Orihuela covers 388,70 km2. It is located in the south of the Valencian Region, with a population of 80.000 people, distributed over the town and about 20 municipal districts, which constitute its municipal jurisdiction.

History: According to the existing records, there were civilization settlements in Orihuela since the Chalcolithic (second half of the third millennium B.C), and the most important ones were the Argaric, Final Bronze, Antique Iron, but specially the Iberian and Roman. During the Visigothic Epoch, it was the capital of a district that covered today’s Alicante and Murcia provinces. In the 8th century, it was the head of the dukedom of Teodomiro, who agreed his autononomy with the Arabs –the legend says that the Visigothic hero placed at the walls of the town some women dressed in warrior uniforms, so that he forced the negotiation against the invader-. In the 9th century, it lost the independence against the Omeyas Caliphate.

Afterwards, it was integrated in different Taifas Kingdoms, until the 13th century (17th July, 1242) the troops of the then Castilian Infante (later Alfonso X El Sabio) reconquered the town. At the end of the 13th century, Orihuela joined the Valencian Kingdom, as head of the government and with the right to vote in the Courts.

Culture and Art: From Orihuela come illustrious men in Arts and Sciences, like the poet Miguel Hernández –from whom we have his house, opened to public as a Museum- or the painter Joaquín Agrasot. Orihuela has been as well the inspiration for Gabriel Miró in his novels Nuestro Padre San Daniel and El Obispo Leproso. Regarding the artistic manifestations, it is convenient to highlight the Architecture, declared Monuments of National Interest, like the Cathedral, built over the Visigothic, Hispano-Arabs and Mudejar remains, at the beginning of the 14th century and the Santiago Church – a Gothic piece, with a Rennaissance façade and an important side chapel from the Baroque -.

Gastronomy: The cuisine in Orihuela is elaborated with products from their own huerta. Traditional dishes are the cocido con pelotas, guisado de pavo, paella huertana, judías estofadas and the most traditional: arroz y costra. In the coast, fish is the main dish: the dorada a la sal (gilthead covered in salt), for instance, is a good choice. It is also convenient to outstand the great variety of homemade cold meats and salted fish. Apart from the variety in fruits, outstand the sweets and cakes, most of them homemade, as well. The menu is large: pasteles de gloria, chatos, valarinos, almojábanas, yemas and acaramelados.

Climate: Mild, with an average temperature of 5 degrees in winter and 30 degrees in summer, very poor rains, what means enjoying from the sun 250 days a year.

Festivals: The Holy Week –declared a Festival of Tourist Interest- it is, without any doubt, the most outstanding. You can see images sculpted by Salzillo, riched thrones in silver, banners, flowers, music and penitents. The most peculiar procession is the Santo Entierro (The Holy Funeral) –it is celebrated on the Holy Saturday, and one of the most original images of the Holy Week is carried: La Diablesa (Bussy, S. XVII); it was given this popular denomination because the devil appeared with naked women. This image cannot enter any church, it is forbidden-. By the 17th July is commemorated the Reconquest of Orihuela by the Infante Alfonso of Castile, with the celebration of the Moors and Christians: parades, gunpowder, open-air dances. Moreover, they celebrate other festivals like the Saint Anton’s Day (on the 17th January), the August Fare (on the 15th August) and the Virgin Montserrat Day (on the 8th September).

Communications: The best accesses into Orihuela is by the A-7 or Alicante-Murcia motorways (exits 80 and 81), and the rest of Spain through the motorway Alicante-Madrid.

BEACHES OF ORIHUELA:

Cabo Roig: Cabo Roig beach is placed in a semiurban area. It is bounded by La Zenia Beach to the north, and by La Dehesa de Campoamor to the south. It is 420 metres long and 18 metres wide. It is a sandy cove, and it has different accesses through slopes and steps.

Campoamor: It is one of the largest beaches in this municipality, it is 650 metres long and 20 metres wide. It is an opened beach of thin sand, located in a semiurban area, bounded by Cabo Roig Beach to the north, and by Mil Palmeras Beach to the south.

La Zenia: It is one of the busiest beaches in Orihuela. It is placed in a semiurban area, bounded by Flamenca Beach to the north, and Cabo Roig Beach to the south. It is an opened beach of thin sand, 350 metres long and 60 metres wide. It was awarded with a Blue Flag because of its position, services and good maintenance.

Mil Palmeras: Natural beach located in an urban area, bounded by Campoamor Beach to the north, and provided with all kind of the necessary services for a beach. It is an opened beach of thin sand, 346 metres long and 45 metres wide. Awarded with a Blue Flag.

Playa Flamenca: This beach is 150 metres long and 16 metres wide. It is an opened beach located in a semiurban area, and with a high occupation of bathers. It is bounded by Punta Prima Beach to the north, and by La Zenia beach to the south. It was awarded with a Blue Flag, because of its good maintenance and services. There is a seafront behind its sand, and it has good accesses, due to the bus and taxi stops, as well as car parks.

Punta Prima: It is a narrow sandy cove of two levels, 170 metres long and 14 metres wide, bordered by a short walk, and different accesses through slopes and steps. Located in a semiurban area, so that it has a high occupation. It is bounded by Los Náufragos Beach (Torrevieja) to the north, and by Flamenca Beach to the south. The beach has thin sand and with different accesses from footbridges.