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| Javea | |||
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| The Mirador's Route | |||
There
are now 14 imaginary "windows" which open onto clear and varied
views, showing the very best of a land privileged by Mother Nature. Javea
displays its coastline in all its diversity and splendour, truly a magnificent
and welcoming territory.
However, the landscape and well conserved surroundings are unfortunately finite and non renewable. In brief, we are working with fragile resources that are nowadays at the centre of economic development pressure. Obtaining the maximum yield from these resources and yet at the same time encouraging continuity can be a contradiction, if we are not able to harmonise common interest and ensure responsible actions from private enterprise. For an observer who follows the evolution and growth of a town such as Javea, the phenomenon of human occupation of the land can be imperceptible when the area is of low interest. Nevertheless, if we look back and recall, we realise just how many strategic places are no longer accessible and where one can no longer enjoy the magnificent landscape of Javea. Urban growth is drowing access to enviable places more and more, and gradually those paths, roads, buildings, watchtowers and hermitages leave our common heritage and are only memories. This is why we are making a great effort to define and protect strategic points of our territory which from now on will remain in public use and the rights of Javea´s inhabitants and visitors to enjoy them cannot be taken away. We must give the highest priority to the conservation of these varied resources which give personality and character to our town if we want to ensure the future of a tourist model with so many possibilities.
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1. Cap de San Antonio The lighthouse that lightens the bay from Cap de Sant Antoni was the successor of other defense and religious constructions which made use of the privileged situation of this area. The hermits chose it to isolate from the mundane world and in their honor the San Antonio hermitage, which gave its name to this geographical accident, was built during the sixteenth century. Its grounds were also occupied by the San Jerónimo Monastery, as well as by the watchtowers built for the defense against pirate attacks. All those constructions finally gave rise to the present lighthouse. This mirador is doubtlessly one of the most privileged sceneries of the Alicante coast. |
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2. El Molins The mills have ruled this mirador since the first construction in the fourteenth century. Another ten towers followed, and the remainders, with their amputated sails, can still be seen in this outstanding corner of the coast, although in different states of preservation. Those mills had to get hold of the "llebeig", the south-west wind that practically always blows in the "Trencall de la Plana". The mills, now dismantled, incorporated strong oak wood mechanisms which moved the heavy millstones. |
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3. Punta del Castell La Punta del Castell brings the visitor back to the beginning of our era when, in the second half of the first century before Christ, an extraordinary commercial development was established on the north side of the present Arenal beach. Of this establishment a big excavated pond was kept, known as the Baths of the Queen. The preparation of salted products and fish sauces were probably the principal activity of this factory. |
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4. Séquia de la Nória This is a big canal cut and hollowed out over the "toscar", which was used during the roman era, to allow the entrance of seawater, in order to produce salt mines known as the Saladar. With the passing centuries the noria was incorporated, a structure with a big vertical wooden wheel which was moved by an animal. |
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5. Cala Blanca The
fishing activity is very much connected with this mirador. From the land
the sea was clasped with a big net which was also supported by the boats.
In this way man created the "almadraba", a deadly trap especially
for tunny. From this side one can observe all the corners that were designed
by the fishermen for their profitable work. |
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6. La Caleta From this
point, the visitor can contemplate the bay of Javea in all its
extension. Towards the south, the coast gets higuer and closes forming the Cape of San Martín or Cap Prim. |
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7. Creu del Portitxol The visitor reaches "Creu del Portitxol", the quiet part of the coast, the area which in ancient times was the natural anchorage. Nevertheless, when he raises his sight it will be very difficult to draw it from the scenery presented to him at a few meters distance: the Isle of Portitxol, a small island of 300 meters diameter which at one time was occupied by man. In fact, some remainders of inhabitants were discovered.
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8. L'illa The island of Portitxol and the tiny island next to it cautivate any visitor that arrives at this viewpoint. The island, very near the coast, is situated almost in front of the cove of Portitxol. The characteristics of this area and its vegetation have a great botanical interest, in such a way that there are two floral microreserves at Portitxol. Towards the south we find the Cap Negre, impresive with its high cliffs.
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9. La Falzia Is situated at 150 meters from the Portitxol creeks and offers a spectacular sight of the coastline from Cap de Sant Antoni and Cap Prim up to the impressive picture of Cap Negre, all this bathed by the Mediterranean Sea. |
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10. Punta del Cap Negre The cliffs challenge the visitor, blocking his way to the sea but nevertheless offering a thick pine wood where peregrines can be seen on their way from Montgó, the big massif that protects Javea. In the mirador of Punta del Cap Negre an important detail are the fischermen´s tracks that wind their way to the caves named "Tabaco" and "La Mina". |
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11. Cap de la Nau The stroller will find Cabo de la Nao as the border between the Valencia and Alicante bay, and as the nearest point from the peninsula to the Island of Ibiza. Its extravagant nature makes it into an inescapable rendezvous. In fact, like Portitxol and Cap Negre, the European Community has emphasized its floral microreserve. At
the feet of the cape one can visit the well-known Caves of Orguens, a
natural cavity which was described by the naturalist Cavanilles at the
end of the eighteenth century. Besides, its coves look like shelters from
the Mediterranean Sea. |
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12. Les Pesqueres les Pesqueres gathers in its mirador a small universe of place names which were created from the fishing activities that the Javea men developped in the walls of the cliffs, in spite of the obvious difficulties which are easily detected from this mirador |
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13. Ambolo Another point
of protection from the sea was raised in Punta d´Ambolo, also known
as the Tower of the Discoverer, with only one floor and two lookouts that
have already disappeared. Its privileged situation allows the visitor
to overlook the area from Cabo La Nao until Punta de Moraira. |
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14. La Granadella La Granadella is situated in the most southern part of Javea and has its own history, its name coming from a small fortress built in the eighteenth century, with the exterior lined with tosca stones; it was once occupied by three man and two bronze cannons. From this mirador, your gaze will overflow the sea like the pine trees that arise from the earth. |
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