Spanish Villages - Los Montesinos and its Neighbours

Los Montesinos – Located on what was once the most important Roman road in Spain (the Via Augusta from Rome to Cadiz), Los Montesinos is a traditional Spanish village with a modern feel. Nowadays Los Montesinos has a sizeable British expat community and a number of British bars and restaurants aimed at its British residents, these mingle nicely with the traditional Spanish ones giving the village a cosmopolitan aura. Los Montesinos is right in the middle of citrus farming country and its surrounding roads are lined with orange and lemon groves, the village originally took its name from a family of noblemen who governed the local people many centuries ago.

Rojales – A pretty village located on the banks of the Segura river, Rojales has been able to keep its traditional Spanish feel, despite the onslaught of tourism and property development. With a history stretching back to the Arab Occupation, Rojales still has evidence of irrigation systems put into place by the Moors during their time in the area. Worth visiting while in Rojales are the Water Wheel, the Azud, the Charles III bridge and the Gasparito Wells, also worth a look are the cave houses at El Rodeo, where a regular craft market is held.

Benijofar – Located on the banks of the River Segura between Orihuela and Guardamar del Segura is the tiny village of Benijofar. The name of the village which means ‘son of pearl’, harps back to the days of the Arab Occupation (8th – 13th Centuries). Benijofar is an agricultural village surrounded by rich, fertile land, irrigated by the Segura river, the population of the village is only around 3,600 and it covers an area of just 4.4 km2. The 17th Century church of Saint James was mostly destroyed during the 1829 earthquake which shook this region, but a few parts of the old Baroque church still remain within the re-built structure.

Almoradi – The Costa Blanca town of Almoradi has some 13,000 inhabitants and is another of the traditional towns of the Vega Baja district. Almoradi is notable for its being the home of a water tribunal which exists to resolve disputes over irrigation (this being an important agricultural area), the tribunal is an ancient and historic institution which imposes fines in Vellón Reals – old Spanish coins from the region’s ancient past. Worth visiting in Almoradi are the casino, the church of San Andrés and the Cortés Theatre where traditional Spanish plays can be observed.

Algorfa – In the middle of citrus farming country, Algorfa is a small village with a big heart, its warm friendly people always have a smile for visitors. Located close to the larger village of Almoradi, Algorfa is most noted for its La Finca Golf Club, with its wonderful par 72 golf course designed by Jose Gancedo. Just outside the village is an unusual nineteenth century neo-gothic church. Algorfa’s traditional market is held every Sunday and is a great place to spend an hour or two hunting for bargains and locally grown fresh produce.

Ciudad Quesada – The story of Ciudad Quesada is completely different and unique to that of any other town or village of the Costa Blanca, or in fact the whole of Spain. It is not a story of ancient settlers, nor of bitter wars fought between Arabs and Christians, Ciudad Quesada does not have a medieval fortress or an age-worn parish church built over the course of a hundred years. Ciudad Quesada is the result of one man’s childhood dream, a dream to build his own ‘Holiday City’ where people could live together in harmony, prosper and enjoy life to the full. That dream of one Justo Quesada Samper finally became a reality in 1972 when the city of Ciudad Quesada was begun and had reached fruition by 1999 when it boasted its own Town Hall (Ayuntamiento) and its own Mayor.

Torrevieja – Every year thousands of holidaymakers from Spain and indeed all over Europe head for the Costa Blanca town of Torrevieja. Its great range of facilities, its excellent sandy beaches and its lively atmosphere all help to make it a popular choice. Formerly a small fishing village, Torrevieja became one of the major salt exporters in the world thanks to the two huge salt lakes located behind the town. An explosion in property development during the 1980’s and 1990’s caused the town to grow at a phenomenal rate.

There you have it - Los Montesinos on the Costa Blanca, Spain and some neighbouring towns and villages.

This excellent article about the Spanish village of Los Montesinos was written by Steve Locke who lives nearby in Cabo Roig. To read more about Los Montesinos and many other Spanish towns and villages click here:- Los Montesinos and to learn about neighbouring Benijofar look here:- Benijofar