La Xara: Village History, Trails and Landscape at Montgó

La Xara between Montgó and Village History

La Xara combines traces of Iberian history with a compact village landscape and distinctive connections to Montgó. The L'Alt de Benimaquia archaeological site belongs to the Archaic and fully developed Iberian periods and lies on the northwestern edge of Montgó. The settlement was fortified by a 100-metre-long wall with six attached towers. L'Alt de Benimaquia also includes a wine-production facility and locally made amphorae that imitate contemporary Phoenician types. Benimaquia Mountain lies on the western flank of the Montgó massif.

Another historical point of reference is the Església de Sant Mateu. It is considered the first public construction in La Xara; construction began in 1877 and was completed in 1881. Its architectural description is defined by a rectangular floor plan, three naves and semicircular arches made of blocks of Tosca stone. This makes it possible to trace the development of the village not only through individual dates, but also through specific architectural forms.

The local building heritage also includes El rentador and the La Iglesia church complex. El rentador is a municipal building with a single nave crossed lengthwise by an irrigation channel and is now integrated into a residential complex with pedestrian streets. The La Iglesia church complex was completed in 1902 with the construction of the rectory. La Escuela was established in 1963 on a plot of land purchased by the residents.

Short Walks, Garden Art and Landscape

For a more leisurely exploration, Ruta dels Riuraus I offers a clearly defined setting: the circular route is three kilometres long, has a low level of difficulty and an elevation gain of 13 metres, and leads through La Xara. Along this route, you can see the Riurau de Pinella with its carved pillars. This brings together the course of the trail and rural architectural history in a single excursion theme.

Nature and designed outdoor spaces also provide distinctive accents within the village. J. B. Basset Park is characterised by garden art and native flora. On Plaça del Garrofer stands a carob tree that is 8.5 metres high and estimated to be 300 to 400 years old. The Barranco del Regatxo is also known as Morxama and crosses the area of La Xara. These different landscape elements range from the park and the square's tree to the ravine running through the area.

Festivals and Regional Cuisine

La Xara's patron-saint festivities in honour of San Roque and San Mateo begin on the first weekend of September. The ten-day celebrations include bull events in the street, the use of gunpowder, communal dinners and musical performances. Anyone visiting the village at this time will encounter festivities whose individual elements explicitly range from street events to communal meals.

The culinary side includes Cruet de peix. The dish is prepared in an earthenware baking dish with potatoes, onions, tomatoes, fish and clams. These ingredients give the dish a specific connection to regional cuisine and complement La Xara's historical, landscape and festive themes.

Guidance for Choosing Your Accommodation

When deciding on a hotel or other accommodation in La Xara, you can first consider which of these facets should shape your stay: the Iberian site and the church, the three-kilometre route, garden art and native flora, the patron-saint festivities or the regional cuisine. For arrival and day planning, it is also relevant that La Xara has a railway station between the village and the mountain, which is now served by the TRAM. These specific local points of reference will help you incorporate culture, nature, trails and events into your personal travel plans.

More Destinations

If you would like to compare additional places for your trip, also discover Petrer, Gata De Gorgos, Elche, Penella, Benimassot, Calpe, La Murada and Beniarrés.

For the broader travel overview: Alicante.