|
Oropesa del Mar is a
typically Mediterranean village of the of the Orange blossom
coast. The good climate, the natural beauty of their calm
beaches of fine sand and creeks, the cliffs, the gastronomy
based on sea products, the history of their monuments, the open
and extroverted fiestas, the complete tourist infrastructure,
the marina, the picturesque old village, the night life, there
are some incentives for all the family which makes this an
ideal holiday resort.
HISTORY
Down through the centuries, Oropesa del Mar, with its attractive
and strategic position on the Mediterranean served as a
settlement for many peoples occupying the peninsula. The first
remains found at Cau d Én Borras date from the Old
Stone Age. Vestiges of Iberian culture were detected in
Oropesa la Vella, and Roman literature mentions strong
contingents of Iberians along this part of the coast.

During the Middle Ages Oropesa del Mar
belonged to the military order of the Hospitalarios, whose castle was later
taken by James I in 1233. The village come under the protection of various lords
in subsequent years, with Jofré de Thous being the governor who re-fortified the
castle and the town walls. Due to frequent attacks by Barbary pirates - the most
notorious of which was the raid by Read Beard - , Pedro I the Antequera
commissioned a defensive tower to be built on the coast, which was later
reformed by Felipe II and given its present-day shape.
Oropesa del Mar also suffered attacks
during the Independence War, when the troops of Field Marshall Suchet blew ups
the castle and part of the wall in an attempt to put down the stalwart
resistance of the town folk.

NATURAL LANDSCAPE The
scenic variety of the Oropesa del Mar coastline is the first thing that strikes
visitors to this area. On the northern side of the cape of Oropesa are the
extensive sandy beaches of Les Amplaries and Morro de Gos, or dog
muzzle, which are ideal for sunbathing and water sports, running down to the
south side bay known as the Bahía de la
Concha, which ends at the seafront esplanade. Between the
Concha beach and the last spurs of the Sierra de Oropesa reaching down to
the sea, a pleasure port has been built offering modern facilities and capacity
of 668 berths. Further south, the coast abruptly changes to present a beautiful
landscape of cliffs and coves topped with pine trees and Mediterranean
shrubbery. Here, the tranquil beaches of Bellver and Renegá are located, flanked
by a picturesque residential area.
Further inland, the Sierra de Oropesa
rises up to mark the limits of the municipal area and provide protection
against the winds from the interior, thereby creating a particular pleasant
year-round climate. Between the coast and the mountain barrier lying inland is a
stretch of agricultural land where oranges and market vegetables are grown. On
higher, non-irrigated ground, almonds and olives are grown, and also vineyards
providing grapes for the well-known muscatel wine from this
area.
Next
|