Orihuela in The Costa Blanca Is Close To Our Apartment In Guardamar

In the area of Orihuela human settlements date back as far as the second half of the third millennium BC. In the 8th century Orihuela was an independent capital extending over the provinces of what are now now Alicante and Murcia. At this time it was the seat of the dukedom of Teodomiro, a Christian ruler who enjoyed an autonomy pact with the Moors following the Islamic conquest. It's status of capital was diminished when Alicante took over as the regional capital.

Orihuela is was the birthplace of Miguel Hernandez, a radical poet and shepherd who died in prison after the Civil War he was aged only 32. You can visit his birthplace in Calle Miguel Hernandez which is open every day between 10am - 2pm and 4pm to 7pm. Other noteworthy men from Orihuela include the painter Joaquín Agrasot (1836 to 1919), the cardinal Despardes (first Apostolic Nuncio) and the archbishop Loaces amongst others.

The River Segura provides boundaries to the city and is the source of the rich irrigated land or 'huerta' of the Bajo Segura. Today the river marks the border between the old city and the newer commercial centre, which originated in 1884 with the construction of a railway station linking Orihuela with Murcia, the city with which Orihuela is closely joined via its economy and the Segura River.

There are many sights to see in Orihuela from the Cathedral and museum to the Colegio de Santo Domingo (an old convent and university) to the underground Museo de la Murailla. The town possesses five national monuments including 'The temptation of Saint Thomas Aquinas' by Velázquez, the statutes of the Sacred Family by Salzillo, and the 'Diablesa' by Bussy.

Orihuela includes the second largest palm forest of the Alicante region as well as three golf courses, 16 km of town beaches including La Zenia and Dehesa de Campoamor. A walk through Orihuela should not be hurried. Most of Orihuela's glorious architecture can be traced back to either the late gothic, the Renaissance or the Baroque periods. The Cathedral of San Salvador whose museum contains the Velázquez painting is worth a visit.

Also take the time to visit the two most typical churches of Orihuela, the gothic Santas Justa and Rufina with gargoyles and a tower and Santiago (St James). The latter contains the status of the Sacred Family by Salzillo and is the place where the Catholic Monarchs convened a general parliament (Cortes) in 1488 for the purpose of gathering funds to finance a military sortie that would culminate in the seizing of Granada in 1492.