If you’re looking for somewhere to take visitors from England, or maybe for a day out which doesn’t involve the beach, Orihuela fits the bill. This lively town is a pleasing mix of old and new Spain, and easily accessible from all over the Costa Blanca.
The only drawback with visiting Orihuela is the parking. There isn’t any – at least not unless you drive out to Consum and LIDL supermarkets, keeping the railway station on your left. You can park there, but it’s a 10 minute walk into town, and another 10 minutes into the Old Town.
We prefer to let the train take the strain. Orihuela is one stop from Callosa on the Alicante – Murcia line. It takes about 7 minutes through the mountains, and the scenery is breathtaking. And at around 2 Euro return, it’s preferable to spending ages cruising around for a parking space or walking miles to get to the interesting bits.
Most of the museums and churches in the Old Town are closed on Mondays. Tuesday is market day, and well worth a visit. The market winds through the streets and, as Orihuela is not a resort, the prices are very reasonable. The Old Town is a few minute’s walk from the market, and it’s a real hidden gem. Think cobbled streets, narrow alleys and buildings dating from mediaeval times or earlier, and you start to get the picture.
In the first week of February, Orihuela hosts a 3 day Mediaeval Market. Everyone dresses up, and there are jousts, archery and falconry displays. Watch armour being made, get up close and personal with the donkeys and other animals as they are led through the streets, and shop at the 150 stalls. It’s a great day out, but Orihuela boasts year-round attractions, so don’t wait until February to visit.
Make the Ayuntamiento in the Old Town your first port of call. There, you can collect a street plan and heritage trail detailing all the places of interest. Don’t miss the Cathedral, the Church of St James the Apostle, or the Museo de Semana Santa. Here, you can view the stunning floats that are paraded through the streets at Easter, while listening to an audio commentary in English on the history of the floats. All this for a couple of Euro, and when we visited, the Curator gave us a bag full of posters and literature to take away with us.
As you leave the Semana Santa, turn right and cross the road. There’s a small bar there which does the some of the best tapas on the Costa Blanca. Sorry, I can’t remember the name, but you can't miss it.
There are many more treasures in the Old Town, but I’ll leave you to discover them rather than spoil the surprise. Remember that most places close between 2pm and 4pm, so schedule that period for a leisurely lunch. If the thought of all these attractions is giving you severe pains in the wallet, you’ll be delighted to discover that the only place charging admission is the Museo de Semana Santa.
Have a great day in Orihuela, and tell them Sandra sent you!
