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Aspe

Where to find Aspe

Aspe is situated in the Costa Blanca, in the Alicante province in between Valencia and Murcia. Aspe is near the cities of Elche and Torrevieja to the south, Alicante to the east, and Denia and Javea to the north. There are three airports you can arrive into the region through. In the south is Murcia Airport at San Javier. In the north is the Valencia Airport and of course there is the ever expanding Alicante Airport in the province.

Accommodation in Aspe

You can stay in many different places here including guest houses, Aspe hotels, self catering accommodation, and camping amenities. There is Aspe accommodation to suit all finances. There is a wide variety of lodging styles offered in the close towns of Novelda, Sant Vicent del Raspeig, Monovar, Elda, Crevillent, Santa Pola, Sax, Agost, El Campello, and Villajoyosa.

Renting a car in Aspe

Hiring a car is very nearly essential in this area since there is no municipal transport to speak of. You do not need to travel any distance because the center of Aspe is in actual fact well appointed with heaps of shops, restaurants, and bars. An Aspe car hire is going to allow you to see a good deal more of the neighboring parts, and there are some beautiful areas around here. You can rent a car either from one of the airports or from several companies in Aspe.

What to see in Aspe

The town of Aspe is located in the province of Alicante. As of 2006 the population of Aspe was 18,821 inhabitants. The town, which is around 25 km from Alicante city itself, is located in the valley through which runs the river Vinalopo. Aspe has got a very small expatriate population which comprise of mainly English and Dutch.

The history of Aspe

Aspe’s geographical position, which as said before is located in the natural corridor of the river Vinalopó, is decisively influenced its origin. The first human settlements as far as we know, go back to the Paleolithic remains found in la Cueva del Roll the “Cave of the Roll” and other areas. And it seems that during the Bronze Age there was a marked increase in population density. There are also plenty of archaeological findings from the Roman period.

With the Muslim occupation in the seventh century, Aspe becomes part of the Muslim province of Tudjman called Cora. In the eleventh century, the population became part of the Taifa kingdom of Denia which is when the name of “Asf” is first cited by the Arab geographer Al-Udri. The Arabs, who occupied what has been known for centuries as “El Azp Viejo” projected their culture, religion, etc. and founded “El Aspe Nueve” the new Aspe. The more is also created irrigation canals which were fed off the river Tarafa, creating very fertile land for gardens and agriculture.

Because of the Reconquista, which was carried out under the command of King James I, the historical evolution of Aspe was determined by Almizrra the Treaty in 1244, leaving Aspe a part of the Crown of Castile. In 1296, James II invaded these territories were seized Aspe Don Juan Manuel, which then became part of the Crown of Aragon and therefore part of the Kingdom of Valencia. Total integration occurred after the Treaty of Torrellas in 1304. On 28 November 1497, Don Gutierrez de Cardenas bought the town of Aspe from Don Joan Roig de Corella, joining with the towns of Elche and Crevillente. The three towns, along with Torrijos and other municipalities remained under the same authority and manorial administration for three and half centuries.

The dawn of the seventeenth century is crucial in the history of Aspe because of the expulsion of the Moors. Most of the 2,250 residents that resided in Aspe in 1609 were Moors and left the area, leaving at a virtually empty. This paralyzed agricultural work and ultimately devastated most economic activities. The Lord of the town tried to alleviate the demographic vacuum by attracting people from other areas. It is told in the “Carta Puebla”, an 22 May 1611, that the Duke of Maqueda donated lots of land to new settlers. The manor house of Maqueda-Arcos-Altamira received the vast majority of taxes, and thus promoted and financed some of Aspe’s most unique buildings: the town hall, completed in 1641, the hospital, Palace House and the Parish Church, whose work began in the late seventeenth century.

The nineteenth century brought significant administrative changes to the area. In 1834, Aspe was part of the province of Alicante, and in 1839 Alicante produced the separation from the parish of Hondon de las Nieves. In 1851, a series of laws were brought into force which brought an end to the feudal system.

