Audioguide Santa Pola

The Roman house “El Palmeral” was built in the Fourth Century by Portus Illicitanus’ governor. The villa has a central patio or peristile surrounded by a corridor that gives access to seven rooms. Let’s try to picture this grand house,... leer más

The Roman house “El Palmeral” was built in the Fourth Century by Portus Illicitanus’ governor. The villa has a central patio or peristile surrounded by a corridor that gives access to seven rooms. Let’s try to picture this grand house, decorated with marbles, stuccos and frescos, nestled amidst beautiful orchards and enchanting gardens. It was here where the wealthy family spent most of their lives, both private and public.

The well-preserved mosaics follow intricate geometric patterns. The originals are recognisable by the lines or red tesserae that encircle them whilst others are reconstructions that follow patterns of some of the oldest pieces.

Beneath the soil of the same park, and even farther from its boundaries, an abundance of Roman ruins can be found.

The Phoenix Dactylifera that surround us, or otherwise known as date palm trees, were brought here by the Phoenicians almost 5000 years ago. They form the most magnificent landscape in the whole Baix Vinalopó region.

Back then, the coastal line was very close to the current park meaning that the house would look out towards the sea.

Portus Illicitanus was the port of the of Lulia Illice Augusta settlement, todays Elx. From Portus Illicitanus, Roman merchant ships would set sail loaded with salt meat or fish, as well as amphoras or bottles of oil, wine and ‘Garum’, an... leer más

Portus Illicitanus was the port of the of Lulia Illice Augusta settlement, todays Elx.

From Portus Illicitanus, Roman merchant ships would set sail loaded with salt meat or fish, as well as amphoras or bottles of oil, wine and ‘Garum’, an expensive fish sauce. If the wind was favourable, it would take a five-day journey to reach the Roman port of Ostia, in Italy.

These massive vessels were propelled by two large oars at the stern, which were controlled by one man with a pole. With only one large square sail, these ships could attain a speed of some 6 knots and could transport up to 200 tons’ of goods. Throughout the long voyage, they were protected from pirate assaults by the galleys of the Roman army. The port lacked infrastructures for loading and unloading, which took place on the same shore. For this reason, the vessels were built with shallow hulls so as not to hinder the manoeuvres into and out of the port.

The port had warehouses for goods and cisterns to store the drinking water, which was vital for the vessels. Surrounding the port was a little port town where small houses with stone kitchens and water wells could be found.

Inland trade was done all along the shores of the Vinalopó river up to the connection with the terrestrial roads of Heraclea and Augusta. The first road, Herclea, reached the present city of Seville and the Augusta stretched up to Cadiz and Tarragona.

Not far from the port is the Picola Iberian quarry, which was at a later date used by the Romans to place their salt meat and fish factory; as well as a furnace, whose ruins are preserved nowadays, to prepare the garum sauce. This sauce, which was said to have aphrodisiac properties, was made with fermented fish entrails and was used as a food condiment.

In the Iberian quarry ruins, no signs of violence or fighting have been found, therefore it is thought that this was abandoned peacefully in search of a better location, due to the area being a swamp infested by mosquitoes.

The old port was close to the castle, but when the tide went out and the coastal line moved further towards land, the construction of the new pier was authorised in 1844 in its present location. Santa Pola has the first fishing port of the... leer más

The old port was close to the castle, but when the tide went out and the coastal line moved further towards land, the construction of the new pier was authorised in 1844 in its present location.

Santa Pola has the first fishing port of the Spanish Mediterranean due to its volume of fresh fish caught every day. A normal day will see some 20,000 kg of different species come into the warehouse. Red shrimp, being the most sought after species, are caught in deep waters about 50 km from the coast.

Here, traditions and sea practices are well preserved. The strong bonds created aboard the vessel between the crew are maintained on land too, and amongst friends, it is common to refer to each other as cousin, uncle or nephew. Restless children are called “rascassas”, just like the fish that are caught in the bay. These days, it is also common for people to walk in the middle of the road because in older times women would occupy the sidewalks, repairing nets and sails.

