represented 36% of the population. But there are also Germans and North Americans in town. The district of Vernissa Park is largely English speaking, since most of the people that settled in the urbanisation are British. In 1998 there were 382 inhabitants in Benigembla, and in the census of the year 2006 the population reached 563 inhabitants, and in 2022 there are 512 inhabitants. Today there is 52% of the population according to the 2022 census that is foreign, of which about 67.5% are from the United Kingdom of Great Britain, while the rest come from North America, France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, and Eastern Europe. It is a very flat town surrounded by mountains, which one can find very enjoyable and relaxing. The main language spoken by its local inhabitants is the Catalan language, also known locally as Valencian, which the majority of the population speak and use as their main language. After the decree of the expelling of the Moors in 1609, the town was populated mostly by inhabitants from Catalonia, and the Balearic Islands. Most of the traditions of these settlers are still carried out today, together with the Catalan language that they brought with them. In the table below we can see the different changes in Benigembla's population from the year 1857 to 2007, according to the National Institute of Statistics(1). The population has been increasing since 1998, since more of the newcomers started to register in the municipal town's census. Today the population of Benigembla is the most diverse population that has been since the existence of the town. |} Major festivities and traditions There are two major festivities during the year. In the 3rd week of January, the town celebrates its winter festivities in honour of Sant Honorat and Sant Antoni with its fayre, and the blessing of house pets and other animals, and other activities. During the summer in August, the town celebrates its major festivity from 12 August to 17 August. During the summer festivity there are concerts, theatre, fireruns (correfoc), dancing, Valencian handball, running with the bulls, and religious celebrations. In autumn, there is usually a craft fair on the last weekend of October (darrer diumenge d'octubre). Environment Nestled in the Valley of Pop, on the River Gorgos at the foot of the mountains of El Cavall Verd, its relief is very wary and holds places worth visiting force throughout the municipal