Pilar de la Horadada
Encyclopedia
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, the city is the southernmost of the Valencian Community
, only 1 km north of the regional border (with the Province of Murcia
)
The town and its neighbouring villages (Pinar de Campoverde
and Torre de la Horadada) are home to thousands of British
, German
and Northern European expatriates. San Javier Airport (Murcia) is within close proximity.
, globularia, mastic, Kermes Oak
and chamaerops
.
There are many birds of prey to be found in the region, such as peregrine falcon
s, golden eagle
s, European sparrowhawks and kestrel
s.
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
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 is placed between the sea and the mountains and has a typically Mediterranean climate.
Valencian Community
The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain located in central and south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Valencia...
, only 1 km north of the regional border (with the Province of Murcia
Murcia
-History:It is widely believed that Murcia's name is derived from the Latin words of Myrtea or Murtea, meaning land of Myrtle , although it may also be a derivation of the word Murtia, which would mean Murtius Village...
)
The town and its neighbouring villages (Pinar de Campoverde
Pinar de Campoverde
Pinar de Campoverde 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...
and Torre de la Horadada) are home to thousands of British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
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 hawthornCommon Hawthorn
Crataegus monogyna, known as common hawthorn or single-seeded hawthorn, is a species of hawthorn native to Europe, northwest Africa and western Asia. It has been introduced in many other parts of the world where it is an invasive weed...
, globularia, mastic, Kermes Oak
Kermes Oak
Quercus coccifera, the Kermes Oak, is an oak in the Turkey oak section Quercus sect. Cerris. It is native to the western Mediterranean region and Northern African Maghreb, from Morocco and Portugal east to Libya and Greece.-Description:...
and chamaerops
Chamaerops
Chamaerops is a genus of flowering plants in the family Arecaceae , comprising a single species Chamaerops humilis , representative of the Pre-Pliocene paleo-tropical ancestral lineages in the area.-Distribution:It is the only palm species native to continental Europe...
.
There are many birds of prey to be found in the region, such as peregrine falcon
Peregrine Falcon
The Peregrine Falcon , also known as the Peregrine, and historically as the Duck Hawk in North America, is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-gray back, barred white underparts, and a black head and "moustache"...
s, golden eagle
Golden Eagle
The Golden Eagle is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. Once widespread across the Holarctic, it has disappeared from many of the more heavily populated areas...
s, European sparrowhawks and kestrel
Kestrel
The name kestrel, is given to several different members of the falcon genus, Falco. Kestrels are most easily distinguished by their typical hunting behaviour which is to hover at a height of around over open country and swoop down on prey, usually small mammals, lizards or large insects...
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 lots of examples of religious art, especially works from the local artists José María Sánchez Lozano and Manuel Ribera Girona.
- Watch Tower (15th century), built 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 Thiar: an old Roman town on the Vía Augusta, the main route between Illici (Elche) and Carthago Nova (CartagenaCartagena, SpainCartagena is a Spanish city and a major naval station located in the Region of Murcia, by the Mediterranean coast, south-eastern Spain. As of January 2011, it has a population of 218,210 inhabitants being the Region’s second largest municipality and the country’s 6th non-Province capital...
), two of the most important Roman cities in SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
- 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" (1 week later).
- Summer festivals: 30 July - Independence from the Orihuela Council (1986).
History
Orihuela
Orihuela 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 32,472 inhabitants in the beginning of 2006...
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 is placed between the sea and the mountains and has a typically Mediterranean climate.