Nowadays, the type of fishing carried out is called ‘bay fishing’. Fishermen typically start before 5 o’clock in the morning and always return before 7 in the evening. In old times, there was also ‘deep sea fishing’, which fishermen would commonly refer to as ‘mar gran’ or great sea. Sailors would spend months at a time away from home, fishing in the waters of North Africa. The monument to the fisher reflects the struggle of the farewell. Although for many, the return would be much worse as the youngest children could sometimes not remember their fathers. There was one strict rule however: that the full crew would have to come back for the festivities (“fiestas”) on 31st August, this being the almost magical celebration of the reunion between families and friends.

In the 60’s, Santa Pola became Spain’s first fishing port. However in 1973, the Moroccan’s Dahir extended its jurisdictional waters, from 12 miles to 70 miles. That provoked the start of the decline of Santa Pola’s huge fishing industry, which resulted in the almost complete disappearance of deep-sea fishing. Locals can still remember the days when up to 6 ships would dock at a time. Nowadays, that number reaches only 3. It was common then that seamen of other vessels would help the last one to arrive, passing the catches from ship to ship.

“PEIX DE SANTA POLA” (Santa Pola’s Fish), the badge of quality, accredits the fresh fish that can be purchased in the evenings at the fish-warehouse of the Fishermen’s Cooperative, located at the site where the club house used to be. A variety of fish can also be purchased at the stalls next to Constitution Square.

Just next to the port, you can see the chapel of Virgen del Carmen. In the ships themselves her image is preserved and, together with the image of Loreto in the castle, they inspire great devotion among the locals of Santa Pola.

The Esteban González Boat Museum, which is located opposite the tourism office, is the last ship built here with Senegal’s wood. Today, it’s a museum that can be visited on solid ground, allowing you to have an idea of how the lives of her occupants were at sea.

In the bay of the port, you can also access a sports marina and Santa Pola’s Nautical Club, where boat owners enjoy sailing for pleasure.

The aquarium was inaugurated in 1983 and is the oldest salt-water aquarium of the Valencia Community. It was originally located inside the castle, but the humidity was damaging the structure. So, in 1998 it was moved to its present location. The... leer más

The aquarium was inaugurated in 1983 and is the oldest salt-water aquarium of the Valencia Community. It was originally located inside the castle, but the humidity was damaging the structure. So, in 1998 it was moved to its present location.

The water comes directly from the sea and undergoes filtering and treatment processes before being impelled into the aquarium. The sea flora and fauna species are those typical of the Santa Pola Bay and of the Isle of Tabarca nearby. Fishermen have donated most of the species that can be seen.

The museum is for entertainment but also sends a powerful environmental message. The protected species that run aground on the beach or that are accidentally captured, are recovered and freed back into their natural habitat.

“The grandfather” is a large school of fish that has been at the aquarium since its opening. It belongs to a peculiar species, where the male lives in commune. When the dominating male dies, the stronger female goes through a metamorphosis and becomes a male.

Back in 1967, the bad condition of the castle made it necessary to move the families that lived there to Santa Pola’s upper area. This is how the neighbourhood of El Calvario was born. A beautiful view of the town can be seen from the Arabic... leer más

Back in 1967, the bad condition of the castle made it necessary to move the families that lived there to Santa Pola’s upper area. This is how the neighbourhood of El Calvario was born.

A beautiful view of the town can be seen from the Arabic style monastary. The temple houses the image of the Virgin of La Piedad and is the last stop of the Via Crucis line. With a total of 14 stations, it traditionally reaches the highest place of the town, commemorating Christ’s journey up the mountain of El Calvario. The monastary already existed before the arrival of the new inhabitants. The former construction was built in about 1850 and the present buiding dates from 1944.

From this spot, we can occasionally see ‘pigeon freeing’, a tradition well-rooted in the community. The breeding of singing birds (“silvestrismo”) is also very popular. Santa Pola holds competitions for ‘bird singing’ which is of great importance both in the province and in the country.

It has always been the priority for the people of Santa Pola to get and store drinkable water for consumption and farming. Santa Pola’s inhabitants gathered the knowledge from Romans, who were the most skilled in the construction of hydraulic... leer más

It has always been the priority for the people of Santa Pola to get and store drinkable water for consumption and farming. Santa Pola’s inhabitants gathered the knowledge from Romans, who were the most skilled in the construction of hydraulic works. Also from the Arabs, who were able to draw the maximum benefits from each drop of water.

