Alcoià

Alcoià is a comarca in the province of Alicante, within the Valencian Community of Spain. In Valencian, the name is l'Alcoià. It lies in the inland, northern part of the province, with Alcoy (Alcoi) as its capital and largest city. The comarca includes several other municipalities connected to Alcoy by the valley and surrounding hills.

The landscape is predominantly mountainous, with the Serra de Mariola forming a defining feature and several protected natural areas. The area combines forests, rocky outcrops and agricultural lands, including orchards and citrus groves in lower zones.

Historically, Alcoià is associated with early industrial development; Alcoy was a leading center of textile manufacturing in the 19th century, a period that shaped its urban growth and culture. Today the economy is diversified, with manufacturing and services in towns like Alcoy, together with rural agriculture in the surrounding countryside.

Culturally, the comarca is part of the Valencian-speaking region. Valencian is commonly used in public life, signage and education alongside Spanish. The area preserves traditional celebrations, most notably the Moros y Cristianos festival in Alcoy, one of the oldest such events in Spain, as well as local fairs and gastronomic traditions.

Overall, Alcoià combines a prominent industrial heritage with natural landscapes and a rich cultural calendar, reflecting the broader diversity of inland Alicante.