Monovar

Where to find Monovar

Monovar is situated on the Costa Blanca in the South East territory of Spain. Monovar is situated to the west of Alicante in the province of Alicante. You can get to Monovar by road, the A31 or the N325 will bring you closer to the town. You can fly into either Alicante airport to the south west in Elche, or you can come through Murcia airport in the province of Murcia.

Monovar accommodation

You can stay in many different places here counting guest houses, Monovar hotels, self catering villas, and camping facilities. You are guaranteed to find Monovar accommodation to suit all finances. There is also wide assortment of lodging styles which might suit you better in the nearest towns of Elda, Novelda, Sax, Agost, Monforte del Cid, el Pinos, Salinas, Castalla, Mutxamel, or Sant Vicent del Raspeig.

Renting a car in Monovar

There is an absolute deficiency of community transport in this area so you should really lease a car if you would like to do any sort of touring or you want to go to see neighboring amenities or attractions. You do not have to trek any distance because the center of Monovar is certainly well catered for with heaps of shops, restaurants, and bars. But there is much to see in this region and by using a Monovar car hire you will be able to get pleasure from the neighboring parts. A Car can be hired from quite a lot of companies in the locale or at one of the airports in the province.

A bit about Monovar

The population of Monovar was 12,923 people, though according to Spanish statistics for 2007. It is located near the river Vinalopo and is a very modern town which is well maintained. It is set between two goals, upon which lie the two buildings that are emblems in the town, the castle and the Santa Barbara hermitage. The steep streets of the town run up the slopes. The township itself is the fifth largest township in the region. Alicante city centre is roughly 34 km from Monovar.

Some history of Monovar

Human remains have been found in the Valley of the Sierra la Vella which is roughly 2 km from Monovar, so this proves that they were people living here in prehistoric times. Also, the remains have been found of a Roman villa, and Roman roads which ran very close to the location of the present town.

There is some debate as to the origin of the name Monovar, some believe that it comes from the Latin Mons-Novar which means new mountain, this is because of the Roman settlements that were in the region. Also, it is believed by many that the Arab word “manowar”, which means Beacon was the origin. Maybe this is because the castle remains which were possibly a look at our and are of Arab origin. The town was part of the Kingdom of Murcia which was Arab owned. In 1244, the town was included in the Castilian conquest by the Treaty of Almizra. 17 years later in 1261, the son of James I, Alfonso the 10th of Castile, helps to return the town soon Castilian crown. James II made a gift of the town to his counselor Goncalves Garcia in 1305. 1609 saw the expulsion of the Moorish population resulting in 45 families being made homeless.

During the 18th century the town grew in both its demography and economically. The 19th-century saw the wine industry becoming a very important part of the local economy. Unfortunately the phylloxera epidemic attacked the grape harvest all but destroyed the vineyards of the area and nearly destroyed the winemaking industry. The result of this was that the town had to diversify into other industries. From here, the 20th century saw the birth of soap making, shoemaking, the manufacturer of marble products, and all these industries were consolidated in the second half of the 20th century. Tourism is an up and coming industry in the area with the influx of people who want to see the peaceful side of the Costa Blanca. There are many people who come to Monovar who want to avoid the dense crowds of the big cities such as Benidorm and Alicante. The town is virtually untouched by mass tourism, this tranquility and peacefulness gives the town a uniqueness in the market.

What to see in Monovar

Some of the interesting things to see in this area include the large amount of buildings that were built in the 18th century. One of these buildings is the hermitage of Santa Barbara which is located on one of the two hills that overlook Monovar. The hermitage is actually visible from quite a distance, as is the castle and clock tower. Built in the late 18th century, the style is very much in the baroque frame. You reach the front door by means of the staircase and the building is covered with a blue tiled dome. You can see right over the town and the region from this perspective.

Another religious building and that you should take a look at is the Inglesia conventual de los Capuchinos. The origin of this church dates right back to the early 18th century, when an orphanage was founded here by the Capuchin monks. Only the convent church remains and this is dedicated to our Lady of Pilar.

Building work began on the Inglesia Arciprestal de San Juan Bautista on 19 April 1751. The baroque style of this building has neoclassical influences. There are two Towers and one of them is still not finished. You should also have a look at the clock tower, “Torre del Reloj” which is located at the bottom of one of the steep streets. It is a very unusual building for this part of the world, an example of a free standing tower that rises to 18 meters in height.

