Xerta

Xerta Cherta
Municipality
Flag Coat of arms
Xerta Location in Catalonia Xerta Xerta (Catalonia) Xerta Xerta (Spain)
Coordinates: 40°54′34″N 0°29′30″E
Country	Spain
Autonomous Community	Catalonia
Province	Tarragona
Comarca	Baix Ebre
Government
• Mayor	Roger Aviñó Martí (2015)
Area
• Total	32.4 km2 (12.5 sq mi)
Elevation	12 m (39 ft)
Population  (2018)
• Total	1,150
• Density	35/km2 (92/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Xertolí, xertolina
Website	www.xerta.altanet.org

Xerta (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈtʃɛɾta]) is a town and municipality of the comarca of Baix Ebre. It is established in a sharp bend to the right of the river Ebre, about 12 km upstream from the city of Tortosa in the province of Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain.

Geographical context

The municipality covers 33.55 km ². The Ebre river is the dividing line with the municipalities of Tivenys and Benifallet to the east. To the west, the land is hilly, and there are recent eastern foothills of the Iberian System. Tramontana noon, adjoins the "Coll del Musso" to Paüls, and the "Colls d'en Gràcia" of the "Tossal de la Cova del Bou", which borders with Alfara de Carles in the west. In the south the border coincides with a stretch of the gorge "la Conca" and then curve towards the north diagonally to the right and near the gorge "del Llop", with Aldover.

Xerta has good communication with Mora d'Ebre, Tortosa and the A-7 autopista; through the regional road (C-12) known as the "Eix de l'Ebre". Zaragoza was formerly with the rail line from the "Val de Zafán", closed in September 1973 and now converted into a greenway (110 km from Bajo Aragon and even Tortosa).

The Assut of Xerta

The Assut of Xerta.

The Assut of Xerta is an important monument of hydraulic engineering declared Cultural Asset of National Interest in the category of Historical Monuments by the Government of Catalonia in 2002. It is located three kilometers upstream from the town. It is a dam built diagonally from side to side along the Ebre River about 375 feet. Its function is to divert water to the irrigation canals of the Right and Left of the Ebre.

Popular festivals

• Summer Festivities of St. James

Summer festivals are dedicated to Saint James (July 25). Among the acts are the most traditional street bulls or paella at the riverside. A curiosity is the "White Night", a night on which people do not go to sleep. It starts with dancing in the outdoor courtyard of the school, culminating with a dance party accompanied by a brass band that runs through the village streets, arousing all xertolins after breakfast. It ends with chasing the bull in the streets which continues throughout the morning.

• Festival of Saint Martin.

Another festival of this town is dedicated to our Patron Saint Martin (November 11). Some acts are the most traditional street bull chasing, the popular dinner of beef stew, or dancing the Jota Xertolina on the day of Saint Martin. In the square, at about five o'clock, all xertolins big and small start to congregate wearing the traditional costumes of Xerta squares fills with color, ready to dance the Jota Xertolina, a traditional dance that is kept alive by the locals. These and many more acts are prepared, and they are all very much enjoyed by the local population.

External links

• Official website (in Catalan)
• Government data pages (in Catalan)