It’s Thursday, and a sizeable crowd has gathered at the corner of Plaza de la Virgen in Valencia, Spain, near the Apostles Gate of the city’s central cathedral. Mostly tourists, they have come to witness the Tribunal of Waters—an ancient court that convenes to resolve disputes over water distribution in the plains of Valencia. What makes this open-air tribunal remarkable is its continuous operation for over 1,000 years, making it the world’s oldest court and the oldest democratic institution in Europe.
The Tribunal de las Aguas of Valencia in session in 2006. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
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Valencia’s Water Tribunal is The World’s Oldest Court
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