Sunday, September 8th 2024
PLACES OF INTEREST
TOURIST INFORMATION ON THE PORTAL
- There are numerous places of interest in El Campello: from its secluded coves and beautiful beaches to its wide natural environment, through its monuments, enjoyable walks and archaeological remains,... There are many reasons for stopping off in our municipality.
- LA ILLETA WATCHTOWER
- This tower was built between 1554 and 1557, to prevent the population being attacked by Berber pirates who relentlessly pursued our lands, looting them and causing massive damage and creating fear in the people. It can be found overlooking the marina. The Viceroy of Valencia Mr. Bernardino de Cárdenas, Duke of Maqueda, ordered the construction of a system of watchtowers. He provided them with four men each: two footmen and two horsemen. In this manner, whenever a pirate boat was detected, the horsemen galloped off to warn the closest authorities of the immediate danger, whilst the men remaining in the tower were in charge of alerting the other towers of the sighting of an invader through smoke signals during the day and bonfires at night. This tower is built in a truncated cone shape, its diameter is six metres at the base and five metres at its highest point, the entrance door is located in its mid section so that to reach it a rope ladder or cord were needed. Its interior is solid from the base to the height of the door and from there the terrace is reached by an internal staircase. It was declared a Cultural Heritage Site and was restored in 1991.
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- EL BARRANC D'AIGÜES TOWER
- Like the "Illeta Tower", it was built in the second half of the 16th Century as part of the network of watchtowers located along the length of the Valencian coast to prevent attacks from Berber pirates. It is located in a protected spot of great beauty, which was the border between the kingdoms of Castile and Aragon until 1296, when King James II finally annexed these territories to the Aragon crown and also to the Kingdom of Valencia.
Although the top part of the tower is quite deteriorated, it still preserves the remainder of its physiognomy which allows us to imagine its original structure. 
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- LA ILLETA DELS BANYETS OR THE QUEEN'S BATHING POOLS
- Located in a small peninsula, at the foot of the Watchtower, an archaeological site can be found which is, without a doubt, the most important of the Mediterranean. These lands were separated from the coast by an earthquake of an unknown date, and during the 30's of the last century were artificially reunited with the land. The first excavations were carried out by F. Figueras Pacheco between 1931 and 35 and, during the decade of the 70's, by E. A. Llobregat. These works confirmed the existence on this site of different civilisations and cultures, with the Roman, the Iberian, and the Bronze Era being the most significant, and so we can date the site as being over 5,000 years old.
From the Iberian era vessels, weapons, tombs and ceramic remains have been found, as well as singular buildings which lead us to believe that significant production and trade activity took place in relation to other Mediterranean cultures between the 2nd and 4th Centuries B.C.
From the Roman era small thermal baths have been found which belonged to a disappeared agricultural village and, linked to this and to others nearby, some fish-farm hatcheries cut into the rock. Despite the erosion, the pools can still be made out, connected to the sea, in which the fish were farmed. These constructions (els Banyets) give their name to the site because according to word of mouth tradition they were the bathing pools of a Moorish queen.
The site is currently supervised by the Museo Arqueológico de Alicante (Marq), which is in charge of is museumisation. - up
THE CHURCH SQUARE OR PLAZA CANALEJAS- It is one of the most ancient squares of the town, where some of the most emblematic buildings of El Campello can be found, the Church and the Library, and it is for that reason that it is without a doubt, the true hub of the religious celebrations and festivals held there in the open air throughout the year.
The Parish Church was built in 1849, substituting the first church built in El Campello at the end of the 18th Century, under commission of the owner and master of the place, Mr. Ignacio Pérez de Sarrió. It is devoted to the worship of Saint Theresa, and is not particularly large, despite having undergone several extensions, but it still preserves its original shape and beauty and for this reason deserves a visit.up
- VILLA MARCO
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The rustic Villa Marco Estate dates from the middle of the 19th Century and was very important in the agricultural area known as the fertile region of Alicante. At the beginning of the 20th Century, it acquired residential character and a modern style with interesting colonial French art influences which differentiate it from the other estates which remain in the region.