From the eighteenth century, the Massapà’s cisterns were used to supply water to Santa Pola’s inhabitants. Water was stored in jars and transported in mule-drawn carts and sold to the neighbours.

In the Modern Age, there was a population increase that called for expansion into new areas and the construction of new cisterns throughout the territory. Massapà’s cisterns were built at this time. The water would flow through areas planted with aromatic and medicinal plants, which is why the water was commonly thought to have healing powers.

The cisterns were used during the first half of the XX century, however after the Civil War there was a large emigration. This resulted in the abandonment of farming and the traditional hydraulic culture. Soon after, the cisterns became unused.

The cisterns were built underground, covered by a brick and mortar vault. The water reaches it through channels coming from the Massapà ravine. Maintenance and checks are carried out frequently to avoid leaks and filtrations. The interior is also cleaned regularly, clearing out the plants that grow in from the outside, guaranteeing the best quality of the water.

The European scientific community awaited a full Solar eclipse with great anticipation. It was to take place on 28th May 1900 and would be fully visible from Santa Pola. A group of 40 English, Spanish, French and Scottish scientists, along with... leer más

The European scientific community awaited a full Solar eclipse with great anticipation. It was to take place on 28th May 1900 and would be fully visible from Santa Pola. A group of 40 English, Spanish, French and Scottish scientists, along with some 25,000 foreigners, gathered in Baix Vinalopó to watch the astronomical event. Santa Pola had about 4,100 inhabitants back then and awaited the eclipse with anticipation and fear.

The ship of the English army, ‘Theseus’, arrived with a group of scientists who were to carry out the astronomical observations. Leading them was Sir Norman Lockyer, one of the fathers of modern astronomy. While the astronomers would do their job, fishermen would play football on Levant beach, an unknown sport at the time. Local papers would describe it as an extremely violent sport that prohibited the use of hands and was played with a ball made of rags. It was the first time this popular sport was played on the Valencian shore.

At that time, this beach was the favourite for locals and for the first visitors, who were mostly from Elx. The beachgoers came here to sunbathe and swim in the sea, as well as to visit the “Casino” (club) and the theatre.

This beach was formerly called ‘Beach of the Engineers’ due to the large population of shipyard engineers living in the area. It was also the meeting point for the traditional celebration “Mona de Pascua”. This was the day when the... leer más

This beach was formerly called ‘Beach of the Engineers’ due to the large population of shipyard engineers living in the area. It was also the meeting point for the traditional celebration “Mona de Pascua”. This was the day when the ‘mona’, a sweet roll with a hard-boiled egg on it, and the “fogasetas”, rolls without egg, were eaten.

From this point to Tabarca, there is a abundance of Poseidonia Oceanica, a sea plant with stem, flower and fruit. Its leaves can reach a length of one and a half metres. The Poseidonia is the planet’s major oxygen producer. When it washes up on the beaches, it is wrongly considered as dirt, when in fact it is a positive indicator of the water quality. In the winter months, the Poseidonia is allowed to accumulate on the shore to work as a natural barrier, protecting the beach sands.

From this beach and continuing along the seafront promenade, you will arrive at East Santa Pola, an urbanisation declared in 1965 as a Centre of National Touristic Interest, because of its originality and integration with the landscape.

Santa Pola also holds sporting events of national and worldwide importance, as Santa Pola’s half marathon, duathlon, thriathlon and the popular swimming crossing to Santa Pola end in this location. This sporting event is, according to swimmers, Spain’s best crossing of the open sea, with a distance of 5.9 km.

These two natural beaches are located next to Santa Pol’ Salinas Natural Park, a wetland of great beauty with huge landscape and a plethora of wildlife. If we were at La Gola beach, we would have our backs to the salt mountains. The mineral,... leer más

These two natural beaches are located next to Santa Pol’ Salinas Natural Park, a wetland of great beauty with huge landscape and a plethora of wildlife.

