Orihuela

Introduction

Orihuela sits at the foot of the Sierra de Orihuela mountains in the province of Alicante, within Spain's Valencian Community. It is a city and municipality in one of the Spanish-speaking areas of the region, so you'll hear and see Castilian Spanish here rather than Valencian.

The mountains rising directly behind the city give Orihuela its setting, and that position at the foot of the range is the essential fact to keep in mind as you plan your time here.

Before you go

Orihuela is the capital of the Vega Baja del Segura and has a long history behind it: it has been the capital of a province and of a kingdom, and was named the first city of the province of Alicante in 1437. Keep that heritage in mind as you plan, since the city's identity is bound up with its past.

The surrounding agriculture shapes what you'll find locally — lemons, oranges, almonds, olives, palm trees, pomegranates, cotton, hemp and vegetables — alongside an important industry of silk, wool and preserved food. Tourism is today the single most important sector in the local economy and has been the main engine of growth in the 21st century, so expect visitor services to be well developed.

Getting there

Orihuela is served by rail from several directions. AVE fast trains run every two to three hours from Madrid's Atocha or Chamartín stations, taking about three and a quarter hours via Albacete, Villena, Alicante and Elche, and continuing on to Murcia. A regional train also links Alicante, Orihuela and Murcia every two hours. The Miguel Hernández railway station sits 500 m south of the town centre, so you can walk into the centre on arrival.

If you fly in, the nearest airport is in Alicante, which connects to the regional rail line. By road, the CV-920 leads to Orihuela.

Getting around

Orihuela is compact enough to cover on foot without any problem, and walking is the simplest way to get around. The old town and city centre sit on opposite banks of the River Segura, so expect to cross the river as you move between the two sides. The parks and plazas along the river make convenient places to pause and rest between sights, and if you are staying in the city rather than out on the coast, walking will likely cover most of your needs, including the main monuments, churches and the medieval town centre.

Orihuela Miguel Hernández railway station sits just south of the town centre, with the bus station right next to it on Avenida Estación. Trains link the city with Alicante, Elche and Murcia, and long-distance AVE services connect with Madrid via Albacete, Villena, Alicante and Elche, continuing on to Murcia; tickets can be booked at the station, including for onward national and international destinations. There is no metro or tram network. A regular local bus service covers the city and is the cheapest public transport option, with stops found throughout, while the bus station also serves national coaches to other Spanish cities and international coaches to France. Drivers may have limited English, so it helps to know a little Spanish and to name a nearby landmark when telling the driver where you want to go. Taxis have ranks at the main bus station and the train station, and Radio Taxi Orihuela has an office and rank on Calle Cristo de Zalamea, north of the river and parallel to the CV-921; taxis are relatively costly for sightseeing, so they are most useful for elderly visitors, people with disabilities, or those travelling with young children. The nearest airport is Alicante, with Murcia-San Javier as an alternative; both offer buses, taxis and car hire, and many visitors doing extensive sightseeing pre-book car hire for airport pickup to explore the wider municipality, including Orihuela Costa. If you are staying in the city, though, you can leave the car behind.

Where to stay

Food & drink

The source material for Orihuela gives no named dishes, markets, bars or restaurants, so there is nothing specific to recommend here. Use the surrounding Vega Baja towns and the coast for concrete eating and drinking leads, and treat Orihuela's own food scene as something to discover on arrival rather than plan around in advance.

What to see and do

Orihuela's medieval town centre rewards a slow wander: its urban layout reflects its former standing as a university centre and episcopal see, and the centre holds five National Monuments. Chief among them is the cathedral, built between the 14th and 16th centuries. Elsewhere in the centre you can visit the Church of Santa Justa y Rufina and the Baroque church of Santo Domingo, while the ruins of a mountaintop Arab castle, Orihuela Castle, look down over the city.

• Time your visit for Semana Santa in April, when the city's brotherhoods, the hermandades, stage processions depicting the passion and death of Jesus Christ.
• Around 17 July, Reconquista Days mark the anniversary of the city's reconquest with the parading of the flag known as "El Oriol" through the streets — the occasion called "the day of the bird"; for twenty years the Moros y Cristianos associations have organised balls and other festivities alongside it.
• On 8 September, the feast of the Virgin of Monserrate celebrates the appearance of the image of the Virgin in Orihuela Mountain.

Three days in Orihuela

Day one: Start in Orihuela itself, in the Valencian Community of Spain, and get your bearings in the old town around the Calle Cristo and the Colegio de Santo Domingo. The city is the capital of the Vega Baja and sits on the River Segura, so a walk along the river gives you a sense of the setting. Note that the local language is Castilian Spanish, with Valencian also spoken. If you arrive by train, the Orihuela Miguel Hernández station on Avenida Estación is the main railhead, and taxis are available through Radio Taxi Orihuela.

• Orihuela old town and the River Segura
• Orihuela Miguel Hernández station on Avenida Estación

Day two: Head out towards the Sierra and the coast. The Sierra rises behind the city, and the coast around Orihuela Costa and San Javier gives you beaches and the Mar Menor. Drivers will find the CV roads useful for reaching the coast and the Sierra, and the AVE high-speed line links Orihuela with Madrid, Albacete, Villena, Elche and Murcia, so day trips are straightforward.

• Sierra de Orihuela
• Orihuela Costa and San Javier

Day three: Use the rail links for a wider look at the region. The AVE connects to Madrid via Atocha and Chamartín, and trains also run to Alicante, Elche and Murcia. If you prefer to stay local, spend the day between the city and the Vega Baja countryside, following the River Segura. Keep in mind that the poet Miguel Hernández was born in Orihuela, and the city's cultural life reflects that connection.

• Alicante, Elche and Murcia by train
• Vega Baja countryside along the Segura