Beniaján

Beniaján
Seal
Beniaján Location in Spain
Coordinates: 37°59′N 1°04′W / 37.983°N 1.067°W / 37.983; -1.067
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Region of Murcia
Province	Murcia
Comarca	Huerta de Murcia
Government
• Mayor	Francisco Hernández Quereda
Area
• Total	13.924 km2 (5.376 sq mi)
Population  (2010)
• Total	11,233
• Density	810/km2 (2,100/sq mi)
Demonym	Beniajanenses
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Website	Official website

Beniaján is a village located in the Region of Murcia (Spain), beside the mountains that close the Valley of Segura. It has a population of around 11,000, and is not far from the region's capital, Murcia.

Beniaján is known for the abundant production of citrus fruits that its factories export around the world; this is the most important economic activity in this city.

The town was founded during Roman times.^[1] Since before the 18th century, the Virgen del Carmen has been the Patrona (patron saint) of Beniaján. A statue is carried in procession annually in celebration of her feast day.

• San Juan Bautista's church and Patrona's Chapel (17th-20th centuries)
• Villanueva's church, Virgin of Azahar
• Mirador de San Antón (viewing point)
• Puntarrón Chico, a rocky spur commanding the city, home to an Argaric archaeological site
• Parque Regional de El Valle y Carrascoy (mountains and natural spaces with special protection)

These are the main festivities of the town:^[2]

• San Antón, 17 January
• Carnival
• Easter
• Virgin of Azahar, 1 May
• Virgen del Carmen, Patrona (patron saint) of Beniaján, 16 July

• El Argar

• Beniaján - Portal Ayuntamiento de Murcia(in Spanish)
• Beniaján - Región de Murcia Digital (in Spanish)