Vinalopó Bajo
The Vinalopó Bajo region, just south of Alicante, covers more than 480 square kilometres where approximately 300,000 people live, primarily in Elche, which is the second largest municipality in the province.
Vinalopó Bajo owes its name to the fact that the region is bathed by the curso bajo or the last stretch of this river, right before it flows into the Mediterranean. The Vinalopó River has left behind a vast plain that is rich in minerals, which explains the region’s agricultural importance.
However, Vinalopó Bajo also has industrial and commercial areas, primarily based on footwear (in the case of Elche) and rugs (in the case of Crevillente). They are joined by Santa Pola, the third-largest municipality of Vinalopó Bajo and a place where fishing continues to play a key role, along with tourism.
In fact, Santa Pola is home to some of the best beaches in the region. An excellent example is Tamarit, a lovely beach under the Cape of Santa Pola, which has a picture-worthy lighthouse and views of Tabarca Island.
Despite the past urban sprawl, Santa Pola has managed to keep intact a number of neighbourhoods with whitewashed homes and a close bond with the sea.
This is made clear upon reaching the fishing port and the market, where the riches extracted from the Mediterranean are sold alongside the fruits and vegetables harvested in the fertile land along Vinalopó Bajo.
Additionally, nature lovers will particularly enjoy visiting Santa Pola’s salt lakes. Although humans transformed this coastal area at the start of the 20th century to obtain sea salt, it is also the perfect habitat for dozens of bird species, including flamingos.
These salt lakes are classified as a natural park, just like El Hondo, which is located on part of what once was Elche’s Albufera, a marshy area that is home to approximately 170 bird species and a great deal of aquatic wildlife.
Another famous nature reserve is Clot de Galvany, which has the best dune formations in the Alicante province as well as many bird species.
Elche has several appeals, starting with its Palmeral palm grove, spread out across several areas, including the botanical garden known as Huerto del Cura. As a whole, it is the largest palm grove in Europe as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Palm Grove Museum is a great place to visit to understand the historical (and financial) importance of this plant species for the city. Another worthwhile stop is the Basilica of Santa María (17th-18th centuries), the setting of one of the nation’s most unique religious events: the Misteri d’Elx (Mystery of Elche), which takes place on the 14th and 15th of August.
Crevillente, the third municipality of the Vinalopó Bajo region, is located near the base of the mountain range it is named after. Portions of the town’s Moorish medieval wall remain intact, along with cave dwellings in some of the historic neighbourhoods.
Here, we recommend visiting the Mariano Benlliure Museum—named after a famous 19th-century sculptor whose works are known throughout Spain—located in the crypt of the Church of Our Lady of Bethlehem (18th century).
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