Marq advances excavations at Pobla d’Ifach de Calp with a newly revealed 30‑metre wall segment
Throughout the summer, Alicante City Council’s Archaeological Museum is actively refining the 18th edition of the Excavation Plan. This season’s efforts focus on finalizing digs and meticulously documenting the so‑called West Gate, where teams are uncovering the collapsed arch identified in last year’s campaign. The work reflects a broader program to record and interpret Calpe’s medieval landscape, bridging past settlement patterns with today’s preservation challenges. (Citation: MARQ)
MARQ archaeologist Jose Luis Menendez directs a dedicated team, supported by twelve volunteers comprising Archaeology, History, Art History, and Restoration students from the universities of Valencia and Alicante. The project benefits from collaboration between Calpe City Council and the Department of Environment, Water Infrastructures and District, emphasizing a coordinated approach to cultural heritage that links excavation, study, and stewardship. (Citation: MARQ)
Marq concludes excavations at Pobla d’Ifach de Calp with a new 30‑metre wall segment uncovered
Known as the Pobla d’Ifach, the district now sits at the heart of Calp and has come to symbolize the region’s medieval development. Settled by migrants from the northern peninsula, the area shaped the town’s urban framework and established a strategic corridor for the surrounding hinterlands. The century‑turn context highlights how the Pobla d’Ifach facilitated the concentration of displaced communities and helped organize this newly conquered frontier. (Citation: MARQ)
The site map marks Pobla d’Ifach as a key locus for understanding how Calp evolved within its larger regional system. The early phase of research began in 2005, when the entrances to La Pobla were identified, including the North Gate with its bell tower. Nearby, a civic building described as a domus or residence connected to members of the House of Lauria stood close to the large church of Santa María, underscoring the area’s civic and religious significance in the late medieval period. The influence of Aragonese rule during the 13th and 14th centuries is evident in the architectural and urban layout observed at the site. (Citation: MARQ)
The history of Pobla d’Ifach thus reveals itself through these architectural and urban features, offering a tangible link to the social and political dynamics that shaped the region. The recent discovery of a substantial wall section expands the concrete record of fortifications and residential spaces, inviting ongoing analysis of construction methods, defensive strategies, and daily life in this frontier town. (Citation: MARQ)
Two graffiti of considerable archaeological value were also uncovered at Pobla d’Ifach de Calp. These finds contribute to a growing body of material evidence that helps scholars reconstruct medieval mobility, trade, and cultural exchange in Alicante and Valencia during the medieval period. (Citation: MARQ)
Juan de Dios Navarro, a cultural representative, commented on the significance of these measures. He noted that the initiatives promoted by the State Legislature strengthen the region’s medieval heritage and stand as robust references for understanding the formation of Alicante and Valencia lands during that era, with support from the Institution’s Architecture department. (Citation: MARQ)
Since opening, MARQ has offered interpretive displays featuring remarkable on‑site discoveries, including pieces associated with Pobla d’Ifach. Exhibitions such as El caballero d’Ifach and Los Pilares del Reino highlight the Gothic period’s distinctive materials and architectural forms, while Calpe: Archaeology and Museum presents the broader story of these finds to the public for the first time. (Citation: MARQ)