If we were at La Gola beach, we would have our backs to the salt mountains. The mineral, in order to become edible, has to go through a natural process involving sun and air. Once the salt has crystallised and forms a layer about 25cm thick, the salt is separated from the lower muds with machines, and is accumulated in the ridges or salt mountains.

In contrast with refined salt, which only has two minerals, marine salt contains minerals like Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, iron, copper and zinc, amongst others. This makes it much healthier. As little fact is that in some films, the snow is not snow at all, but rock salt. Do you remember the snowy landscapes of “Doctor Zhivago”?

At La Gola beach, we can find Las Salinas Bras of the port dock, whose construction was petitioned to the Ministry of Public Works by Don Alfonso Llorens Ceriola in 1896 to export the salt it produced. As a result, the small wagons could pour the salt directly onto the barges. These vessels did not have oars or other means of propulsion, and would enter the port using ropes attached to the boats anchored at offshore waters. Here they would pour the salt, and were later hauled back to the shore to repeat the process. The frame of the barge can still be seen close to the sea.

At the Pinet beach, the sand has a kind of cinnamon colour. Here, you will find a valuable dune system that supports a fragile ecosystem, with endemic plants adapted to this ever-changing environment.

The Salt mines of Bonmatí are just next to the Pinet beach. They were built at the beginning of the 20th century, as well as the foundations of El Pinet Watch Tower. This watchtower would exchange smoke signals during the day and fire signals during the night with the Guardamar Castle, the Tamarit Watch Tower and the Santa Pola Castle-Fortress.

During the Civil War, the pier was used as a strategic site. Some bunkers still remain that were witnesses of the defense of this position by the Republican militias.

Although it is commonly referred to as a castle, it is in fact a fortress, built in 1557 by Bernardino de Cárdenas, Valencia’s Viceroy. The engineer Juan Bautista Antonelli was responsible for the Italian Renaissance style of the construction.... leer más

Although it is commonly referred to as a castle, it is in fact a fortress, built in 1557 by Bernardino de Cárdenas, Valencia’s Viceroy. The engineer Juan Bautista Antonelli was responsible for the Italian Renaissance style of the construction. Its robustness is due to the continuous barbaric pirate incursions from the North of Africa, for which no defensive resources were spared. The sloping walls, as well as being difficult to scale, were stable enough to face the collisions and the torus that surrounded them.

The first medieval architectural witness of Santa Pola was the Cap de l’Aljub Tower, formerly known as Cap de l’Aljub’s port, or Cabo del Pozo Port. There is a document that authorises Jaime I’s vessels to be supplied with water from the cisterns found under the fortress. The foundations of this tower were uncovered in excavations carried out next to the Virgin of Loreto chapel. An attack on this tower by Barbarossa, the pirate, was well documented. The fortress survived thanks to its robustness. When the fortress was constructed, the symbolic preservation of the tower was considered. However, it was eventually demolished.

A garrison of 33 people along with their families lived inside the castle. Among them was the Major, the highest municipal authority. Every day the “discovery” would take place. A soldier on horseback would visit every watchtower and on his return to the castle, he would uncover his face and give the password.

In 1859 it was solicited to the Queen that, given its ruinous state and the Ministry of War demolition plans, the fortress would become property of the Town Hall. The Queen, Isabel II, agreed on the condition that it would remove all military presence. It was then that the windows were opened and the administrative offices moved into its halls. Since then, the place has been used for various functions, serving as a town hall, a prison, barracks for the Civil Guard, Court of Peace, a hospital and even a bullring.

In 1967, it fell into ruin and disrepair. For this reason, the families were evicted and relocated to the neighbourhood of El Calvario. Only one family, who are in charge of the Mare de Deu de Lorito chapel, Santa Pola’s patroness, remains there. Legend has it that a woman, who was fleeing from the Moorish, turned herself in to some sailors of a Villajoyosa ship, asking them to leave her in the first port they came to. The ship, when passing by Santa Pola, had to take refuge in the port. When the storm ceased she tried to escape, but the storm grew worse and worse, until the sailors eventually decided to leave the image at Santa Pola. This event is commemorated on 10th December with a procession from the port to the chapel, where neighbours carrying torches accompany the Madonna.

