Interesting Monuments

 The Roman House in the "El Palmeral" Park

 

 

In the 'El Palmeral' park are the ruins of a substantial residence in the architectural style of patio-peristyle, which was established in the 4th century a.d.

Manorial in character, it exhibits various rooms round a central patio with multi-coloured geometric-style mosaics.

This mansion would have been the residence of a rich family, which carried out its business in Portus Ilicitanus.


 Watchtowers

As a defensive measure, in the 16th century thirty seven watchtowers were built along the Valencian coast to monitor the Mediterranean.

Within the boundaries of Santa Pola are three watchtowers; the Tamarit tower, situated at the salt pans, which served as a link with the land round Elche, the Escaletes tower, also known as the Pep tower, on the south-eastern part of the Sierra, whose function was to monitor the neighbouring island of Tabarca and the Atalayola tower, on which was later constructed the current lighthouse, which communicated with the other two.

All are strategically located to spot the enemy before he reached the coast and they communicated with each other by smoke signals during the day and by lights at night.

 

 Archeological Remains of 'Portus Ilicitanus'

 The remains of the ancient port of 'Lilice' are to be found at the western extension of the town.

At various outdoor conservation sites , as well as the Casa Romana in the El Palmeral park, one may see the remains of the business quarter of the Roman
city, with walls of dwellings of two or three rooms and a small patio with a rainwater cistern of the 1st to the 4th century a.d. Also conserved are the foundations of several store houses.

The discovery of greater interest is an Iberian layer from the 4th century b.c. in which a large quantity of Iberian and Greek ceramics were found. At this site and on top of the Iberian material was a Roman factory for the salting of fish from the 4th century a.d. with various sections for filleting cleaning and preserving. This technique of salting, which is still in use today, was begun by the Phoencians and was well established in Roman times.

 The Castle Fort

 This was constructed in 1558 by Italian engineers by order of the Viceroy of Valencia, Don Bernardino de Cardenas, for the protection and defence of mariners against the attacks of pirates, a frequent occurence along our coast in the 16th and 17th century.

It is a fort of square form, with two bastions and two large towers at the corners, characteristic of renaissance military construction. Inside is a parade ground and a rainwater cistern, with a chapel of the Virgen de Loreto
and a museum of the sea. Currently the castle has been converted into a Cultural Centre where activities of a cultural, festive and religious nature take place.


 
www.santapola.com &DavidMedford

[2001]