Svinia is a village of some 1,500 people in eastern Slovakia about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) west from Prešov. The village covers an area of 14.734 square kilometres (5.689 sq mi). Svinia is located in the Šariš Highlands in the valley of Veľká and Mala Svinka. The village is one of the oldest villages in the former Šariš County. The village belonged to the Hungarian Merše family from Budapest from 1262 to 1918. Until 1262, the settlement of Svinia belonged to Bár-Kalán ban of Slavonia.