Page 261 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

V ALENCIA AND MURCIA  259

redeemed the family name by (Governor’s House), within the
joining the Jesuit order. He was castle, contains an archaeolo-
canonized as St Francis Borja gical museum, which shows
by Pope Clement X in 1671. the development of Dénia from
The house in which he 200 BC to the 18th century.
was born, the Palau Ducal North of the harbour is the
(Duke’s Palace), is now owned sandy beach of Las Marinas. To
by the Jesuits. Its sim ple the south is the rocky and less-
Gothic courtyard belies the developed Las Rotas beach,
ornate chambers within, which is good for snorkelling.
especially the Baroque Golden
Gallery. The small pa tio’s tiled + Castillo de Dénia
floor depicts the ele ments of Carrer Sant Francesc. Tel 966 42 06 56.
earth, air, fire and water. Open daily. Closed 1 Jan, 25 Dec.
& 7
P Palau Ducal
Carrer Duc Alfons el Vell 1. Tel 962 87 The ceremonial burning of Las Fallas
14 65. Open daily. & 8 u Xàbia on St Joseph’s Day
∑ palauducal.com
Alicante. * 31,000. @ n Plaza de
la Iglesia 4, 965 79 43 56. ( Thu. _ Valencia and
San Juan (24 Jun), Moros Y Cristianos Murcia’s Fiestas
(third weekend of Jul), Bous a la Mar Las Fallas (15–19 Mar).
(first week of Sep). ∑ xabia.org
Huge papier-mâché
monuments (fallas) are
Pirates and smugglers once
took advantage of the hiding erected in the crossroads and
squares of Valencia around
places afforded by the cliffs, 15 March and ceremonially
caves, inlets and two rocky set alight on the night of the
islands along the coastline of 19th, St Joseph’s Day. Costing
Xàbia (also known as Jávea). thousands of euros each, the
The town centre is perched fallas depict satirical scenes.
on a hill on the site of an Iberian During the fiesta, known
settle ment. Many build ings here as Les Falles in Valencian,
are made from the local Tosca the city echoes to the sound
sandstone. The 16th-century of firecrackers.
Iglesia de San Bartolomé was Good Friday, Lorca (Murcia).
The ornate and gilded interior of the Palau fortified to serve as a refuge in The “blue” and “white”
Ducal, Gandia times of invasion. Missiles could brotherhoods com pete
be dropped on to attackers via to outdo each other in
openings over the door. pomp and finery during
y Dénia The seafront at Cabo de a grand procession of
San Antonio is overlooked by biblical characters.
Alicante. * 41,600. £ @ g Moors and Christians
n Plaza Oculista Baigues 9, 966 42 ruined 17th- and 18th-century (21–24 Apr), Alcoi (Alicante).
23 67. ( Mon & Fri. _ Fiestas windmills. The bay is filled with Two costumed armies
Patronales (early Jul). ∑ denia.net modern developments, but the march into the city, where
beaches are free of high-rise they perform cer emonies
This town was founded as a apartment blocks. and fight mock battles
Greek colony. It takes its name in commemoration of
from the Roman goddess the Reconquest.
Diana – a temple in her honour Bous a la Mar (early Jul),
was excavated here. In the 11th Dénia (Alicante). People
century it became the capital of dodge bulls on the quay
a short-lived Muslim kingdom, until one or the other falls
whose do minion extended from into the sea (see p43).
And alucía to the Balearic Islands. Misteri d’Elx (11–15 Aug),
It is now a fishing port and Elx (Alicante). This choral
holiday resort. The town centre play, in the Iglesia de Santa
spreads around the base of a low María, has spec tacular
special effects.
hill. A large castle, once an Arab La Tomatina (last Wed of Aug),
fortress, on its sum mit overlooks Buñol (Valencia). Thousands
the harbour. The entrance gate, of participants pelt each
the Portal de la Vila, survives, but other with ripe tomatoes
it was altered in the 17th century. Entrance to the Gothic Iglesia de San (see pp252–3).
The Palacio del Gobernador Bartolomé in Xàbia

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