The earliest information about what is now known as the Huerto del Cura (Priest’s Orchard) dates back to 1846 when the owner, Mr. Fenoll de Bonet, sold it to Sir Juan Espuche. At this time the tenant was Andrés Castaño Peral. Some years later, Andrés Castaño bought the orchard and, as the owner, he lived there with his family until his death. The orchard was nothing more than a plot of farming land exclusively dedicated to agriculture. After the death of Andres Castaño, the third of his sons, José, who was a priest, continued living in the family home and, shortly before 1900, he became the owner then known as “Huerto del Capellán Castaño (Chaplain Castaño’s Orchard).” Some years later his name was shortened to “Huerto del Cura (Priest’s Orchard),” which is still used today. THE IMPERIAL PALM TREE Palmeral-de-Elche-5This rare specimen of Palm Tree is the main reason for the popularity of the Huerto del Cura. Its name comes from the Empress Elisabeth of Austria (“Sissi”), to which Chaplain Castaño dedicated when she visited the orchard in 1894. A memory of this visit also lies in the bust of the Empress situated at the north wing of the Imperial Palm Tree. The Imperial Palm Tree is approximately 165 years old. Far from being old, it is in its prime if we bear in mind that palm trees live without many problems for more than 200 years. Its value as a botanical phenomenon lies in the fact that it deceives the laws of biology: – The shoots of this specimen of palm tree generally develop at the base of the tree, when it is between 10 and 15 years old, however in this case they were formed when the father palm tree was more than 60 years old and at a very uncommon height of 2 metres, very far from the roots, where there is less sap. – The palm tree has a large number of shoots (7) and has developed in perfection and symmetry. – The children palm trees have acquired a colossal size after more than 130 years, feeding off the sap that comes from the central father palm tree. Shortly before 1900, Chaplain Castaño set up a support to avoid that the weight of the children palm trees made them pull apart from the father palm tree. Currently, this formidable candelabra tree with 8 arms weighs more than 8 tons, measuring 17 metres in height. Some of the children palm trees have lost part of the harmony that they once had, but its grandeur and nobility remain indisputable.

The aquarium is the oldest in the Valencian Community, and it includes 9 large glass tanks containing flora and fauna from the Mediterranean Sea. Its facilities are dedicated to showing part of the fauna and flora of the Mediterranean Sea, being in this way an important educational and recreational tool which introduces our closest maritime surroundings (the bay of Santa Pola and the Island of Tabarca). The water comes directly from the sea, and after processing it is brought to the aquarium. The idea of keeping fish in captivity isancient. In Rome, Greece and above all in the Orient some species were kept in costal rocks, in ponds, lagoons or at the entrance of seas for leisure purposes or as food reserves. Most of the species which the aquarium keeps were donated by the sailors of Santa Pola.

Wetland declared of international importance to be included in the list RAMSAR, likewise protected as a Natural Park, and declared by a European Directive Area of ​​Special Importance for Birds. The visitor center is located in the same building as the Salt Museum: Av. Zaragoza, 45. Postcode: 03130 Santa Pola (Alicante). The Salinas de Santa Pola Natural Park has an area of ​​2,470 hectares, located in the coastal area of ​​Santa Pola Bay. The salt exploitation since the late nineteenth century, has allowed the survival of Las Salinas, where the presence of flamingos and stilts is constant. The dynamics of Las Salinas consists of circulating sea water through a circuit of rafts to obtain the concentration of salts as a consequence of evaporation. Birds feed on fish and invertebrates that penetrate into salt flats, while salt production It benefits from the mineral wealth provided by the avifauna. Yellow route: The Pinet 3.8 Km. Estimated time: 2 h. 15 m. Not suitable for cycling. This itinerary is located in the SE part. of the Natural Park where we can observe some of the most representative environments of the Natural Park, such as the salt marsh and the dune ecosystem. This starts in old salt ponds now in disuse for exploitation but that maintain the water circuit and with it its great biological richness. Following a narrow path between the banks of these and parallel to the dune cord and the beach line, visitors can see on their left the old pre-concentrating rafts with their abundant population of birds such as flamingos, avocets, stilts, common egrets, redshanks, plovers, black-and-white needles, charrancitos, etc. The abundance or presence of the different species of birds will depend on the time of year. On its shores grows an important salt marsh vegetation with species such as bogs, barley plants and limonios or saladillas which develop curious adaptations to the great concentration of salt in the soil, being easily observable in the naked parts and especially in summer a crust of whitish salt covering the floor. Along this path runs the entrance channel of sea water to the rafts, formerly to obtain salt and today to ensure the life there is in them. To the right of the path, the slopes of the last dunes are reached, appreciating how the vegetation changes when you go from a saline soil to a sandy soil, this way you can see the progressive change of a salt marsh vegetation to an intermediate vegetation of albardín, bufalaga, junco, reaching a proper dune vegetation formed by cuernecillo, esparaguera, creudeta, etc. and another one of repopulation formed by piteras, carpobrotus, pines, pines and eucalyptus. A kilometer from the start, the itinerary turns right into the dunes, crossing you until you reach the beach. In this section the visitor will make a tour of the different kinds of dunes. In the first place you will find the fixed dunes named for the repopulation of pines and eucalyptus that was made in the early s. XX in order to control the progress of the sands, the semi-fixed dunes, where the vegetation is scarce and smaller in size, where dune species such as the cuernecillo, baró, marine thistle, sea caterpillar, etc. predominate. to the first line of dunes where you can see some of them mobile which are not covered by any type of vegetation and are easily transported by the wind. The fauna that inhabits this area is represented mainly by reptiles such as ocellated lizard, lizard coliroja, lizard colilarga, bastard snake; mammals such as shrews, shrews, field mice, rabbits and hares; small birds such as tarabillas, shrikes and cogujadas; The presence of beetles is also important. From this point you start the return to the beginning of the itinerary through the first line of dunes enjoying a nice panoramic view with the sea in the background from where you can see the cape of Santa Pola with the city at your feet, the island of Tabarca, the mouth of the Segura River and the entire coastline to Cabo Cervera in Torrevieja.