A little known fact is that in the north wall of the fortress you can see the small holes purposely left by the Architect after the reconstruction so that swifts could nest there. Also, interestingly, some of the windows have a blue edge so as to protect the house from evil spirits.

If we leave through door that leads to the Roundabout Square, originally the only one, we will be able to see a Bourbon shield. This was a gift for the castle to the kings from the Marquis of Astorga, because he was not able to maintain its upkeep. Santa Pola neighbours protested when the clock above the door was to be removed, something that finally never happened.

The place where we are now is referred to as “The Chain” by locals. This is the spot of the peninsula closest to the Isle of Tabarca, the only inhabited island of the Valencia Community, located only 3 miles away. The chain was very small at... leer más

The place where we are now is referred to as “The Chain” by locals. This is the spot of the peninsula closest to the Isle of Tabarca, the only inhabited island of the Valencia Community, located only 3 miles away.

The chain was very small at the beginning. However, because it gave name to the place, it was decided that a larger one, from the anchor of a large cruise ship, would be installed.

One of Santa Pola’s advantages is that most of its beaches are South-facing. On the sea there is a line of buoys that run 1 kilometre parallel to the coast. They mark the number one circuit in Spain for the swimmers training in the open sea.

Now we are just opposite the Isle of Tabarca. Due to its proximity to the coast, the island was used in the Middle Ages by the Berber pirates as a centre for operations. The story goes that at the end of the XVIII century King Charles III ordered the construction of a wall, which would surround the central body of the island, as well as bulwarks, batteries, terraces and gates, building inside it a village that had the characteristics of a city, in order to give asylum to a group of Genoese fishermen rescued by royal ruling from the Isle of Tabarca, near the Tunisian coast.

The whole walled area was declared a Historic-Artistic Site in 1964 and became the first marine reserve of the country in 1986. Its crystal clear waters attract many snorkelers and divers.

The bustling market square is the heart of Santa Pola. You can find there a variety of fresh, great quality products such as vegetables, fruits, meats and Santa Pola’s fish (peix). Not to mention the salt meat, fish and pickles. It is normally... leer más

The bustling market square is the heart of Santa Pola. You can find there a variety of fresh, great quality products such as vegetables, fruits, meats and Santa Pola’s fish (peix). Not to mention the salt meat, fish and pickles.

It is normally open from 8 in the morning until 2 in the afternoon. Also, on Saturdays, stalls are opened outside, keeping up the tradition of doing the shopping that day in the morning, both here and at the Viguetas flea market. It is very typical to have “churros” for breakfast at the stalls before “d’anar a fer la plaça”, which means, “go to the market”.

The market is located in the ancient square of the church, and was a project for an academic temple in the mid 19th century.

Chroniclers give account that “when the temple was built in its most part, one night the vault collapsed, leaving the entire works in ruins”. After overcoming the loss, the works continued. But disaster struck again some years after. At the end of the 19th century, an earthquake destroyed part the new church and became known in the village as “the broken church”.

The present Market Hall was built on this site between 1935 and 1938.

The Watch Towers were built in 1552 under the reign of Felipe II. They are strategically situated to look out for the enemy before they would reach the coast. They communicated among themselves using smoke signs during the day and luminaries at... leer más

The Watch Towers were built in 1552 under the reign of Felipe II. They are strategically situated to look out for the enemy before they would reach the coast. They communicated among themselves using smoke signs during the day and luminaries at night.

Their custody was charged to four guards or ”atajadores”: two on foot, who kept continuous watch, and two on horseback, who maintained communication between the two towers. Both this tower and the Atalayola, now known as Faro, had guards on foot, but not on horseback. This meant that the communication was left to the two “atajadores” of the castle.

Also known as Torre i Pep, this tower has a round floor and its main function was to keep watch over the sea area, paying special attention to any enemy vessel that might have been hiding in the nearby Isle of Tabarca. Should this have happened, warning signals were immediately sent to Atalaiola Tower, nowadays the lighthouse (“Faro”), and to Santa Pola’s Castle-Fortress.