Agriculture has played a large part in the life of the town. Although there are new water wells which were found in La Ofra and El Toloman , irrigated crops began to suffer from significant changes. Many of the vegetables that had been blown here for years began to suffer from significant changes, many of these vegetables disappeared altogether or have experienced a severe decline in production. Vegetable profitability fell because the cost of irrigation water was so high. The shortage of water in this area always has been a big problem. Because there is such a low amount of rainfall in the area there is always a need for large amounts of water to be supplied by irrigation. The occasion is supplied from the aquifer of the Sierra de Crevillente which is tapped through a series of wells fed by the river Toloman. These wells have been over exploited for more than 25 years and gradually a decline in the volume which was being extracted emerged. Not only was there a rising cost of extraction, there was also a high degree of salinity. A series of dams have been built in recent years in order to try and overcome the problem. The grapes that are grown in this area have achieved a national status and are clearly bagged and marked that they come from the region around the Vinalopa.

The booming industries which arose from the spectacular economic growth of Aspe, in the late forties and early fifties, were dashed in the early seventies by economic turmoil. After a crisis in 1973, Asp began to rise on the new winds of international economic recovery. Ancillary industries such grew up, such as chemical footwear, furniture, and there has been a great impetus for the construction industry towards the end of the 1980s and early 1990s.

Although Aspe is not really a tourist town there is plenty to do here if you are into a sedate vacation. The town itself has a lot of beautiful architectural edifice is to see. There is the Parish Church in the Plaza Mayor. The church was not completed until the beginning of the 18th century although building started in the 17th century. There are many different things about this church that make it beautiful. There is the gorgeous architecture both inside and out, and there are many exquisite statues and icons inside the church. Like many buildings in this area, you have to be careful about when you are visiting, a lot of the time these buildings are closed to visitors during the siesta hours. The old town has been beautifully pedestrianized. It’s a great place to be able to sit, relax, have a glass of sangria and watch as the townspeople get on with their daily lives. Like a lot of Spanish towns, the town centre is the centre of community life. There is plenty to see as a tourist, it may not offer the high life of Benidorm or Torrevieja but it offers a peaceful blending of the old and the new style of Spanish architecture, a view into the real Spanish soul, and a natural place to allow your body to relax and your mind to roam free. A couple of the other sites in this area include the Casino and the Teatro Wagner.

The main fiesta which is held throughout this region is of course the Moors and Christians. This is held every year around the second week in August. The streets become alive with festivities and mock battles celebrating the expulsion of the Moor. There are also other festivals held throughout the year.

As I said before, if you are looking for night long parties and entertainments then you are going to be in the wrong place if you come to Aspe. However, if you are looking for the quiet life, and you want to have the odd party night, you are not too far away from Benidorm or Alicante. Here you will find plenty in the way of nightlife. Many bars open all night long, and Benidorm is one of the key areas where you are going to find plenty of entertainment. Cabarets start here around nine o’clock in the evening and can last throughout the full night. Also, Benidorm has two great theme parks for you to enjoy.

If you’re looking for sport, there is plenty to do in the region. Aspe golfing has a lot to offer the golfing enthusiast with plenty of golf courses up and down the Costa Blanca. For those of you who want the calm relaxing atmosphere of the white sandy beaches along the Costa Blanca, you are not too far away.

What can you eat in Aspe

This region of Spain boasts food from many diverse areas of the planet. To specify a handful, there is Spanish, German, Chinese, Dutch, English, Cantonese, and Hungarian. You can find other enjoyable national cuisines if you search for them. The food reflects the variety of the area; you should in no way be stuck for deals when eating. Aspe has a rich and varied astronomy which is typical of many of the inland towns in this area. There are many rice dishes and rabbit is a specialty which is served all year through. A traditional dessert of the area is “torrijas “, with other desserts including almojábenas, rollicos, and sequillos.

The climate in Aspe

The weather conditions in Aspe are in the main sun-drenched, similar to all over the Costa Blanca. The summer climate is in general hot with the winter temperatures in general being nice and warm. Rain does not turn up often but it is well accepted that it does rain every now and then. It can often mean a thirst-quenching disruption from the unbroken heat.

How to get to Aspe

Directions from Alicante Airport to Aspe

Directions from Murcia Airport to Aspe

Directions from Valencia Airport to Aspe

Maps of Aspe