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Date Published: 31/08/2022

Tabarca Island: alluring coves, spectacular scenery and a walled village

Alicante's Tabarca Island is located 8km from Santa Pola and is home to just 50 year-round inhabitants

Tabarca is the only inhabited island in the Valencian region considered a paradisiacal destination for those looking for stunning coves, a Blue Flag beach, spectacular scenery, transparent waters and a picturesque marina.

Located in front of Alicante city, 11 nautical miles away, and near Cape Santa Pola, Tabarca is more than an island, it is a small archipelago made up, in addition to Tabarca, of the islets La Pedrera, La Galera and La Nao.

It has an approximate length of 1,8km and a maximum width of about 400 metres which encompass a walled village and much more.

Evidence has been discovered that the island was inhabited during Roman times, and it is well known that the Tabarca was a refuge for Muslim pirates arriving from North Africa. They attacked Christian ships or raided the coast, which is why King Charles III ordered the island to be fortified and repopulated in 1760.

The wall is made of stone with ashlar outer faces and today protects the village. The battlements have almost disappeared, but some sections are still well preserved and have since been declared a Historic Artistic Site and an Asset of Cultural Interest.

Today, Tabarca is the smallest inhabited island in Spain, but during the summer and autumn, is a mecca for tourists drawn by its alluring coastline and quaint village.

What to see in Tabarca

Visitors can walk from one end to the other, discovering all the secrets it hides and exploring its waters, the first Marine Nature Reserve in Spain, and its wildlife including dolphins and sea turtles.

Before reaching the island by sea from Santa Pola or Benidorm, the first thing visitors see are these aforementioned great walls and the Baroque-inspired church of San Pedro and San Pablo, built in 1779, which has two square towers that act as a bell tower.

The walls house three entrances that give access to the picturesque streets of the town: the Gate of San Rafael, opposite the beautiful harbour where small fishing boats dock; the Gate of San Gabriel, where necropolis and remains from Roman times have been found; and the Gate of San Miguel.

Inside the village, there's a network of narrow streets with shops along with the Governor's House, today converted into a hotel, the Llop Marí Caves, and the museum of Nueva Tabarca.

In addition, there are several walking routes that cross the island passing by its only beach. A visit to Tabarca Island would not be complete without a visit to the lighthouse which dates from the 19th century. The landmark offers the chance to enjoy one of the best sunsets and sunrises in the whole of the Valencia region. And en route, visitors pass the solitary Torre de San José, which replaces its predecessor built in the 14th and 15th centuries.

Tabarca cuisine

The island is the perfect place to enjoy product cuisine in which raw materials are the hallmark of the kitchen. Delights include the famous potera squid or the fish of the day.

But the king of Tabarca gastronomy is the caldero, a dish of rice and fish that is the unmistakable symbol of the island's cuisine since it is not cooked in any other port.

How to get to Tabarca

The typical visit to Tabarca is usually one day and there are multiple departures by boat, with greater or lesser regularity depending on the season, from the port of Alicante on a comfortable promenade lasting approximately one hour. It can also be accessed from Santa Pola or Benidorm.

Images: communitat valenciana

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