Orihuela travel information and video

Orihuela

Orihuela is the capital of the region of the same name; the administrative area stretches inland from the coast and covers a number of smaller towns and villages, as well as three golf courses, two marinas, the beaches at La Zenia and Dehesa de Campoamor and a considerable amount of farmland.

The varied landscape combines sierras, orchards and palm groves leading down to 16 km of coastline and some of the cleanest blue flag awarded beaches in Europe.

Located 22 km from Murcia and 59 Km from Alicante; there are good rail and bus connections between Alicante and Murcia and the town is easily accessed by the A-7 motorway. 


The administrative area of Orihuela is largely dependent on its agricultural industry.

Culture
The rich cultural and historical past of Orihuela has left a large number of monuments including Romanesque, Gothic and renaissance churches, convents and palaces, a number of which have been declared national monuments; namely the Saint Domingo Nunnery, Saint Salvador Cathedral, the Church of Saint Jusa and Rufina, the Bishop’s Palace and the Church of Santiago.
There are also a number of unique and informative museums to be discovered in the town of Orihuela.

Leisure & recreation
Orihuela has two marinas, Dehesa de Campoamor and Cabo Roig, where a wide variety of water sports are available. Horse riding and tennis can also be enjoyed.

The area has an extensive network of rural paths making it a walker’s paradise.

Cuisine
The local cuisine of Orihuela is typically that of the Costa Blanca, which combines delicacies from both land and the Mediterranean Sea. Many civilizations have lived in this area (Celts, Iberians, Greeks, Romans, Muslims), all of which have all left their mark on the gastronomy.

The diet in Orihuela is a healthy Mediterranean one; the Costa Blanca is rich in fish, vegetables, olive-oil, rice and fruit and the ingredients which are all used to prepare delicious, healthy dishes, such as Paella Valenciana, Arroz Negro (black rice), Arroz al horno (Oven baked rice), Arroz a banda (fish and rice stew), Arroz del Señoret (Princes rice).

Aside from seafood, typical dishes include succulent lamb chops, rabbit in garlic, roast leg of lamb with garlic and fresh rosemary, and home made sausages and black puddings.

If you have a sweet tooth then you will enjoy the local homemade pastries and deserts that the whole region is famous for. Or Jijona ice-cream (Nougat), which is made with the almonds of the region.

Whilst in Orihuela we recommend you try the local wine selection on offer, especially Jalon wine a which is of high quality with a lovely bouquet.

There are many international restaurants in the town offering a wide choice of different cuisines from around the world.

Climate
Orihuela enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate, with cool sea breezes in summer and protection by surrounding mountains against the cold North winds in winter. The area averages nearly 3,000 hours of sunshine each year and the average temperature easily exceeds 20 degrees.

In 1986 the World Health Organisation recommended the climate of the area as one of the most equitable in the world - neither too hot in the summer nor too cold in the winter. On average it can boast 325 sunny days each year making it an ideal all year round destination.