Its beautiful Versailles inspired gardens were created at the beginning of the 20th Century under the auspices of Renato Bardin, honorary consul of France and owner of the estate at that time. Conveniently looked after throughout their history, they have experienced some modifications which have, however, respected their original morphology. The gardened area surrounds the house with pathways cut out of it and which are flanked with classical style cups and jugs The garden can be divided into five areas: the "Arabic garden" (originally used as an orchard) the "historical garden" where the most significant examples can be found, the "access garden" which was the carriage entrance, a small "Mediterranean garden" (with autochthonous plants) and a large pine area which represents the "Mediterranean forest". The gardens house two sculptures by the renowned Alicante artist Vicente Bañuls: "La Noche" and "La Marsellesa". - up
- THE MARINA AND FISHING PORT
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The Port has two clearly defined areas:
The area dedicated to nautical sports activities, with new and magnificent installations and a capacity for more than four hundred vessels. The Club Naútico Campello is the Generalitat Valenciana tender holder of the sports installations, from which the most spectacular panoramic views of our environment can be appreciated.
The area dedicated to professional fishing has some thirty moorings for these kinds of vessels. Among its installations the Lonja del pescado (fish market) stands out, where, from Monday to Friday, a fresh fish auction and sale to the public is held. This is a unique and appreciated activity in this town which attracts a multitude of buyers and interested people. 
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- THE FISHERMAN'S MONUMENT
- A work of art by the Alicante sculptor Arcadi Blasco, it was built in 1990, and despite its youth it can be said that it is already emblematic for El Campello, perhaps due to its architectonic uniqueness. It consists of two parts, one on the land, which represents a boat, and the other out to sea (currently on the sand of the beach) representing a lighthouse. It represents the unity and dependence that our town and its people have historically with the sea.
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- THE PROMENADE
- The Promenade is found in the area known as the fishermen's area and was inaugurated in 1964. After several redesigns and extensions, it is currently nearly a kilometre and a half long, which makes it ideal for a walk at any time of the day throughout the year. The hotel and commercial infrastructure which it boasts allows us to taste the rich Campello gastronomy, and so it is a very attractive and crowded area.
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- VORAMAR DE LES ESCULTURES
- At the foot of the Illeta Watchtower the Voramar de les Escultures walk begins, which follows the coast until it reaches the Almadraba Beach. The environmental route, self-guided by six panels of the L'institut d'Ecológia Litoral, (the Institute for Coastal Ecology) allows us to discover the biological and anthropological characteristics of this valued natural environment.
During our walk along this pleasant beach balcony, we can enjoy the sculptural collection by the artist Vicente Ferrero, composed of three sculptures whose common theme is woman, which are erected in complete harmony with the countryside surrounding them. - up
- NATURAL SPACE
- El Campello has a long coast line full of beaches and bays of all kinds, from the biggest golden sanded beaches such as that of Muchavista, linked to the much visited San Juan beach, to the rocky peaceful coves of Coveta Fumà or the sandy bay of Venta La Nuza. Furthermore the municipal area is "wrapped" in the Puntes de Gosalves, Xixí and the Lloma de Reixes mountain ranges. The latter has an undeniable ecological interest due to the large number of autochthonous species which exist there and the almost complete absence of intervention by man in the urbanisation process which characterises the rest of the municipality. It is important to note that it is protected by the General Plan for Urban Zoning and it is currently in the process of being declared a protected nature spot.
In addition, the maritime area of El Campello offers scuba-diving enthusiasts the possibility of interesting underwater routes, such as the "baños de la reina" route which starts in the extreme north of the Illeta del Banyets (where the archaeological site of the same name can be found).
