Just a stone's throw away from the busy tourist resorts of the Costa Blanca there are lots of small quaint towns and villages to discover.
They seem a million miles away from the usual tourism hotspots but this is where you will find authentic Spain that so many visitors like to enjoy.
Formentera Del Segura
The picturesque little village of Formentera del Segura is located just a short drive from the popular seaside resorts of La Marina, Torrevieja and Santa Pola on the Costa Blanca.
Although situated close to the busy tourist resorts of this popular area of South-East Spain it seems like it is a million miles away from the usual tourism hotspots and is where you will find the true authentic Spain so many visitors like to discover.
Unbeatable Weather
The daily average temperature ranges from about 12 °C (53.5 °F) in January and February to about 26 °C (79 °F) in July and August.
Even in mid-winter, there are many sunny days, with daytime temperatures reaching or exceeding 20 °C (68 °F) In summer, there's sultry heat, though it's generally bearable, also because of the sea breeze.
However, there may be periods of intense heat, during which the temperature can reach as high as 38/40 °C (100/104 °F).
Rainfall in the Costa Blanca is scarce, since it is even lower than 300 millimetres (12 inches) per year, and follows the Mediterranean pattern, in fact, most of it occurs from September to March, while in summer, it almost never rains.
Easily Accessed
Accessible by the N332, AP7 and CV91 and 63KM or 38 miles to the south of Alicante, Formentera del Segura is in the region of Vega Baja located in the province of Alicante, 30 minutes from Alicante Airport and 40 minutes from Murcia´s San Javier airport.
A small village situated on the bank of the river Segura flows the length of the village. From its origin in Santiago-Pontones in the province of Jaen 212 km or 130 miles away it plays a very important part of village life, there is a watermill located on the far bank, which is used to regulate the irrigated water supply.
The village of Formentera del Segura was originally founded by the Moors but was restored to Christian control in 1242 by King Jaime I (‘The Conquistador’).
The village changed hands a number of times over the centuries until 1730 when it came under the control of Nicolas Perez de Sarrio (The Lord of Formentera) when it acquired its current name.
Although the village was nearly destroyed by an earthquake in 1829, the heirs of the Marquis of Algorfa were responsible for the reconstruction of the town.
What to do in Formentera
The Parish Church of PurIisima finished in 1840 can be found in the picturesque village square.
The church is well worth a visit, it contains images of San Roque, the Nuestra Senora del Rosario as well as the Adoration of the Shepherds.
Other monuments in the town include the Ermita de San Roque, a shrine built in honour of the village's patron saint of the same name.
In the main village square, there is also a plaza bar called Kiosko El Tio Pere which offers light snacks (tostadas) and a selection of drinks to refresh the thirsty traveller, including an excellent cup of coffee.
There are currently fifteen bars in Formentera Del Segura, offering Spanish tapas to fine dining.
Market day is every Monday morning in Formentera, there are a number of stalls selling, fresh fruit and vegetables, shoes, clothes and household items.
August is Formenteras´ fiesta month to honour of San Roque and San Miguel, the square and surrounding roads are awash with parades, open-air concerts, and a horse show highlighting the Appaloosa horses of Spain.
Starting the proceedings is the Gran Chupianazo (confetti) to announce the start of the Fiesta in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, the statue of San Roque accompanied by walking music bands is paraded through the streets of the town, followed by a solemn mass in the church.
There is a Motorbike exhibition, mobile disco in the Parque El Molino. The hotly contested Paella Competition in the square is entered by families from the village. Queens and Ladies parade the streets accompanied by a musical band followed by the coronation of the Queens of the Fiestas in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento which is a sight to behold.
The Grand Song Contest at the Plaza del Ayuntamiento is well attended by the villagers.
The firing of Rockets and the Ringing of Bells during a Parade of floats combined with the bands playing is deafening at times.
There is a free traditional Lunch of Sardines, Bread, Wine and Beer at the Parque El Molino.
The Foam Party at the Town Hall, the Foam and Fancy Dress Party at the Sports Centre, and fireworks with rockets and Fire Crackers keep everybody entertained.
