Llíber is an inland municipality located in the southern part of La Marina Alta. Situated at the beginning of the middle course of the River Gorgos,  it lies in the valley known as La Vall de Pop. Located at 274 metres above sea level and covering an area of 22 km², it consists of very mountainous areas in both the north and south, with a fertile plain in the centre. Its population of 883 inhabitants are known as Lliberans and Lliberanes.

HISTORY

Along with Alcalalí and Xaló, Llíber belongs to the sub-region of Aixa, a boundary comparable to the lands of the old hîsn (castle), of which it is the smallest village. Located next to the River Gorgos and surrounded by the mountain range called La Serra de Bèrnia and the hilltop ruins known as El Castell de La Solana, nearby within the region one can enjoy places such as the Aixa spring, the rural areas of Marnes and El Cau or the rock face known as La Penya Roja.

It is possible that the village of Llíber has its origins in a Roman villa, given that it has been speculated that its name comes from praedium Liberii, meaning “the estate of Liberius”.

In the Muslim era, the territory of ​​the Castle of Aixa contained thirteen farmsteads and five farms (Allbayren, Alquellelin, Atrayello, Beniatia, Benibrahim, Beniquasi, Benixaloni, Cotar, Cura, Losa, Murta, Muscayra and Allybait, now Llíber).

In 1245, the lands of Llíber, which were at that time under Muslim control, were conquered by King Jaume I who granted the rents of Llíber and the rest of the farmhouses of Aixa to Lady Berenguera, daughter of the infant Alfons de Castella and cousin of Alfons El Savi himself. At the beginning of the 15th century, the settlements of Xaló, Llíber and Alcalalí were under the lordship of Pere de Castellví, but in 1408 he sold the latter and its territory to Jaume Verdeguer. The former domain of the Castle of Aixa was thus divided into two lordships which would later become the respective baronies of Alcalalí-Mosquera and Xaló-Llíber. The latter formed part of the Martorell estate from 1413 to 1444, a lineage to which the famous novelist Joanot Martorell belonged. Together with Xaló and Gata, it later belonged to the Duchess of Almodòvar, a lady of the 18th century committed to education, subsidising schools to teach literacy to the youngest children of her manors.

The expulsion of the Moors led to the total depopulation of Llíber, forcing a joint settlement charter of Xaló and Llíber to be granted on September 12th, 1611. The villages were repopulated with peasants from the Balearic Islands, mainly from the Majorcan town of Llucmajor, with surnames such as Vidal, Mas, Montserrat and Noguera being proof of this. This historical link is the foundation that explains the twinning that exists between the two municipalities. The division of Xaló-Llíber into two separate areas and the independence of Llíber came about in 1645, partly thanks to the rooting of Majorcan arrivals who refused to leave their homes in Llíber to move to Xaló, as the Lord’s instructions had indicated.

The area has a strong agricultural tradition, with two distinct areas. In the southwestern part of the municipality, with more than 20 threshing floors around Marnes and El Cau, wheat production was the predominant activity from the 17th century until the beginning of the 20th. As well as this, with many animal paddocks in the more mountainous areas, livestock farming also has a long history. On the other hand, on the plain of the northeastern half, the vineyards for wine production and riuraus for making raisins have survived up to the present day.

FESTIVITIES

• From the 13th to 22nd of August, Llíber celebrates its patron saint festivities in honour of La Mare de Déu, Saint Roque, Saint Cosme and Saint Damià.
• L'Escaldà, a festivity dealing with the drying of grapes, is held in the first week of September.
• La Fira del Llaurador, also about raisin production, is held during the first or second week of January.
• La Fira de l'Embotit, a celebration of local produce, is held in the first week of March.
• The market and celebration called La Fira de Sant Antoni is held on the first or second weekend of January.

GASTRONOMY 

• Fresh and cured sausages such as “botifarra”, “salsitxa”, “llonganissa” and “sobrassada”.
• “Coques”, a savoury pastry that resembles pizza. In summer they are eaten with muscatel grapes, resulting in a delicious combination of salty and sweet.
• “Berenar de Pasqua”, the literal translation of which would be “Easter snack”, is a stew of broad beans, peas, potatoes and onion. Halfway through cooking, an egg per person is dropped into the pot to poach.
• “Bollos”: in Llíber the empanadas (savoury pasties) receive this name. In La Marina Alta they are also called “coques tapades”, meaning closed or covered coques. The filling can be mullador (onion and tomato), peas or edible herbs which grow wild such as chicory, sowthistle and chard. In the past, all the country houses would have had their own wood oven to bake bread, buns or coques.

PLACES OF INTEREST

• LIC Conca del riu Gorgos.