Heritage means more than memory. It is what we preserve from the past, live today, and pass on to future generations. This idea underlines the value of monuments, archaeological remains, and living traditions that define Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The idea has guided UNESCO since its formal recognition began in 1972, marking a milestone when an agreement is reached to grant this distinction.
When talking about places or monuments, recovery and rehabilitation are aimed at enriching the whole society. The goal is to allow present generations to enjoy these sites while honoring the didactic role they held for elders. Through historic settlements, communities learn from multiple lifeways and customs that have existed across the world for thousands of years.
The province of Alicante hosts a wealth of sites that trace the history of this Mediterranean region from north to south. The journey moves from Roman-era traces through the modernist architecture of the 20th century, and even medieval landscapes. Alicante is renowned for its cultural richness, including three world heritage sites: Misteri d’Elx, a singular performance with medieval roots; Mediterranean Arch Rock Art, home to more than 200,000 examples from Elche Palm Grove and notable cave paintings across l’Alcoià, El Comtat, Marina Alta, and Marina Baixa.
Elche saves two historic orchards in the heart of Palmeral
The city council of Elche has undertaken the rescue of two heritage enclaves located in the historic center: Hort de Rastoll and Hort de Pontos. These actions, described by a member of the Elche Urban Planning Council, focus on recovering and preserving Elche’s heritage, keeping the palm groves and traditional houses intact while guiding an urban transformation that benefits all residents and makes the city more attractive to visitors. It is both a statement of pride and an invitation to explore the city embracing its heritage.
The Hort de Pontos project shows a house dating from the early 1900s in a state of advanced deterioration. It stands as one of Elche’s emblematic traditional houses along the full Palmeral route, originally built as a private residence for agricultural use with a distinctive wide, L-shaped façade.
Regarding Hort de Pontos, the main goal is the rehabilitation of traditional dwellings in that space, replanting palm trees, restoring irrigation systems, and rebuilding walls and enclosures. An investment of 857,717 euros supported a 12-month delivery plan set to begin during the summer. The aim is to restore a valued Illicit-type heritage asset and reintroduce life into this part of the city.
With the Hort de Rastoll project, the idea is to save the orchard as a public garden in an urban setting formerly used as a parking area. It represents an opportunity to offer the neighborhood a place for leisure, while complementing a playground and entertainment zones for the enjoyment of all residents.
The renovation plan for Rastoll, with about half a million euros invested and a six-month schedule, started in March and is now advancing through the middle of the process. The work also improves urban lighting, sidewalks, and a cycle path between Candalix and Juan Carlos I streets, connecting the palm groves with the surrounding neighborhoods.
These efforts align with palm garden conservation standards and are part of a broader strategy to preserve historic orchards as Cultural Interest Assets. The Urbanism leadership notes that both Hort de Rastoll and Hort de Pontos are steps within a wider plan to preserve and promote the historic Palm Grove as a living heritage asset that continues to benefit the city and its visitors.
The Urban Planning Council emphasizes that these actions fit into a broader recovery framework aimed at renewing public spaces and improving pedestrian accessibility. The mayor highlights the pedestrianization of plazas and walkways as a sign of successful urban renewal, reinforcing the link between heritage restoration and contemporary urban life. The ongoing projects serve as living demonstrations of how palm groves and irrigation systems connect to local identity and daily life.
City officials continue to pursue an integrative rehabilitation approach for these enclaves, restoring traditional buildings and opening the orchard to the public. This living practice shows how historical horticultural systems and architectural forms relate to ongoing urban development and cultural expression.
Museumization of Banys de la Reina de Calp
The Banys de la Reina de Calp site is a key archaeological landmark within Roman Hispania. A roadmap is in place to guide the project toward recognition within the most relevant archaeological contexts in the region. The provincial government and the town council have signed the act to submit this project to a framework that will enable an archaeological park to be visited in the near future.
Plans unfold in three phases with a total estimated cost of 15 million euros. The first phase will touch municipal land and span about two years, with seven million euros allocated to enable public visitation in the related residential area. A pedestrian-bridge route, about one kilometer in length, is proposed to connect key areas and enhance access for visitors.
A second phase involves public spaces such as entrances and promenades, including the construction of a four-meter-high observation platform on the promenade to overlook the site’s nurseries. A 170-meter-long bridge will connect the journey to the site, while a sunken pier will shield the quarries and nurseries from coastal erosion, a measure to be coordinated with coastal authorities.
The third phase focuses on the long-term management of private sections within the archaeological complex. Dating from the 1st to the 7th century AD, these ruins offer a window into Roman times on the Spanish Mediterranean coast. The significance and scale of these remains mark Banys de la Reina as one of the most important protected monuments in the province and in the Valencia Community.
Dive into the modernist legacy of Novelda
Situated in the heart of Alicante province, Novelda showcases a rich cultural and historical tapestry expressed through its architecture and monuments. From the Middle Ages, the Mola Castle stands as a fortress guarding the Val Pinal valley. The wall and its two towers remain, including a triangular tower that is a distinctive peak in the region.
Novelda is also celebrated for its modernist treasures. Beside the castle, the Temple of Santa Maria Magdalena is a standout landmark, crafted by engineer Jose Sala Sala. Construction began in 1918 and remains one of the province’s premier examples of modernist architecture. The Modernist House Museum offers a glimpse into early 20th-century bourgeois life, with restored furnishings, frescoes, tapestries, and other period pieces that highlight the era’s design language.
On Calle Mayor, Counts Gómez-Tortosa’s palace now hosts the Cultural Center and the Tourism Office. Wandering through Novelda’s historic core feels like stepping back in time, with facades and structures such as Casa Bonmatí or the Old Savings Bank, now Casal Fester. The Novelda Casino Cultural Association, founded in 1888, remains a vibrant hub where halls, gardens, and performances evoke a sense of the city’s cultural continuity.