Alzira

monastery of La Murta

Alzira, also spelled Alcira, city, Valencia provincia (province), in the comunidad autónoma (autonomous community) of Valencia, eastern Spain. It lies in the Ribera district, south of the city of Valencia. It originated as the Iberian settlement of Algezira Sucro (“Island of Sucro”), so named because of its insular position between two branches of the Sucro (Júcar) River. It became the Saetabicula of the Romans and was called Jazīrat Shuvr by the Moors. United to Christian Spain in 1242, it declined after the expulsion of its large Morisco population in the early 17th century. Alzira has a Renaissance city hall (1540; now a national monument) and a Roman bridge over the Júcar. Ruins of the 14th-century monastery of La Murta are nearby. Alzira exports oranges and by-products, manufactures paper goods, and breeds poultry. Pop. (2007 est.) mun., 43,038.