Another great building is the town hall. Construction on this building began in 1845. The building that used to be on this site was a prison and a council hall which had been located on the spot since 1682. The name of the square in which the town hall is located is Plaza de la Sala, which means the Square of the Hall. It is three stories high and is made of stone. There is a tower in the middle of the building.

I know bullfighting is not to everyone’s taste, but there is a bullring in Monovar which was reopened on 9 September 2002. It was built made of wood instead of the typical stone, construction started in 1911. The bullring gradually seeped over 5000 people. Although the bullring was almost destroyed and used as a concentration camp during the civil war, the building reopened in 1941. In 1968 the building closed again and had to wait until the next century before it was to reopen.

Of course you have to go and see the Monovar castle which is now in ruins but was once the tower from which perhaps Monovar took its name. The original tower was built during the time of Almohad, around the 12th century, and is built on one of the two hills that overlook the area. Many archaeological digs have been carried out on the hill and fragments of Bronze Age pottery have been found. Of course pieces of jewellery have been found from the Almohad period and also finds of archaeological interest from later dates.

If you visit Monovar you are guaranteed to have a very peaceful and tranquil vacation. But you should also use the place as a base from which to explore the whole region. There are many different towns and cities in the Costa Blanca that are worth a visit. Maybe you do not want the package holiday experience of Benidorm, but you must visit Alicante which is only a short drive away. If you’re into the outdoors, and why wouldn’t you be if you are visiting Spain, there is plenty to do. The avid golf enthusiasts will find plenty in Monovar golfing. There are plenty of golf courses in the Costa Blanca for you to choose from. Each golf course will have its own rules and regulations, restrictions, etc, but you are bound to find one that suits you.

Where can you eat in Monovar

There is so much delectable food accessible in this vicinity from numerous diverse countries including Hungarian, Cantonese, Indian, Chinese, Dutch, German, English, and last but by no means least the Spanish food. The cookery reflects the diversity of the region, you should by no means be stumped for choices when dining. Some of the most typical dishes in this region include food which is made from rice and rabbit. For those of you who like snails, there are some delicious garlic snails to be enjoyed here. Of course the typical Mediterranean diet rules supreme. And, what a healthy diet that is. There are plenty of fruits and vegetables included on any of the menus that you will find in the towns restaurants and bars. And, don’t think that because the town of Monovar is a few kilometres away from the coast that you are not going to get good fresh seafood. You will find seafood here every single day of the week. And, in don’t forget that Monovar is the home of many different types of wine.

The weather in Monovar

Sunshine is the universal rule when it comes to weather in the area and in Monovar. There are lovely scorching sun-drenched summers and kind sunny winters. Rain does not show its face often but it is well accepted that it does rain occasionally. It can very often involve an invigorating rest from the faithful heat.

How to get to Monovar

Directions From Alicante Airport, Elche

To Monovar

Distance: 43.2 km

Time: 0 hr 32 min

Start: Head east

Take the ramp to N-340/Elche/E-15/A-7/Valencia/Murcia

Merge onto N-338

Merge onto E-15/A-7 via the ramp to A-31/Madrid/A-70/Alicante/Benidorm/Valencia

Take the exit onto A-31

Take exit 32 toward CV-83/Elda (Sur)

Turn right at CV-8351/Av del Mediterráneo

Turn left to stay on CV-8351/Av del Mediterráneo

Slight left to stay on CV-8351/Av del Mediterráneo

Turn right at Av del Mediterráneo

At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto CV-83

Go through 1 roundabout

Arrive at Monòver Spain

Directions From Murcia Airport

To Monovar

Distance: 107.6 km

Time: 1 hr 09 min

Start: Head southwest

Turn right

Turn left toward AP-7

Go through 1 roundabout

At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto the AP-7 ramp to San Pedro del Pinatar/Alicante/Balsicas/C-3319/Murcia/A-37

Merge onto AP-7
Partial toll road

Take the exit onto A-7

Take the A-7 exit toward Valencia/AP-7/A-31/Albacete/Madrid

Keep left at the fork to continue toward A-7 and merge onto A-7

Take the exit onto A-31

Take exit 32 toward CV-83/Elda (Sur)

Turn right at CV-8351/Av del Mediterráneo

Turn left to stay on CV-8351/Av del Mediterráneo

Slight left to stay on CV-8351/Av del Mediterráneo

Turn right at Av del Mediterráneo

At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto CV-83

Go through 1 roundabout

Arrive at Monòver, Spain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEfE0IBeIDI

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