Jacarilla

Jacarilla on the Costa Blanca

Jacarilla is located in the heart of the Vega Baja on the Costa Blanca, about 20 kilometers from the coast. Jacarilla has a history that dates back to the sixth century BC when settlements were established on the Iberian Peninsula at the site of present-day Jacarilla. The name Jacarilla originates from medieval songs about the heroic deeds of knights in the war against the marauding Moors. Originally, the settlement was called Sakariskera, meaning the place where the river stops. It then evolved from Topónimo to Xacariella, Hacarilla, and finally to Jacarilla. The village is located in the Vega Baja, near the ancient Episcopal city of Orihuela. Most residents traditionally live off the produce from the surrounding citrus plantations.

The center is within walking distance and features small typical Spanish shops such as a butcher, a bakery, and a small supermarket. There are also a few bars and a delightful typical Spanish tapas restaurant where the locals enjoy extended lunches every day. Surrounding Jacarilla are vast fruit plantations with lemons, mandarins, almonds, loquats, and oranges. You can take wonderfully long walks here along interesting routes, or you can cycle and, depending on the time of year, pick some fruit along the way. If you occasionally seek more activity, you can reach the lively coast within 20 minutes.

A few kilometers from Jacarilla, near Vista Bella, lies the La Pedrera Reservoir, which supplies a large part of the Vega Baja with water and irrigation water for the farmers. The higher-altitude reservoir, adjacent to the village of Torremendo, is a beautiful protected hilly nature area with many almond trees, pine forests, and the hamlet of Rebate with the eponymous Spanish family restaurant. There are opportunities for walking, cycling, horseback riding, and quad biking, or simply to admire the nature. You can drive all the way around it, which takes about half an hour by car. The water is always beautifully blue-turquoise due to the crystals in the water, and in the evening, you can enjoy many birds and a beautiful sunset.

Jacarilla has a large manor house or palace, which once belonged to the Marquis of Fontalba around 1920. The palace features 20,000 m² of beautifully landscaped gardens, which are worth a visit and are accessible to everyone. If you want to go out, you can visit the Friday market in Torrevieja or the Saturday market in Almoradi, go shopping for a day at the Centro Commercial in Torrevieja, which also has a bowling alley, a mini fair, a cinema, and a casino. Visiting the places and beaches of Guardamar and La Marina is also an option.

Jacarilla, a Spanish village with a palace called Fontalba, is located on the Costa Blanca, 20 kilometers from the sea and from Torrevieja and La Marina.