Towns and Villages of Spain - Formentera del Segura and the Vega Baja

Formentera del Segura – Originally a Moorish village, Formentera del Segura was conquered by the Christian king Jaime I (‘The Conquistador’) in 1242, the village changed hands a number of times over the prevailing centuries until 1730 when it came under control of Nicolas Pérez de Sarrio (The Lord of Formentera), who gave the village its current name. Largely destroyed by the great earthquake of 1829, Formentera del Segura was re-built by 1840 culminating in the building of the parish church. Relying mostly on agriculture and citrus farming for its survival Formentera del Segura benefits from an irrigation system put into place by the Moors centuries ago. One of its most popular fiestas is ‘The Day of the Bicycle’ featuring a race involving many of its inhabitants.

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.

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.

Redovan – A busy little town located in the Vega Baja region of the southern Costa Blanca, Redovan was founded by the Moors during the Arab occupation (8th to 13th Centuries). Situated just 7 km from the main town of Orihuela, Redovan sits at the foot of the Sierra Segura, a beautiful mountain area covered in pine trees. Over the centuries Redovan has been an important area for the production of ceramics and is also known for its hemp and hemp products. Notable in Redovan is the old city hall with its hand crafted clock tower dating from the 18th Century.

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.

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.

Vega Baja – The most southerly district of the Alicante province, the Vega Baja has a name which means ‘Low Fertile Valley’, an important area for the growing of fresh produce, citrus fruits in particular, it also has a beautiful coastline with some fine beaches and popular resorts. The capital of the district is the town of Orihuela and the largest of its coastal towns are Torrevieja and Guardamar del Segura, where superb white, sandy beaches are lapped by the sparkling, tranquil waters of the azure blue Mediterranean Sea.

This excellent article about the Costa Blanca resort of Formentera del Segura was written by Steve Locke who lives nearby in Cabo Roig. To read more about Formentera del Segura and many other Spanish towns click here:- Formentera del Segura and to learn about neighbouring Ciudad Quesada look here:- Ciudad Quesada