If you like to enjoy every corner you visit, you cannot miss the old quarter of Benissa during your holidays on the Costa Blanca.
Full of history and curiosities, the historic center of this town in the Marina Alta will surprise you and invite you to stay in its streets for an unlimited amount of time.
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Benissa and its history
According to current discoveries, the municipality of Benissa was already alive in prehistoric times, as well as being a stopping place for the Romans.
The name Banu-Isa (sons of Isa) of Arab origin, confirms that Benissa was born from the Arab conquest that took place in a large part of the Spanish Levant.
The urban nucleus of Benissa was a Muslim population, mainly agricultural, until the arrival of Jaume I in 1244, when he began the colonization of the area, concentrating the Christians and trying to control the Muslim population until their expulsion in 1609.
Visiting the Old Town of Benissa
In the historic center of Benissa you will find several important places to stop and take a look. Here are some of the places you should not miss on your visit to the old quarter:
– Council Chamber:
Walking along Calle la Puríssima from the Town Hall, you will come across the Sala del Consell, a building that stands out for its arches.
It was built in the 16th century to house the sessions of the town’s legal and political power.
At the same time it was used as a storage place for wheat and other cereals.
– Casas del Batlle:
Right in front of the Sala del Consell we will find what used to be the house of the Mayor of Benissa, where the Bernat Capó Municipal Library and the Salvador Soria Contemporary Art Space are currently located.
– Abargues House:
An essential visit in the historic centre of Benissa is undoubtedly the Abargues House. It is a stately home from the 18th-19th centuries, located in Calle Desamparats, one of the most beautiful streets in the historic centre due to its large concentration of stately homes.
Casa Abargues, with its noble atmosphere and a large number of details and furnishings, will show you the way of life of the noble families of Benissa.
– Riberer Monument:
This corner is one of the most famous in the old town, and there is a reason for that as it is a representative monument for the whole population of Benissa to which they have tradition and devotion, due to its great significance. In the past, many people from this city used to walk to the rice fields of La Ribera in order to earn an income to support the family they left behind.
– Church of the Puríssima Xiqueta:
One of the most outstanding places to visit in the municipality of Benissa is undoubtedly the Church of La Purissima Xiqueta, known as the Cathedral of the Marina. With 35 meters high and a neo-Gothic style, its construction began in 1902 and its completion dates back to 1929.
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