Address : Plaza Marques De Arneva, 1

Post code : 03300

Telephone : 965.30.00.01-966736864

Fax : 966.74.14.44

WEB: www.aytoorihuela.es

Email: orihuela@dip-alicante.es

The creation of the Bishopric of Orihuela played an essential part in the identity of Orihuela and it has indelibly marked the history of the town through the ages. Orihuela was the Episcopal seat of the province of Alicante for almost four centuries and its civic traditions and artistic heritage are stamped by this major religious influence. 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. The Segura River has also deeply marked Orihuela as it provides boundaries to the city and is the source of the rich ´huerta´ (irrigated land) 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. Today Orihuela is the main town of the region. Today the extensive 338.5 km2 municipal district 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. Entering the town from Alicante and walking through the San Antón palm grove you arrive at the house-cum-museum of Miguel Hernández, located next to the former Santo Domingo University with its magnificently high cloisters and baroque portal. Walk up calle Santa Lucía, with the hill crowned by the seminary to the right, and you arrive at the Cathedral of San Salvador whose museum contains the Velázquez painting. Skirting the hill you will find two of the best and most typical churches of Orihuela, those of Santas Justa and Rufina (of gothic style 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. This is the origin of the shield on the magnificent gothic portal. In the old town centre you can see the recently restored Circo Theatre, the most beautiful and original theatre of the Alicante area. Holy Week is especially noted for the Burial Procession - held on the Saturday before Easter Sunday - which in Orihuela includes two exclusive events: the procession is normally presided over by an inhabitant of Orihuela who has received the immemorial right in a papal bull to remain with a covered head inside the Cathedral; and one of the floats that encircles the Cathedral is in the image of a devil in female form, popularly known as the ´Diablesa´ (She-Devil), which represents the triumph of the cross over the world, the devil and the flesh. The town´s extensive district stretches to the Mediterranean where there are magnificent sandy beaches with a range of services located between the Punta Prima and the Punta del Cuervo, including the Flamenca, La Zenia and Dehesa de Campoamor beaches. Tanot la Dehesa de Campoamor and Cabo Roig are two marinas suitable for leisure pursuits.

Gastronomy: Turkey casserole, Paella huertana (farmer´s paella), Hartabellacos, Almojábenas (fritter-type pastries), Arroz con costra (rice with an egg crust), Pasteles de Gloria (confectionary traditionally eaten on Easter Saturday) and Toñas are some of the local dishes.

Art: Items made out of palm and palm hearts, and pottery.

Monuments: Church, 15th-century mansion house/tower.

Cultural Attractions: Orihuela is the town with the largest number of Museums in the province. There is an excellent Easter Museum housing the "pasos" or the sculptured images of the Passion of Christ; the Diocesan Museum which houses the Velazquez painting, the Archeological Museum, the Reconquest Museum, the house of Miguel Hernández and the Ethnological Museum. For further information, phone the Tourist Information Office 530 27 47.

Name of Councillor: Josefina Ferrando García

Festivals and Events: Holy Week. Moors and Christians pageants are held during the week from the 17th of July. Patron saint feast day celebrations devoted to the Virgin of Montserrat. A pilgrimage in honour of St Anthony is held on the 15th of January.

Situation: Capital of the largest region (Vega Baja) of the province of Alicante, Orihuela is situated 22 km from Murcia and is best reached via the A-7, which connects Murcia with Valencia. Parking is easiest in the new district, which is situated after the river when approached from Alicante. The new district is also where you find the best services of the city. 59 km from Alicante and 98 km from Benidorm.

Tour of the town: Palm tree grove, Las Norias (waterwheels), Tune viewpoint and Seminary.

Sports: A wide range of sporting amenities is available in the marinas located in the Campoamor Estate (96.532.03.86) and the Cabo Roig (96.676.02.19). Orihuela is the best place for golf as it has three 18-hole courses: Villamartín (96.676.50.51), Las Ramblas (96.532.20.11) and Campoamor (96.530.02.09). Horse riding, tennis and walking are also on offer. Orihuela has the most extensive network of rural trails of the entire province.

Region : EL BAIX SEGURA/ LA VEGA BAJA

Kilometres : 59

Altitude : 23

Number inhabitants 2006 : 77.979