Sightseeing Orihuela

Called Auriola by the Romans, the town stands in the lower reaches of the very fertile Segura Valley and is approached through a stately palm forest, Spains’s second largest. It was from here that Ferdinand and Isabella embarked on their final push for Granada. Later the town became a wealthy renaissance cathedral and university city, the commercial focus for the surrounding area. In the 19th century a combination of Alicante’s new role as regional capital and a destructive earthquake diminished Orihuela’s importance. Today old churches, theatre, palaces and restored historic centre are very much a part of the everyday life of this prosperous inland town. We unwittingly arrived there on the day of an evening Moors Fiesta Parade and were so enthralled by it did not leave until 2am!