REQUENA  , a

town of E . Spain, in the province of Valencia; on the left bank of the river Magro, and on the railway from Valencia to Utiel . Pop . (1900) 16,236 . The town was formerly a Moorish fortress, occupying a strong position in the mountainous region of Las Cabrillas (3400 ft) . It is dominated by the ancient citadel of the Moors, and still has traces of the original town walls . There are three ancient parish churches; San Nicolas, the oldest, dates from the 13th century, but was partly restored in 1727 . Near the town are the sulphurous springs of Fuentepodrida . The chief industries are the cultivation of grain, fruit and saffron, and the manufacture of wine and silk .