Chulilla is a town located in the Serranía region, within the Turia River basin. Its territorial boundaries are: to the north, Losa del Obispo and Villar del Arzobispo; to the south, Gestalgar and Sot de Chera; to the east, Bugarra and Llíria; and to the west, Sot de Chera and Loriguilla. It covers an area of 62.8 km² and is traversed by the Turia and Sot rivers, creating a rugged and steep landscape. Particularly notable is the Turia River canyon, whose formation has allowed for the utilization of its waters for electricity generation. The town of Chulilla is set in an impressive environment above the Turia River, dominated by an ancient Muslim-origin castle that still retains much of its original structure.
The municipality’s economy is primarily based on agriculture, with 1,700 hectares of dry farming and 80 hectares of irrigated land near the Turia. The main crop is the vine, followed by olive and carob trees, with some plots dedicated to cereals. Since the mid-20th century, the population has significantly declined due to migration to Valencia and its metropolitan area. Additionally, rural tourism, both seasonal and weekend-based, has gained importance due to Chulilla’s proximity to Valencia. Near the Turia River is the Fuencaliente Spa, known for its thermal waters. The municipal archive also holds documentation on the Administrative Board of Los Bajos from the 19th century.
Throughout history, Chulilla’s population has experienced various fluctuations. During the Middle Ages, in 1424, it had about 40 households, and by 1609, it had grown to 160 houses, housing approximately 720 people. However, it later suffered a demographic decline, recovering by the late 18th century. In 1793, when botanist Cavanilles visited the town, it had around 230 neighbors, or about 966 inhabitants. At the beginning of the 20th century, the population peaked at 1,619 inhabitants in 1900. However, following the Spanish Civil War, migration caused a continuous decline, and today, Chulilla has 744 residents.
During the medieval and modern periods, Chulilla was part of a barony that included the current municipalities of Chulilla, Villar del Arzobispo, and Losa del Obispo. With an area of 113.37 km², this territory had Muslim roots. Its castle and boundaries were respected by Christian conquerors until the 19th century, when it was divided into three separate municipalities. Initially, Chulilla was the center of the barony, but the growth of Villar del Arzobispo led to it becoming the capital in the 18th century.
In the 13th century, after the conquest of the Kingdom of Valencia, James I granted the castle of Chulilla multiple times. On May 29, 1249, he gave it to Pere Escribe, although he reclaimed it shortly afterward. Later, on December 17, 1260, he established conditions for the Muslim population still residing there, imposing taxes on irrigated and dryland crops, as well as on beekeeping and livestock. In 1265, the castle was given to García Ortiz de Azagra in exchange for a loan, though in 1271, it returned to the Crown. That same year, James I again granted it to the Bishop of Valencia along with other territories, causing conflicts with the cathedral chapter. Finally, in 1273, it was agreed to divide Chulilla and Garig between the bishop and the chapter, consolidating Chulilla’s barony under their full jurisdiction.
In the following years, Peter the Great confirmed the rights of the local Muslim population. However, in 1363, the cathedral chapter renounced half of the barony in favor of the bishop. Later, Eximén Pérez de Arenós, lord of Andilla, ceded Villar de Benaduf, now Villar del Arzobispo, to the bishop in 1300. Thus, Chulilla’s barony became part of the bishop of Valencia’s domain until the 19th century.
The castle of Chulilla was inhabited by Muslims for years, which was controversial among Christian lords. Eventually, Bishop Ramón de Gastón decided to expel the Muslim population. In 1324, he granted a settlement charter to establish fifteen Christian families in Villar de Benaduf. Later, he requested permission from Alfonso the Benign to extend Christian resettlement throughout the barony, effectively expelling the Muslim inhabitants. The authorization was granted in 1331, and in 1341, the bishop issued another settlement charter to install one hundred Christian families in Chulilla, entrusting repopulation efforts to Miguel Silvestre and Arnaldo de Ganuza. These new settlers had to pay taxes and comply with obligations imposed by the bishop, who also retained full control over judicial administration and castle management.
Regarding territorial boundaries, the first recorded instance dates to April 8, 1286, when the limits between Chulilla and Gestalgar were set. Later, in 1332, the boundaries between Chulilla and Llíria were established, in 1336 those with Domeño, and in 1353 those with Pedralba. However, the municipalities of Chulilla and Villar del Arzobispo did not acquire their own municipal territories until the 19th century.
In the modern era, the most significant event was the separation of Losa del Obispo, a process that began in 1686 and concluded in 1795, leading to the fragmentation of the barony into the current municipalities. This process left valuable documents, including 18th-century maps that were used by Cavanilles to draw a map of the barony.
According to Pascual Madoz, in the mid-19th century, Chulilla had 340 houses arranged in an amphitheater-like manner on a steep slope, making urban expansion difficult. He also mentioned the sulfurous spring of Fuente Caliente, whose thermal waters were highly valued for their healing properties. Additionally, Madoz reported that Archbishop Fabián y Fuero attempted, in the late 18th century, to build thermal baths, though his death prevented the project from materializing. Finally, he highlighted Chulilla’s strategic importance during the Carlist Wars.