Guardamar del Segura


	Places of interest to visit in Guardamar del Segura.

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Photographs and Information About Guardamar Del Segura

Information about the places of interest in Guardamar del Segura.
Every town has its history, but Guardamar del Segura really has a rich past, with evidence of Phoenician, Iberian, Roman and Islamic cultures, preceding its medieval and later development into a modern European town. Califal Rabita X-XI century: hidden in the dunes of Guardamar del Segura is the Califal Rabita, an Islamic monastery dating from the tenth to eleventh century A.D. It consists of three rows of buildings, separated by streets and surrounded by a protective wall.
The complex formed a centre of pilgrimage in which a community of monks lived. The only example of such a centre in the Iberian peninsula and one of the oldest Islamic monuments in the world. In spite of this the (fenced) site is not easy to find, as there are no signposts for it in the extensive dunes, but - the Califal Rabita can be more closely visited, by taking part in the la Senda de la Historica (Path Of History) tour. This guided tour costs only 6€ (timetables in the Tourist Information), the tour lasts for around 2 hours and at the time of writing the English tour is held on Friday, and Spanish on Saturday, both at mid-day. Path of History tour itinerary as follows .. From the Guardamar del Segura Tourist Information Office - on the Guardamar tourist train ... Castle visit (remains of Guardamar del Segura fortress), good panoramic view of Guardamar town. Els Vivers - The forest nursery - and the inspiration behind the Dunas de Guardamar. The Dunes - and the process of reforestation. The Rabita Califal. Back to the Tourist Information Office.

Guardamar del Segura places of interest - The Rabita Califal - an Islamic Monastery.

The Rabita Califal (Islamic Monastery) dating back to the 9th century.
The remains were only uncovered in the late 1990's and excavation still going on.

Guardamar del Segura places of interest - Guardamar land mark ...
The Radio Naval Station Tower.

You just know when Guardamar del Segura is approaching ; when driving from Alicante on the N332 - as the Radio Naval Station Tower appears on the horizon - it can even be seen when driving through the salt lakes (just after the Santa Pola turn off). The Guardamar del Segura radio naval tower stands 380 metres high and is insulated from the ground in order to transmit low frequency signals to Naval Fleet submarines. The Guardamar del Segura naval tower can be seen up close (although fenced off) by driving up an access road (2nd left off the lemon tree road - the Montesinos road) see the map below. The Guardamar del Segura tower is apparently also one of the tallest structures on the Iberian peninsula.

Guardamar radio naval tower from distance

Guardamar radio naval tower from distance

Radio Naval Tower in Guardamar - up close

sign at radio navel station tower Guardamar del Segura

Location map of the Guardamar del Segura radio naval station tower (naval estación torre)....
location map - Guardamar naval station tower

Places of interest - Guardamar del Segura parks.

There are three parks in Guardamar del Segura, Park Reina Sofia, Park Alfonso X111, and Park Sur, above are photographs at the entrances of the first two. Park Reina Sofia is a formal park, which includes an open-air stage, a playground, two ponds (with more than just ducks!) and numerous walking paths and areas shaded by many and varied trees.
Guardamar park reina sofia lake

Park Alfonso XIII is a natural park, formed as a result of the planting of pines in the early 20th century. The resulting pine forest now provides Guardamar del Segura with some excellent natural recreation areas, offering shaded walkways, picnic areas, and an assortment of wildlife.
Park Sur is smaller in comparison and is undergoing some drastic landscaping at present ...
(photo below was take in June 2007).
guardamar del segura park sur

Places Of Interest Guardamar del Segura - the Guardamar del Segura Castle

Pictured above is Guardamar del Segura Castle - the castle remains date back to to the fourteenth century and was used by the inhabitants of the Vale of Guardamar till the nineteenth century. Archaeological investigations revealed remains of the Phoenician times - an Iberian Roman sanctuary and several graves of burials from Andalusian times. The castle was built in 1271 when King Alfonso X (who brought Catalan people to the area) ruled. During the fourteenth century the castle became the most important costal fortress for the defence of Orihuela. The destruction and abandonment of the Guardamar del Segura castle happened in the earthquakes which took place in 1829, forcing the inhabitants to retire from the castle into the valley to start new lives.

Guardamar del Segura Places of interest - River Segura.

The river Segura is pictured above, the photo on the left is pointing towards the mouth of the river and the Marina de Las Dunas; the photo on the right points in the opposite direction; the middle photo shows cormorants on the Guardamar river Segura, which is home to a wide variety of different species of wild birds.

Places of interest Guardamar del Segura - Guardamar Marina de las Dunas.

Pictured left is the point where the river Segura reaches the Mediterranean Sea with the entrance to the Guardamar del Segura Marina de Las Dunas on the right. The Marina de las Dunas has berths for around 400 boats. Plans are underway to increase the capacity of the Marina de las Dunas (see photo below), the land in the foreground of the picture will be claimed to extend the Marina to around 550 berths from the existing 400 moorings available.

marina de las dunas guardamar del segura

marina de las dunas guardamar del segura

Guardamar del Segura places of interest - pink flamingo's on the salt lakes.

Travelling from Alicante to Guardamar del Segura (or vice versa) be sure to keep an eye out for
the pink flamingo's which haunt the Salt Lakes situated between Santa Palo and La Marina.
The Salt Lakes are also a hive of activity for a whole host of other wild bird species.

Places of interest in Guardamar del Segura.