they used hours of different length in winter and summer, which were known as “temporarias”. The use of equal-length hours was introduced by the Arabs in Europe, thanks to the invention of the sundial with gnomon (a stationary arm that casts a shadow onto a surface), the one which has arrived to the present day. Although the first mechanical watches date from the 14th century, it was in the 18th century when they had enough accuracy to replace the sundials in the towers of the churches and in some public buildings. However, the sundials will still survive until well into the 20th century in the most rural societies, such as the one of “La Vall d’Albaida”. For more than five centuries, the artisans-manufacturers of sundials were leaving a beautiful proof of the human need of measuring the time all over our regions. “La Vall d’Albaida” is a region full of sundials. In 1998 it was published a catalogue with 120 sundials in varying states of conservation. Nowadays, some of them have disappeared, and others have been restored and others have been built. Among the sundials which have been restored, they are worth mentioning the sundial of the Town Council of L’Olleria, the one of the belfry of Montaverner and the sundial of the Palace of Otos. At the same time, the sundials recently built are also important, and especially noteworthy are the following sundials, which are authentic monuments: the sundial located in the park of the Astros (El Palomar); the sundial of the park of the Moreras (Benissoda); the one of “l’Avinguda de l’Ortissa” (Benigànim); the sundial of the park of Salem; the one of the Sports Centre of Otos; and the last ones built for the tourist-cultural project “Otos, el pueblo de los Relojes de Sol” (“Otos, the town of the Sundials”). It is obvious that sundials are part of our popular culture and our scientific and artistic tradition. However, this huge and particular resource has been forgotten and abandoned for many years. The project “Otos, el pueblo de los Relojes de Sol” and the Sundials' Route of “La Vall d’Albaida” try to awaken the interest of institutions and individuals about the conservation of the sundials. But, at the same time, both the project and the route try to create a series of gnomonic itineraries throughout the region of “La Vall d’Albaida”. From the Mancomunitat de Municipis of “La Vall d’Albaida” region we would like to thank those who have inspired the regional route of the Sundials, Joan Olivares and Rafael Amoroso, because of their work. They have helped us to discover and turn our eyes towards this wonderful tourist and cultural resource. We also would like to thank those who have made this tourist itinerary possible. We have divided the route of the sundials into two itineraries which include most of the sundials of the region. Both itineraries combine historical sundials, new sundials and those which have been recently restored. Both itineraries end in Otos, where we have many sundials and the CONJUNTO GNOMÓNICO: “Otos el pueblo de los relojes de Sol”. You can also download the route in pdf. Routes index Up
	Mancomunitat de Municipis de la Vall d'Albaida