When we think of Vega Baja del Segura, we tend to imagine fertile orchards, good weather and cuisine linked to the land. However, this region of Alicante is much more than just landscape, agricultural tradition and beaches…
Creativity Build, wants to guide you so that this Christmas you can make alternative plans and discover the wide range of cultural activities that this region of the province of Alicante has to offer. It is the perfect time to delve into its history, heritage and identity.
Its capital and historically most important city is Orihuela, whose old town was declared a Historic-Artistic Site in 1969, one of the first in Spain. Strolling through its streets is like walking through centuries of history: not surprisingly, Orihuela became the capital of the Kingdom of Valencia for a brief period during the reign of Philip V of Bourbon. The city has five National Monuments and nine Sites of Cultural Interest, most of which are concentrated in its old town.
Among them is the Colegio Diocesano Santo Domingo, an imposing architectural complex consisting of a church, convent and university, built in different historical phases. Its Renaissance façades and the Baroque façade of the university make it one of the most emblematic buildings in the municipality. Another must-see is the parish church of Las Santas Justa y Rufina, a Gothic temple built on the site of an old Islamic mosque, where the images of the patron saints of Orihuela are venerated.
The Episcopal Palace, also a Site of Cultural Interest, now houses the Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art. Inside, you can admire authentic artistic gems, such as Diego Velázquez’s The Temptation of Saint Thomas Aquinas and sculptures by Francisco Salzillo. And for literature lovers, the Miguel Hernández House Museum offers an intimate and moving experience to learn about the life and work of the world-renowned poet born in the city.
The culture of Vega Baja does not stop at Orihuela. Almoradí surprises visitors with its interesting hydraulic heritage, which can be discovered through the well-known Water Route, a tour that highlights the historical relationship between humans and traditional irrigation. In Cox, visitors can explore the Ethnological Museum, located in an old flour mill, and climb up to Santa Bárbara Castle, one of the oldest in the Valencian Community.
In San Fulgencio, the Municipal Archaeological Museum houses important finds from the Iberian sites of La Escuera and El Oral, which are key to understanding the origins of the region. Rojales combines history and creativity with its urban hydraulic monument complex and the unique Cuevas del Rodeo, ancient dwellings carved into the rock that have now been transformed into cultural spaces and craft workshops open to the public.
The mark left by ancient civilisations is particularly visible in Guardamar del Segura, where you can visit the Rábita Califal de las Dunas, a unique Islamic monastic complex, and the Phoenician site of La Fonteta, evidence of an ancient port city. Topping the town, Guardamar Castle offers not only spectacular views, but also remains that bear witness to occupations from the Iron Age to the Arab period.
On our cultural tour, we come across Torrevieja, where we will discover its well-known salt-making tradition, mainly through La Era de la Sal, which became one of the first salt loading sites in Torrevieja Bay. Its modern construction dates back to 1776, and for more than 180 years, this place was the centre of the city’s salt trade. A must-see is La Laguna Rosa, a huge 1,400-hectare pink lagoon that forms part of the Lagunas de la Mata y Torrevieja Natural Park.
We will also find the Torrevieja Casino, a modernist building from 1896, a social icon of the city. The Torre del Moro, a former coastal watchtower, is now an iconic viewpoint. And the Church of the Immaculate Conception, the town’s main church, is a neoclassical building dating from 1880.
Finally, Pilar de la Horadada completes this cultural route with the Gratiniano Baches Municipal Archaeological-Ethnological Museum, the bell tower of the Nuestra Señora del Pilar Parish Church, built in the Neo-Mudéjar style, and its coastal watchtower, declared a Site of Cultural Interest, which transports us back to the days of pirates and maritime defences.
This Christmas, Creativity Build recommends discovering the Vega Baja del Segura region through its culture, allowing yourself to be surprised by its significant yet little-known cultural and architectural heritage. A different kind of trip, close by and full of history.
This Christmas, discover the lesser-known side of Vega Baja del Segura: its culture.
