Pilar de la Horadada () is a town and district in the Province of Alicante, in the southeast of Spain. Located 66 km south of
Alicante
Alicante ( ca-valencia, Alacant) is a city and municipality in the Valencian Community, Spain. It is the capital of the province of Alicante and a historic Mediterranean port. The population of the city was 337,482 , the second-largest in t ...
, the city is the southernmost of the
Valencian Community
The Valencian Community ( ca-valencia, Comunitat Valenciana, es, Comunidad Valenciana) is an autonomous community of Spain. It is the fourth most populous Spanish autonomous community after Andalusia, Catalonia and the Community of Madrid with ...
, only 1 km north of the regional border (with the
Province of Murcia
The Region of Murcia (, ; es, Región de Murcia ), is an autonomous community of Spain located in the southeastern part of the Iberian Peninsula, on the Mediterranean coast. The region is in area and had a population of 1,511,251 as at the st ...
).
The town and its neighbouring villages (
Pinar de Campoverde
Pinar de Campoverde (''Pine Forest in/of the Green Field'' literally) is a small village located at the foot of the Sierra de Escalona mountain range, nine kilometres from Pilar de la Horadada borough council, in the province of Alicante, Spain. T ...
and
Torre de la Horadada
Torre de la Horadada is a Spanish town located on the Mediterranean Sea with an estimated population of 2.676 inhabitants and comes under the jurisdiction of Pilar de la Horadada, which in turn has a total population of 22.967 according to the Nat ...
) are home to thousands of
British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies.
** Britishness, the British identity and common culture
* British English, ...
,
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
and northern European expatriates. San Javier Airport (Murcia) is within close proximity.
Geography and Ecology
The district boasts great ecological value, with an abundance of
hawthorn
Hawthorn or Hawthorns may refer to:
Plants
* '' Crataegus'' (hawthorn), a large genus of shrubs and trees in the family Rosaceae
* ''Rhaphiolepis'' (hawthorn), a genus of about 15 species of evergreen shrubs and small trees in the family Rosace ...
, globularia,
mastic
Mastic may refer to:
Adhesives and pastes
*Mastic (plant resin)
*Mastic asphalt, or asphalt, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid
*Mastic cold porcelain, or salt ceramic, is a traditional salt-based modeling clay.
*Mastic, high-grade cons ...
,
Kermes Oak
''Quercus coccifera'', the kermes oak, is an oak bush in the ''Ilex'' section of the genus. It is native to the Mediterranean region and Northern African Maghreb, south to north from Morocco to France and west to east from Portugal to Cyprus an ...
and
chamaerops
''Chamaerops'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Arecaceae. The only currently fully accepted species is ''Chamaerops humilis'', variously called European fan palm or the Mediterranean dwarf palm. It is one of the most cold-hardy p ...
.
There are many birds of prey to be found in the region, such as
peregrine falcon
The peregrine falcon (''Falco peregrinus''), also known as the peregrine, and historically as the duck hawk in North America, is a Cosmopolitan distribution, cosmopolitan bird of prey (Bird of prey, raptor) in the family (biology), family Falco ...
s,
golden eagle
The golden eagle (''Aquila chrysaetos'') is a bird of prey living in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the most widely distributed species of eagle. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. They are one of the best-known bird of p ...
kestrel
The term kestrel (from french: crécerelle, derivative from , i.e. ratchet) is the common name given to several species of predatory birds from the falcon genus ''Falco''. Kestrels are most easily distinguished by their typical hunting behaviour ...
s.
Monuments and interesting places
* Parish Church of "Nuestra Señora del Pilar", in the centre of the town. It was built in 1986 on the same site as its predecessor. The bell tower of the original structure stands to this day. Its advocation is to the Blessed Virgin (Virgen del Pilar). In the building there are many examples of religious art, especially works from the local artists José María Sánchez Lozano and Manuel Ribera Girona.
* Watch Tower (16th century), built in 1591 to protect inhabitants of the town against the Mediterranean pirates. It is situated on the beach, in the nearby village of Torre de la Horadada.
* Río Seco in Pinar de Campoverde: a local river without water for the most of the year. The area is home to a lot of native animals and plants.
* Protected Zone of Sierra Escalona: protected in order to preserve native animals, particularly the birds.
* Archaeological ruins of : an old Roman town on the Vía Augusta, the main route between Illici (
Elche
Elche ( ca-valencia, Elx) is a city and municipality of Spain, belonging to the province of Alicante, in the Valencian Community. According to 2014 data, Elche has a population of 228,647 inhabitants,Cartagena), two of the most important Roman cities in
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
.
* Archaeological – Ethnological Museum
* Remains of a Roman quarry on the Mil Palmeras beach
* The beaches of Pilar de la Horadada are spread along five kilometres. They are long with fine and white sand. These beaches are relatively safe places and swimming is permitted in mild conditions. Under the sea, one can see the marine biodiversity and the poseidonia. The quality of these beaches is demonstrated with their Blue Flags. Las Higuericas and Mil Palmeras are two of the most popular beaches in the district.
Festivals
* Festivals in honour of the Blessed Virgin: from 29 September until 30 October. The Floral Tribute (11 October) is one of the highlights alongside the 12th with the Solemn Mass, the procession and "Las carrozas" (one week later).
* Summer festivals: 30 July – Independence from the Orihuela Council (1986).
History
The town has been the site of many battles because of its location at the historical frontier between two kingdoms: the Kingdom of Murcia (Castilla) and the Kingdom of Valencia. Pilar de la Horadada was a town with dry farms and few houses known as Campo de la Horadada. After various centuries of agricultural economy, its tourism breakthrough came with its independence from the
Orihuela
Orihuela (; ca-valencia, Oriola ) is a city and municipality located at the feet of the Sierra de Orihuela mountains in the province of Alicante, Spain. The city of Orihuela had a population of 33,943 inhabitants at the beginning of 2013. The mun ...
municipal district in 1986. Co-operative societies such as 'Surinver' and 'Teresa Hermanos' use many of the local fields for vegetable growing. Pilar de la Horadada lies between the sea and the mountains and has a Mediterranean climate.