Out and about in Formentera
The economy of Formentera is mainly based on agriculture with orange and lemon groves surrounding the village as far as the eye can see. Vegetables and cereals are also grown but not in so much abundance.
Formentera del Segura benefits from an irrigation system originally put into place by the Moors centuries ago. As the land is flat it is, therefore, ideal for walking or cycling with a plethora of tracks, pathways and roads crisscrossing the surrounding agricultural landscape.
The watermill on the right-hand side banks of the River Segura has been traditionally used to feed the orchards of Benijofar. Using the river current the wheel turns, on submerging the slots are filled with water which is directed into a channel or aqueduct.
The waterwheel fortified with stone walls was originally constructed in 1659, it has been renovated on two occasions, the last time being in 1970´s. To this day it supplies 950 plots of land with irrigated water. This is a shining example of “water architecture” in the Vega Baja area and is a symbol of the orchards and the municipality.
Bus connections
Catch a bus from the bus stop in the centre of the village on Avda De La Constitution. Rojales is two minutes away and then onward to the beach at Guardamar Del Segura which is easily accessible or inland to Almoradi and the city of Orihuela are both well worth a visit.
(A top tip is not to take for granted the bus timetables posted at bus stops, for more accurate information please visit Bus-Siguenza.
Rojales
The village of Rojales is just a short drive away from Formentera de Segura, you will see many of its buildings decorated in bright designs, this is an initiative by the local council, and there are many shops and bars dotted around the village.
The church and square are picturesque, being very photogenic as it is a typical Spanish village only a short walk from Formentera.
The local market is every Thursday and is situated just outside the town centre on Avenida Justo Quesada on the banks of the River Segura.
You will find typical foods—fruits and vegetables, flowers, and clothes—at very reasonable prices. There is also a nice selection of bars and restaurants in the village.
Guardamar Del Segura
Guardamar Del Segura is a 15-minute bus ride from Formentera Del Segura and is a pleasant laid-back seaside village with a nice beach.
The local beach stretches for around 11 kilometres and has the usual beachfront bars, cafes and restaurants. The beach at Guardamar Del Segura can get busy during the summer months of July and August and on Sundays.
Well worth a visit is the impressive Reina Sofia Park where you will find a number of lakes that weave through the park.
The pine trees offer a welcome shade on the warmest days. There are areas for picnicking, children's play areas and the lakes are home to ducks, geese and a pair of peacocks, as well as migrating and local birds.
» Guardamar del Segura Tourism Board
Almoradi
Almoradi is a five-minute bus ride from Formentera and is well worth a visit on Saturdays, as there is a large, vibrant market held in the morning.
The best buys are clothing and accessories with fantastic leather goods available, jackets, waistcoats, shoes, boots, belts, hats, purses, and wallets.
Local arts and crafts are well represented; there are fine examples of hand-woven rugs and carpets available. There are lovely areas to sit and relax around the square.
The parish church of San Andres is also well worth a visit. After an earthquake in 1821 which destroyed many of the buildings in the local area, the church was rebuilt at its current location, the last renovation took place in 1977.
There are many bars dotted along the pretty side streets of Almoradi offering a wide range of local tapas and international cuisine.
Orihuela City
Weaving through many pretty villages by bus en route to Orihuela, which takes around 30 minutes from Formentera de Segura.
On leaving the bus station, walk down the Avenida Teodomiro, there are bars and shops on either side of a tree-lined walkway, stop for a coffee or a drink and take in the scenery.
One of the amazing things about Orihuela city is the large number of historic sites to visit including a cathedral, several churches, convents, numerous museums, old palaces and a sprawling religious site of the Seminario de Diocesano which stands high on the side of a mountain overlooking the city.
Also well worth a visit is Palmeral Park, the second-largest Palm grove in Europe with over 9,000 palm trees, a perfect place to enjoy a packed lunch.
Conclusion
In short, come to Costa Blanca and explore the coastline and the many inland places of interest, there's plenty to do, and you'll find many beautiful villages steeped in history, it's a walking, cycling and photographic dream!
