There are many small towns and villages in the province of Alicante that hide a myriad of secret treasures. From the mountain walks throughout the Costa Blanca that few people would consider when they think about holidaying in this region, to the many archaeological and architectural wonders that are located here. One of those is the snow pits of Sax Alicante.
Sax Alicante is located to the west of Alicante city. It is surrounded by mountains and has a very long history. Most of the time, you will find snow pits in the high mountains but this snow pit is located in the Alt Vinalopo, very close to the town of Sax. It has the distinction of being one of the most visited snow pits in the whole country. The snow pits were once located over much of the country. The major cities, such as Madrid, had snow pits that were dug into the city streets and filled with snow and ice that was transported from the mountains throughout the winter. The ice and snow from these pits was sold during the summer months so that it could be added to the soft drinks that were available in the day. These included strawberry juice, orange juice and a syrup that was flavored with almonds. The ice would also be used to keep food fresh. These pits were normally in the control of the municipality.
The snow pits in Sax Alicante are approximately 10 to 15 meters deep. Experts have dated the building back to the 13th century and snow and ice from this pit was probably brought all the way into Alicante itself.
07/02/2010 11:16:22
279
