In Spain, the province of Alicante hosts the largest number of European residents in its territory. The Provincial Townhall of Alicante and SUMA are aware of the needs of the population and our goal is to promote and continuously work for the full integration of all citizens.

The lectures will be given by specialized staff from SUMA in English, French, German and Dutch.

Three different routes are offered:

1. ENVIRONMENTAL ROUTE: Visit to La Font Roja and Biar
2. CULTURAL AND TRADITIONAL ROUTE: Visit to Alicante and Jijona
3. HISTORICAL AND HERITAGE ROUTE: Visit to Elche, Sax and Villena.

FONT ROJA – BIAR – CASTALLA

The origin of this route lies in the Natural Park of La Font Roja in the heart of Sierra del Menejador, between the towns of Alcoy and Ibi. This natural environment is of great interest thanks to its east-west orientation, since each face can be clearly differentiated through the sharp contrast between their climates. These different ecosystems provide the park with a wide variety of animal and plant species.

We shall then move on to Biar. This town, of Moslem origin, stands out thanks to its natural beauty and wealth of monuments. Besides walking around its historical centre, with its streets, fountains and shrines at the foot of the castle, we shall also visit El Pozo de la Nieve. This is an 18th-century snowfield and was used to keep foodstuffs and for trading with snow, where the local mountains supplied the larger towns with snow.

On our way back, we shall travel by coach through Castalla, a historical town that was once of great strategic importance. The peculiar layout of its streets is the result of the fact that, when it was first built, the population established itself on the side of the castle in an anarchical array of monuments. This collection includes Calle Mayor, with houses from the 18th century, and Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

Timetable
10:00. Arrival at La Font Roja and visit to the CEMACAM Environmental Education Centre.
Audiovisual and walk around the natural park.
14:00. Lunch, including typical local food.
16:00. Visit to El Pozo de la Nieve (a snowfield) and walk around the historical centre of Biar.
17:30. En route: views of La Foia and coach ride through Castalla.

ALICANTE – JIJONA

This route begins in Alicante, capital of the province and the district of l’Alacantí. The city stands on the shores of the Mediterranean and reaches its highest point on Monte Benacantil, which marks the location of the Castle of Santa Bárbara, an ancient Moorish castle built between the 14th and 18th centuries. The wealth of its historical monuments can be seen in its streets, where visitors can admire monuments that reveal the city's cultural and artistic tradition.
A walk around the historical centre of Alicante presents visitors with the basilica of Santa María (14th-16th century), built in Gothic style on the site of a former mosque, the cathedral church of San Nicolás de Bari (15th-17th century) of Herrerian Renaissance style, the City Hall of Alicante (18th-century), which is a reference point for measuring the height above sea level of any point in Spain, and the Gravina Palace (18th-century). This collection of monuments leads to Explanada de España, which is the traditional tourist centre of Alicante.

On the second stage of the route, we shall visit the birthplace of turrón. The town of Jijona is located in the interior of the province of Alicante. It is home to one of Alicante’s gastronomical treasures: turrón. This exquisite Christmas sweet is made here and the process can be seen in the many turrón factories.

Timetable
10:00. Arrival at Alicante and visit to the city's historical centre and the Castle of Santa Bárbara.
13:30. Lunch, including typical local food.
15:30. Departure for Jijona.
16:30. Visit to the El Lobo/1880 turrón factory
18:00. Return to the point of departure of the route.

ELCHE – SAX - VILLENA
This route begins in Sax and Villena, towns in the Upper Vinalopó district, famous for their fortresses, which were built between the 12th and 13th centuries as bastions against the threat from the Moors and as an advance party for the reconquest. A past of wars and battles whose glorious heritage has been saved. The two fortresses we shall visit are of Moslem origin and in a good state of repair and can be seen from great distances. These fortresses form part of the Castle Route that includes the most emblematic and best-conserved mediaeval fortresses in the province.

Elche is the third-largest town in Comunidad Valenciana in terms of population, resources and size. It stands on the banks of the River Vinalopó in l’Alcúdia. It was here where the Lady of Elche was discovered, a perfect Iberian sculpture dating from the 5th-4th centuries BC. The town's artistic heritage includes a legacy from the farming culture of Andalusia: the palm grove, designated a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. Its arid climate enables the perfect conservation of the largest palm grove in Europe, with more than 200,000 trees.
The heritage of Elche also includes the artistic gardens of El Huerto del Cura. With an area of 13,000 m2, El Huerto del Cura brings together Mediterranean and tropical plant life.

Timetable
10:00. Start of the Castles of Upper Vinalopó route. Visit to the castles of Villena and Sax. Visit.
13:00. Arrival at Elche. Visit to the palm grove.
14:00. Lunch, including typical local food.
16:00. Visit to El Huerto del Cura in Elche.
17:30. End of tourist route.

