Santa Pola Live Cam

On the national road to Madrid, 27 kilometres away from Alicante, is the city of Novelda, in which the Castelar Street leaves to one side the old part of town and to the other, modern constructions. There are noteworthy houses from the beginning of the century, the Modernist Museum, in the Calle Mayor (Main Street), the Castle of La Mola, about three kilometres away, with an odd triangular tower, of the XIV Century, unique in the whole of Valencia, and the Sanctuary of La Magdalena, of Modern Art, inspired by Gaudí.

The vineyards which smooth the landscape disappear in the direction of Monóvar (Monóver), giving way to drier land, where some almond trees can be seen. Here, the City Hall, Azorín House, the Museum of Arts and Trades can be visited, and one can shop for shoes, leather and copper articles and lace.

To arrive at Villena, one has crossed Elda, practically joined to Petrel (Petrer) due to industrial growth, and leaving Sax to the left, with its amazing castle. In Villena, The Church of Santiago, Gothic from the XV century, along with its castle are declared of national artistic and historical interest. It was of great importance during the years of Arab dominance, and was reconquered by Fernando III and Jaime I.

Returning to Salinas up to Pinoso, where very interesting ceramics are found, leaving behind almond and olive trees and going, back to the vineyards, already in Hondón de las Nieves (Fondó de les Neus), with marble quarry and a curious panoramic view from the mountains of Crevillente, in order to reach Aspe, with indigo-, ochre- and sienna-colored houses, and items of handicraft pottery.

Next to Aspe, Elche, the palm tree city, joins the present to its medieval past, and in its surroundings the garden of "Huerto del Cura" (Orchard of the Priest) can be found. Close to the palm tree orchard, and on the edge of the old area of town, is the Castle Palace of Altamira, one of the towers of the old wall, where the general councils of the town took place. The Archeological Museum is not to be missed.

In the old area, the so called Mystery of Elche takes place, a medieval representation held in the interior of the Basilica of Santa María, of Baroque Levantine style, and separated from the tower of Calahorra by the Santa Isabel Square. In Elche, the shoe, leather and glass work will tempt the traveller.

Reed-grass and rush-covered lands, natural ponds, orchards, and palm trees complete the area of El Hondo lagoon, between Elche, Crevillente and Dolores, which form the second most important wet area of the Valencian Community, after La Albufera, and in which ecosystem take refuge more than 250 species of water fowl. This has been declared a national place.

In Crevillente, (Crevillent), with bright colours and Arabian look in its quarter of Las Cuevas, rugs and tapestries are made.

On the detour to Cox, where the ruins of a XV century castle are preserved, the route will take us to Callosa de Segura, with its Renaissance Church of San Martin, Gothic in its front and with rich jewlery pieces, Dolores, San Fulgencio and Santa Pola, vacation center, with its XVI century castle.

Dry Land And Wetland

From the capital to the north, San Juan de Alicante, (Sant Joan d'Alacant), and its ceramics, and Muchamiel (Mutxamel) are the remains of the Alicantine orchards that introduce the traveller to dry land, after crossing the Seco River, and a detour to Busot, of harsh landscape, softened by the almond trees, in contrast with the visit to the Caves of Canelobre.

Jijona (Xixona) is the land of nougat (turrón), made with almonds and honey. As for its monuments, it has a Gothic church from the XIV century, three hermitages, a XII century castle, which preserves part of its walls, and a sculpture museum.

After the mountain pass of La Carrasqueta, in the large natural park of Carrascal de la Fuente Roja, a sample of Rupestrian paintings can be found in the place known as La Sarga, which the traveller should not miss. The narrow streets of Ibi, its toy museum and the varied ethnographic collection, leave a pleasant memory to continue on the route to Castalla and Tibi, leaving to the right the mountains of Maigmo, from which natural balcony a beautiful panoramic view of Alicante can be observed.

Less than 20 kilometres from the city of Alicante, going down towards the coast, Agost, amongst vineyards, is the first pottery making industry center of the province, with its famous white clay water jugs, as well as other ceramic items.

By The Segura River

To the South of the Costa Blanca, the town of Torrevieja is located, with its peculiar handicraft boats of salt and ceramic, and the beginning of a route in the Segura River, known as the Vega Baja.

On the coast we arrive to Guardamar de Segura, between coves, precipitous coast, and beaches such as El Cura and Los Locos, where scuba diving and all kinds of underwater sports can be practised in an inland landscape of dunes, lagoons -Torrevieja and La Mata- and pinewoods.

Before arriving at Rojales, with its Archeological Museum, the cultivation of citric and vegetables crops makes a surprising change in the landscape that announces the Vega, which will lead us to Orihuela, by way of Formentera de Segura, between the big rubber plants at Almoradí, Algoria, and after crossing the Segura River, to Jacarilla, with its palace and gardens of the Marquis of Fontalba and Bigastro.

Orihuela, of historical importance since the Roman era, forms a half a moon in the old part of town, between the Arabian castle and the River Segura, which divides the town.

Its Gothic Cathedral, built on the ruins of the old mosque, the Episcopal Palace, (year 1558), its churches, the old University, with a beautiful cloister, close to the Palmeral, as well as the old quarter with its beautiful big houses, made Orihuela one of the most important historical and artistic centres of the Alicante province.

The monumental Orihuela, of ceramic and iron work, of orchards and gardens, is displayed to the visitor from the top of the Seminario of San Miguel, in a panoramic view that should not be missed.

From Orihuela, the route goes through the mountains of Cristo, and the La Pedrera Dam, which has carried out successfully the agrarian production of the area, in order to reach Pilar de la Horadada, leaving to the left the Peña del Aguila, where among pine trees, the eagle made its nest, and along this way returned by the coastline to Torrevieja.