Dr Josep Serrano, a senior lecturer at the UIC Barcelona School of Law, gave a lecture on the “Ordinances in the village of Ascó” in the framework of the XII Local and Territorial Studies Carmel Biharness Event that was held in the Community Centre in Ascó. Entitled “500 aniversario de los Ordenamientos de la villa de Ascó (1520-2020)”, (500th anniversary of the ordinances of the village of Ascó (1520-2020)), Serrano commemorated the half-century existence of a regulation that is medieval in origin and preserved during the Modern Age and reflects the structure of government and the municipal administration of the time.

He underlined the fact that the text “sets out the rules governing the coexistence and economic activity of the inhabitants, with the provision of a regime sanctioning violations,” and he highlighted the figure of the mossassaf, the officer in charge of the market, public order, health and good manners.

This talk by Josep Serrano took place a year after the initially planned date due to the pandemic and formed part of an event dedicated to Carmel Biharness, a cultural activist who set up the Ribera de Ebro Study Centre. This Centre was also one of the organisers of this event, along with Ascó Town Council.