Visit to La Alcudia and MAHE

Like all the southeast of Spain, the province of Alicante has been an exceptional witness to its history, since the area has been home to the most important ancient civilisations: Ibers, Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths and Arabs. As a result of the heritage left behind by so many different peoples, this province has one of the most important examples of cultural heritage in Europe.

Aware of the area's archaeological treasures, for some years now the Provincial Council of Alicante has developed a great number of projects and activities aimed at establishing and publicising the cultural treasures left by the past in Alicante. Accordingly, the European Residents Department has launched a programme of visits to archaeological sites in the province of Alicante, an initiative aimed at citizens from other States of the European Union who have set up their residence in this province learning about the history, customs and traditions of the people of Alicante with a view to greater social cohesion and integration.

This visit will focus on the Iber-Roman site of La Alcudia, located in the town of Elche, and shall be completed with a visit to the town's Archaeological and History Museum (MAHE).

Site of La Alcudia
The site of La Alcudia is located near the modern-day town of Elche and very near to the River Vinalopó. The site was inhabited continuously from the Neolithic period to the beginning of the Islamic era (6th century), although the settlement reached its zenith during the Iberian and Roman periods and the most significant finds belong to these cultures.
Indeed, it was on this site where, in 1897, the most important work of Iberian art was found: the figure known as the Lady of Elche. It is a bust sculpted between the 4th and 5th century BC. It is made of fine limestone and represents an Iberian priestess or goddess dressed in the clothing and jewels typical of the Iberian people.
The site also has buildings of great interest, especially with regard to the Iberian and Roman constructions, with typical Roman houses, sewers and baths conserved in excellent condition and a temple dedicated to Juno.

Archaeological and History Museum of Elche (MAHE)
The day is completed with a visit to the MAHE, which is situated in the historical centre of the town of Elche inside the fortress known as the Palace of Altamira, a building that is worth a visit on its own, but even more so now that it is home to this museum.
At the MAHE, visitors can see the history of the town of Elche from its origins to present day, where all the content is presented in an entertaining and interactive way. The museum is divided into two sections: archaeology and history. The first covers the period from the origins to the end of the Visigoth era and the arrival of the first Arabian settlers. The second begins with the foundation of the new town by the Moslems and continues up to modern day.
The new technologies that have been generally incorporated into this museum mean that the information is presented to visitors in a simple, educational manner and the technology used helps achieve a cultural leisure service of high quality.

Typical local gastronomy
The visit will be completed with a typical local rice dish: arroz con costra. This dish combines the traditional rice dish of Valencia with a top layer of baked eggs.

Visit to Lucentum and La Illeta

Like all the southeast of Spain, the province of Alicante has been an exceptional witness to its history, since the area has been home to the most important ancient civilisations: Ibers, Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths and Arabs. As a result of the heritage left behind by so many different peoples, this province has one of the most important examples of cultural heritage in Europe.

Aware of the area's archaeological treasures, for some years now the Provincial Council of Alicante has developed a great number of projects and activities aimed at establishing and publicising the cultural treasures left by the past in Alicante. Accordingly, the European Residents Department has launched a programme of visits to archaeological sites in the province of Alicante, an initiative aimed at citizens from other States of the European Union who have set up their residence in this province learning about the history, customs and traditions of the people of Alicante with a view to greater social cohesion and integration.

This visit will focus on the sites of La Illeta dels Banyets (El Campello) and Lucentum-Tossal de Manisses (Alicante).

Site of La Illeta dels Banyets
This site is located in an area on the coast of the municipal district of El Campillo and was occupied from the Neolithic period to the Middle Ages (11th century).
The archaeological centre includes pieces and buildings of great interest, such as the following: hydraulic infrastructures (tanks, canals, etc.) and funeral constructions dating from the Bronze Age; the remains of an Iberian village, whose urban layouts can be perfectly seen, with two clearly defined temples; and homes and baths dating from the Roman period.
This is a very interesting visit in an unbeatable natural setting, combining the historical and cultural interest with privileged views.

Site of Lucentum-Tossal de Manisses
This site is located on an Iberian village, with formidable walls that were incorporated later (3rd century BC) and which were then completed by other fortresses attributed to the Romans (1st century BC).
Historians believe that in the era of the Roman emperor Augustus the place became the town called "Lucentum", although it was later abandoned (3rd century AD) and became a necropolis in Islamic times.
Visitors will enjoy a Roman town that conserves the entire interior enclosure of the walls with a visible urban layout and various public areas such as the baths, the forum and the walls themselves.
The part of the site open to visitors offers the documentation and studies of the entire dig, which can be seen in the adjoining museum. The areas currently being excavated can also be seen by visitors.

Typical local gastronomy
The visit will be completed with a typical local rice dish: arroz a banda. This dish combines rice, the basic ingredient of Alicante cuisine, with Mediterranean fish and a variety of local vegetables.