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Orihuela is a municipality of over 100,000 people (2018) in the Alicante province of the Valencian Community. It is a historic city with many monuments, especially churches. 40% of its population is foreign, split evenly between British and people from other countries.

Understand

Orihuela is the capital of the region of the "Vega Baja del Segura"; it has been the capital of a province and a kingdom. The city was named the first city of the province of Alicante in 1437.

The agriculture of Orihuela is based on lemons, oranges, almonds, olives, palm trees, pomegranates, cotton, hemp and vegetables. It also has an important industry of silk, wool and preserved food. The tourism industry is today the single most important sector in the economy, and has been the main engine of growth for Orihuela in the 21st century.

Get in

The nearest airport is in Alicante.

AVE fast trains run every 2-3 hours from Madrid Atocha or Chamartin, taking 3 hr 15 min via Albacete, Villena, Alicante and Elche, and continuing to Murcia. A regional train also runs between Alicante, Orihuela and Murcia every two hours.

1 Orihuela Miguel Hernández railway station is 500 m south of town centre.

The road that leads to Orihuela is the CV-920.

Get around

Orihuela is a small town, you can get around on foot without any problem.

See

Santo Domingo Cimborrio

• 1 Orihuela Cathedral. Built between the 14th and 16th centuries. (updated Oct 2020)
• Orihuela Castle - ruins of a mountaintop Arab castle
• Church of Santa Justa y Rufina
• Baroque church of Santo Domingo
• The medieval town centre houses five National Monuments and an urban layout that is the result of its former rank as a University Centre and Episcopal See.

Do

Festivals

• The Semana Santa (Holy Week). April. During this spring festival, there are several processions where the different brotherhoods of the city called "hermandades", depicting the passion and death of Jesus Christ. (updated Sep 2020)
• Reconquista Days. Around 17 July. Celebrates the anniversary of the Reconquista of the city. It is about parading the flag called "El Oriol" in the streets. This is called "the day of the bird". For twenty years, the associations of Moros y Cristianos have been organizing balls and other festivities. (updated Sep 2020)
• The Virgin of Monserrate. 8 September. Celebration of the appearance of the image of the Virgin in Orihuela Mountain. (updated Sep 2020)

Buy

The shopping mall La Zenia Boulevard is the largest shopping mall in the Costa Blanca and Costa Cálida region with 150 stores and 20 restaurants and bars.

Connect

As of Feb 2023, Orihuela has 4G from Vodafone and 5G from Masmovil, Movistar and Orange.