DK Travel : Costa Blanca : History & Culture

Page
1
2
3
4
5
6

Polop

Just a few miles inland from the hectic coast, Polop is a peaceful little village on a hill surrounded by orchards. Often overlooked in the rush to the beaches, Polop’s old quarter, with its maze of narrow streets recalling its Arabic origins, invites a tranquil stroll.
Renaissance (c.1450–1600)

Renaissance architects took inspiration from monuments of Greco-Roman civilization.
Retablo Mayor

An altarpiece, usually featuring a series of painted panels, decorates the main altar in most Spanish churches.
Rodrigo de Borgia (c.1431–1503)

The infamous Pope Alexander VI, father of 10 children including Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia, was born in Xàtiva.
Romanesque (c.1050–c.1200)

Inspired by Roman architecture; characterized by rounded arches and tunnel vaults.
Santa Iglesia Catedral del Salvador, Orihuela

Orihuela’s Gothic cathedral of pale, creamy stone was begun in the 14th century. There is exquisite sculptural detail inside and out. Two beautiful wrought-iron grills enclose the choir, with its magnificent Baroque organ, and the main altar.
Since 1939

Regional differences – including the Valencian language – were savagely suppressed under Franco’s dictatorship. The advent of mass tourism in the 1960s brought jobs, money and a swathe of new development. Franco died in 1975, and democracy was peacefully restored. Tourism continues to provide the Costa Blanca with most of its wealth.
The Lost Years (1700–1939)

Spain suffered during the wars and political upheavals of the 18th and 19th centuries. However, much of the region’s most spectacular architecture was built during intermittent periods of prosperity. Simmering unrest in the early years of the 20th century erupted into the bloody Civil War (1936–9), won by General Franco.
Villena

High above the town, this fairytale castle has crenellated towers and sturdy ramparts.
Xàtiva (Játiva)

The Romans built a fortress here, but the current castle dates back to the medieval period.