The Lo Torrent Park is one of the most important in the province of Alicante, with around 65,000 square meters of extension. This green area is located five minutes walk from the University of Alicante and the main entrances and exits of the town. It consists of large green areas, ponds, a large fountain, cafeteria, a large walking area and a playground. It also has multi-sports tracks, BMX and an aeromodelling circuit. The Lo Torrent Park, with its unique concrete arches, is an ideal place to enjoy free time or exercise.

San Vicente del Raspeig has the highest vertical garden in Spain, with a height of six floors, 340 square meters of surface area and 34,000 trees planted on the wall. This landscape landmark, located in front of the new City Hall and next to the Children's Library, is one of the most emblematic urban references of the municipality. The garden has a selected plantation of indigenous herbaceous and shrub species with reduced water consumption and maintenance, with the capacity to offer a variety of colors and flowering at different times of the year. It has a double system of internal drip irrigation and vaporization of soda for leaves and flowers outdoors. The Vertical Garden acts as a natural filter against dust and polluting gases, as a producer of oxygen, acoustic barrier and increases the biodiversity of the city with the settlement of birds and insects.

This natural area located northeast of the municipality of Mutxamel was declared Microreserve of Flora by Order of May 4, 1999 of the Ministry of Environment of the Generalitat Valenciana and is presented as a recreational area for hiking, cycling and enjoy nature. It is an area of ​​1114 ha. Montes catalog belonging to Public Utility of Valencia (# 41). Species with special protection and make this area a place of great natural interest are: - Vella lucentina: species whose worldwide distribution only goes microreserve of flora Bec de l'Àguila to the municipality of Monforte del Cid, distribution trzando an a crescent shape inside the region of Alacantí. - Sideritis leucantha subsp. leucantha: Valencia endemism. - Thymus moroderi: Valencia endemism and neighboring provinces - Teucrium carolipaui subsp. cinereum: iberolevantino endemism The conservation of this Flora Micro necessary to adopt a series of measures to prevent deterioration. Thus referring to the uses derived from this area a usage limitations are established: · Leave the paths or existing roads is prohibited. · The use of logging is prohibited. · No silvicultural thinnings or work within the microreserve may be made, except the following cases: - Scheduling tasks of naturalization and recovery of the characteristic thickets of the area, with selective and progressive elimination of the least developed feet of the pines, avoiding disturbance of the soil profile and already consolidated scrub. - Extractions by phytosanitary reasons or to prevent damage from falling on people or populations of protected or endangered species. - Thinning of pinewood postfire, in the event that the area suffered forest fires. Such thinnings must be covered by a specific multi-year program.

The village also has a green lung which is none other than the Municipal Park "The Canyar de les Portelles". Located opposite the House of Culture is the most important natural space within the municipality. In it you can enjoy a harmonious and relaxed environment from which to stroll and enjoy the many outdoor events are organized therein.

The park is located in the area known as La Goteta, next to Virgen de las Injurias street, behind a commercial complex and in front of the Sierra de San Julián. It has a wide extension and has a garden area, space for children's games equipped with bouncy devices and castles, as well as an area for sports, as well as benches and spaces covered with parasols. Pepe Marín Guerrero, an official and journalist, was a longtime editor of La Verdad, responsible for the areas of politics and labor. Later he held the positions of territorial director of Culture and Education and, finally, he was delegate of the Consell in Alicante until his sudden and unexpected death in 'act of service' on February 21, 2009, when he accompanied the Minister of Infrastructure, Mario Flores, at a press conference.