The name of Escaletes probably comes from the term “calar”, meaning to haul down, in Valencian. This is because the ships would stop here before reaching the shore.

Gran Alacant has become a residential area where many European residents, who have chosen Santa Pola because of its mild climate and its beaches, now coexist. The development of this area started in the 1980s, with the first urbanisations: Gran... leer más

Gran Alacant has become a residential area where many European residents, who have chosen Santa Pola because of its mild climate and its beaches, now coexist.

The development of this area started in the 1980s, with the first urbanisations: Gran Alacant, Gran Vista and Panorama. Today, there are several leisure areas where residents gather to relax and enjoy the local food: Gran Alacant Mall, Norway Avenue, close to Clot de Galvany, Scandinavia Avenue, next to the municipal offices, and Mediterraneo Avenue.

Gran Alacant is settled on an ancient fossil coral reef of the Messinian Era, a unique specimen in Europe. In its foothills you can find the Santa Pola sierra, a landscape of great beauty where you can go hiking or cycling tour and enjoy nature.

The beauty of Gran Alacant is evident when you see the views from its viewpoints. The viewpoint at Avenida del Mediterráneo boasts the natural beauty of the dunes on Arenales del Sol and the Alicante Bay. On the clearest of days, Sierra Helada and the Ifach Rock, 37 or 68 km away, are clearly visible.

From the viewpoint of Avenida de Escandinavia, you can see part of the Santa Pola Cape coast. In the Cape’s rocky walls, there is a micro-reserve of rock wildlife. On the shore lay the remains of a medieval quarry, whose perfect cuts on the stone form rectangles, which were used to complete Tabarca’s Fortress, as well as a fossil dune.

In this same avenue, continuing along the urban area of “El Olivo de Oro”, you’ll arrive at a popular spot for para-gliders, who fill sky with colour on pleasant, breezy days. This area is ideal for this sport, due to its location. Santa Pola’s cliffs allow taking off and landing in the same place. The paragliders are able to remain in the air for long periods without having to descend back to the ground.

Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente square is the starting point of the hiking trails and also the start of La Milla (the mile). The people of Santa Pola love sports and healthy living, so it is normal to see people walking from this place up to the... leer más

Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente square is the starting point of the hiking trails and also the start of La Milla (the mile). The people of Santa Pola love sports and healthy living, so it is normal to see people walking from this place up to the end of East Santa Pola, until they reach a place called La Cadena (the chain). This walk of some 3km hosts many hikers who, when coming across one another will ask: “Have you arrived?”, referring to the final point of La Milla. Santa Pola’s urban seafront is 7km long in total.

The first part of La Milla is called Paseo de Santiago Bernabéu, honouring the man who was the great host of Santa Pola. His main hobby was to spend hours in the sea in his small boat. On one occasion, at a social event where local personalities attended to honour him, when the time came to give out the gifts, the Major noticed that he had not brought a gift for him and was very quick to find a solution: in his speech, he proclaimed that the gift for the eminent Santiago was to name this street after him.

Santa Pola’s municipal slaughterhouse was, in older times, in this same site. The elderly locals still remember that the best octopuses were caught here.

The sand of Santa Pola beaches has a sort of greyish colour, different to the typical golden of other beaches. This is due to its high content of mafic minerals. On the Isle of Tabarca, opposite Santa Pola, emerge some sub volcanic rocks whose erosion has filled our beaches with darker grains. This feature is common on all the beaches except that of Pinet.

This cove, as its name indicates, allows pets to enjoy a good bath in its crystal-clear waters. The cove dels Gossets is one of Spain’s first beaches adapted for dogs. Behind us, there is the coral reef of the Messinian Era, one of the most... leer más

This cove, as its name indicates, allows pets to enjoy a good bath in its crystal-clear waters. The cove dels Gossets is one of Spain’s first beaches adapted for dogs.

Behind us, there is the coral reef of the Messinian Era, one of the most important reefs in the world. It is made up of the remains of fossil coral from a reef or marine lake, whose waters would run inland, and are today the ravines that run up the Sierra slopes. This reef emerged when tectonic plates of Europe and Africa clashed, and the reef became a slope. The view of this place cannot be missed in the program of Geology students; you can even see a fossilised sand dune.

