Alcossebre: Serra d’Irta, Beaches and Historical Traces

Alcossebre combines beaches, protected coastal landscapes and historic buildings with experiences on the water.

Serra d’Irta: Landscape and Open Space

The Serra d’Irta Natural Park lies north of Alcossebre. Together with the d’Irta marine reserve, it forms a protected area covering 12,000 hectares. The Serra d’Irta combines semi-arid Mediterranean vegetation with white limestone cliffs and small coves along the coast. In this way, the natural landscape and coastal features shape an important part of the Alcossebre experience.

Hermitage, Castles and Watchtowers

The Ermita de Santa Lucía y San Benito is located in the Serra d’Irta at an altitude of 312 metres. It was built at the end of the 17th century in the Valencian Baroque style. From its viewpoint, the Columbretes Islands and the Baix Maestrat and Plana Alta areas can be seen. The hermitage also houses an Ethnological Interpretation Centre with the Santa Lucía archaeological site and reproductions of the finds recovered during the excavations.

The historical heritage of the Serra d’Irta includes the castles of Xivert and Polpis and the watchtowers of Badum and Ebrí. They bear witness to earlier human settlement and the region’s military character; the castles were built in the 10th or 11th century. The Torre Ebrí in Alcalà de Xivert-Alcossebre is a watchtower that was part of a 16th-century castle complex and served to detect and protect the town from attacks by the Barbary pirates. In clear weather, the view from the Torre Ebrí extends as far as the Ebro Delta.

Beaches with Different Features

At Playa Las Fuentes, freshwater springs emerge through the seabed; they are fed by an aquifer formed during the Jurassic period. The beach offers lifeguards, toilets, showers, foot showers, access walkways, children’s and sports areas, as well as pedal boat hire. Playa Carregador is located opposite the centre of Alcossebre. The 850-metre-long fine-sand beach has been awarded the Blue Flag and has accessible beach status. This means that in Alcossebre you will find both a beachscape shaped by springs and a clearly defined fine-sand beach in the town centre.

The Columbretes Islands and Sailing

A boat trip to the Columbretes Islands departs from Puerto Deportivo Las Fuentes in Alcossebre. It includes a guided visit to Grossa Island and provides time for snorkelling. The Club de Vela Alcossebre also offers dinghy sailing and yacht sailing courses there. The marina therefore combines a specific boating experience with opportunities to learn about sailing.

Hiking between Nature and History

Several hiking routes are proposed for Alcalà de Xivert-Alcossebre. They lead through the Serra d’Irta and combine protected nature with historic buildings in the mountain landscape. The coastal path through the Serra d’Irta includes a very easy section at Serradal Beach that is suitable for small children. The range therefore extends from days at the beach and suggested hikes to boat trips and historical exploration.

For the overarching travel overview: Alcalà De Xivert.

More about the Destination

Relevant information for planning your trip:

Alcossebre.