Most tourists come to Costa Blanca to seek sunny beaches, hot water and to get their life back on feet. I did that too, but needed some breaks from the tanning-lotion and dirty feet. I went to explorer the secrets of Orihuela.
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First of all, it doesnt sound promising when you hear that Orihuela is the capital of the low fertile lowlands or La Vega Baja. Even the life giving river Segura seemed dried out to me, as I came driving the blue line on the map. I saw nothing but green straws to remind me of water. We need to go back to 1492 to understand the importance of Orihuela. No, I am not saying that Christobald started his expedition to India here. No, no. This city was chosen by Ferdinand and Isabella to be the starting point for the spanish final battle with the Moors. The foundation of the city were done by the romans. They called it Orchelis. Later is was the capital of the Dukedom of Teodomiro, before it was captured by the moors in 711. Today the city of Orihuela shows a good blend of architectural jewels from its proud history, as it is only in the past years that its importance has been exceeded by Alicante and Murcia. Orihuela has 75 000 inhabitants, all of them just as proud of their city.
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Details of a lightpost at the bottom of the castle hill
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I drove into the citycenter following the signs for the tourist office, and found a modern car park right in the middle of town. I tried to find the tourist office which was supposed to be in a castle, but the only castle I saw was on the top of a hill. When I came up there, I had the most amazing view of the city, but no tourist office. From my viewpoint I overlooked the whole valley, where the water from Rio Seguro is used to maintain agricultural activity, growing lemon trees, orange trees, palm trees, almond trees, olive trees, pomegranates, cotton, hemp and vegetables. The city has a vey good market for all sorts of fruits and vegetables. I could clearly see a aqueduct system or a pipeline of white pipes, but I was not able to find out what this was used for. When I decended from then castle hill, I found a beautiful park where I sat down to enjoy an icecream and a cup of coffee. Around me on all sides, I saw really beautiful architecture.
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| What's really great: |
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Narrow street and blue roofing
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I enjoyed the narrow streets with bautiful houses. I grew found of the blue mosaic roofing of the churches. A very clear color that made a good contrasts to the grey/brown bricks. I liked the fertility of the place, which I thought to be dry and hot place. The atmosphere was fantastic, only 30 minutes from the touristindustry in Torrevieja, and yet so calm and quiet.
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Orihuelas rich cultural and historical past has left a vast monumental heritage of remarkable artistic value including romanesque, gothic and renaissance style churches, convents and palaces, five of which have been declared national monuments. I saw two of these, the Catholic Cathedral built between the 14th and 16th centuries and the Church of Santo Domingo.
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This is where Rio Seguro is leaving the canal system through town and rejoins it original riverbed
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The travel guides on internet says that Orihuela has around 1,500 hotel places. The average price of a hotel room is between 40 and 150 euros per night, depending on the hotel category and time of year.
Hotels are situated in Orihuela town centre, at the entrance along the Alicante-Murcia road and along the coast surrounding the golf courses and by the beaches of La Zenia and Dehesa de Campoamor.
Or, you can do as me, buy a charter-tour to Torrevieja and hire a car to get in here.
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Another lightpost downtown Orihulea
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Loom for further info on Orihuela on these pages:
www.orihuela.com
www.orihuela.net
http://www.alicante-spain.com/orihuela.html
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Published on Tuesday March 7th, 2006
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Sat, Mar 11 2006 - 03:59 AM
 by downundergal
Interesting report. Love the pictures.
I still find that it is hard to write a report if you have not stayed overnight but I think this is a great attempt. |
Thu, Mar 09 2006 - 08:56 AM
by marianne
| Lots of useful information. Also very good pictures |
Tue, Mar 07 2006 - 08:26 PM
 by mistybleu
Tue, Mar 07 2006 - 05:26 PM
by isaacmolina
Good report! I am glad that you like Spain.
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Tue, Mar 07 2006 - 12:19 PM
by davidx
| I've been in so many Spanish towns like this - delightful to be in but not that much to say. This is a very god report. |
Tue, Mar 07 2006 - 12:09 PM
by rangutan
| Never heard of this place before and not sure I'll ever get there but the report is a good balance between research and personal findings and between history and exploring a modern day city. You have a good eye for detail too, scene also in the pictures, making this report quite special. [4.6] |
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