Continuing along the Cape’s road, we find the d’Enmig Tower, a grand building that used to be the headquarters of the police corps and was used to fight against smuggling. Today, it houses the CIMAR, Santa Pola’s Marine Research Centre.

The first swimming regulation issued at Santa Pola set forth the limits of what parts of the body women could and couldn’t show. In those times, the beachgoers, mostly from Elx, would holiday in huts made of palm leaves held up by sticks or... leer más

The first swimming regulation issued at Santa Pola set forth the limits of what parts of the body women could and couldn’t show. In those times, the beachgoers, mostly from Elx, would holiday in huts made of palm leaves held up by sticks or poles.

In the breakwater that separates the Nautical Club from Gran Playa Lisa, there was a wooden wheel that would collect seawater and lift it up it to be taken to the salt mines.

Santa Pola Bay has idyllic conditions for various water sports, due to its shallow and calm waters. In these West beaches, there are several windsurfing clubs that offer water sports all throughout the year.

We are now at a wetland of international importance, declared a natural park in 1986 for its beautiful landscape and wildlife, where you can appreciate the connection between the salt industry, and the park’s fauna and flora. The salicornia is... leer más

We are now at a wetland of international importance, declared a natural park in 1986 for its beautiful landscape and wildlife, where you can appreciate the connection between the salt industry, and the park’s fauna and flora.

The salicornia is the typical flora that adapts itself to the saline environment through two systems: by being saltier than its own environment and by eliminating salt.

The Park’s most famous inhabitants are pink flamingos. In one year one can observe more than 300 bird species, the flamingos standing out due to their bright colours and beauty. As it happens in cities, there are residents and migrants. Ones make the North route, passing through the Delta del Ebro, the French Camargue, North of Italy, Croatia, and reaching Turkey. Others make the South route via Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt.

They eat artemia salina, a tiny crustacean that gives them their pink colour. Flamingos do a continuous dance with their legs so as to lift the mud from the sea bed. They stick their heads down and sift through the mud with their beaks in order to find the small crustacean, only half a centimetre big. An egg from artemia can remain for 10 years in a saline medium until the conditions are right for hatching. Flamingos breed in the Park, some years 500 chicks are born.

The Salt Museum is located in what used to be a salt mill, within the Murtula Salt Mines. The museum is a didactic centre, well deserving a visit. On the second floor there is an Observatory with a telescope watch the birds of the salt mines.

From the Tamarit Watch Tower you can see what are, no doubt, some of the world’s most breath-taking sunsets.

Santa Pola’s Sierra is located on a coral reef of the Messinien Era. In this area there is an abundance of white pines, eucalyptus and cypress trees. These trees were repopulated because the original trees were cut down and used for... leer más

Santa Pola’s Sierra is located on a coral reef of the Messinien Era. In this area there is an abundance of white pines, eucalyptus and cypress trees. These trees were repopulated because the original trees were cut down and used for construction and firewood. Since the organic layer is very thin, the roots cannot delve deep into the soil and very few trees grow, living as if they were bonsai trees. As for other wildlife, lizards, partridges, some birds of prey and rabbits can be found as well as foxes, badgers or weasels.

This place was once used for seasonal migration. Flocks of sheep from the mountains of Cuenca would spend the winter months here, and the Maño cistern would be used to supply the flocks with water. In fact, the ratified PRCV 61 path crosses a cattle track.

Leaving the road and following the signposts down the various paths, there are some very interesting spots. The cave of La Gota, named so because the water falls drop by drop. Sheppards would leave a can to collect the liquid, so that the next one to arrive would find it full.

In the vicinity of this lighthouse, you can see numerous ruins of architecture from the Civil War. In particular, we can find 2 air-raid shelters and the barracks for the troops.

The lighthouse stands where the Atalayola Watch Tower once was, at 144 metres high, the views from there are breath-taking. On clear days, you can even see Ant Island (“Isla de Hormigas”) in Cartagena, and to the left Calpe’s Ifach Rock.

A winding walkway stretches over the gorge, providing spectacular views of Santa Pola’s entire Bay and of the isle of Tabarca.