In front of la Coveta Fumà and the Carritxal beach there is an artificial reef which is 7 kms in length with a width of one kilometre and which has allowed the "Posidonia oceanic" prairies to be recovered in the area, and the increase in marine species. - up
- PROMENADE OF MUCHAVISTA
- The promenade of Muchavista's Beach roams along more than 3.000 m of this beach, for the whole Jaume I Avenue, which comes without geographical division to the beach of San Juan of Alicante. It is an agreeable and pleasant walk in a modern environment.
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- SQUARES, PARKS AND GARDENS
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El Campello has several squares, floods of local colour and provided with diverse playful - festive uses.
The growth of the population has meant the construction and adequacy of interesting parks with modern facilities of infantile games and sports zones. The diverse gardens and landscaped areas make possible the enjoyment of varied botanical species, giving special relevancy to autochthonous and endemic species.
In the Municipal Park, in the neuralgic centre of El Campello, we find the spectacular Font del Centenari, which relies on night lighting, and a sculptural set realized by Carmen Fraile, that alludes to the historical roots of our town. 
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- BOULEVARD SAN RAMON
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El Campello joins modernity with beauty in the new roundabouts that quicken the traffic as the CN-332 passes through the town, remembering the elements that compose the principal source of development of our town: the water, the sea and the fishing. The beautiful fountain "Agua" that welcomes to the town, the sculpture of the "Rallador" and the set "Nadando libre", they remember us that El Campello and its inhabitants have been and will always be joined to our sea.
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- CULTURAL FACILITIES
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The House of Culture, placed in the Constitution Square, is a polyvalent building (ground floor more two heights) that counts with 5.000.m2. It consists of: auditorium, outdoor theatre (¡gora), exhibition rooms, alternative room, the museum collection FAMEC, multifunctional room (meetings, formation, ...), dressing rooms, Art formation room, classrooms for the municipal school of music, office and bar - restaurant "Racó". Tel. 965636194 ó 6491
The Cultural Building "Biblioteca" placed in Canalejas Square, popularly known as the Church Square, is a cultural polyvalent building (3.000m2). The municipal Library is located on the first floor. In this building there is the Room Ramon Llull who is used as Lounge of Plenary sessions. Tel. 965632124
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- SPORTS FACILITIES
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The Municipal Sports Center is a Pavilion covered for practice of several sports disciplines. It has also a "trinquet" for the practice of the game of ball (Saint Christol les Alez Square. Telf.: 965 63 47 17)
The Sports Center "El Vincle" has two football pitches of artificial grass and tennis courts (Msico M. Breton s/n Telf.: 965 63 49 19) 
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- HERMITAGE OF VIRGEN DEL CARMEN
- Dedicated to the 'Virgen del Carmen', saint patron of sailors, to who great devotion is had and in whose honour, around the 16th of July, we celebrate the Fiestas del Carmen (or Carrer la Mar). Built in 1960 thanks to donations from the local seamen, in the altar we can see an altarpiece in blue roller where the Virgin is represented as the "Stella Maris" (star of the seas), true protective of the sailors who depended on the stars to guide his course in the immense ocean. Do not miss all the activities in honor of 'Virgen del Carmen' during her festivities.
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index
- La Illeta Watchtower
- Barranc d'Aigües Watchtower
- La Illeta dels Banyets or the Queen's Bathing pools
- Church Square or Plaza Canalejas
- Villa Marco
- Marina and fishing port
- The fisherman's monument
- The Promenade
- Voramar de les escultures
- Natural spaces
- Promenade of muchavista
- Squares, parks and gardens
- Cultural facilities
- Sports facilities
- Boulevard San Ramón
- Hermitage of Virgen del Carmen
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C/ Alcalde Oncina Giner, 7 - Telephone 96 563 72 00 - Fax 96 563 29 82 - 03560 El Campello (Alacant)
Page designed by Tres Tristes Tigres
Translation into English by CONFIRMA GLOBAL SERVICES S.L.
C/ Alcalde Oncina Giner, 7 - Telephone 96 563 72 00 - Fax 96 563 29 82 - 03560 El Campello (Alacant)
Page designed by Tres Tristes Tigres
Translation into English by CONFIRMA GLOBAL SERVICES S.L.