Jávea is a coastal town with nearly 30,000 inhabitants that today mainly makes a living from tourism. It is located along the coast on the west side of the nature reserve el Montgó - opposite the even more famous tourist town of Dénia. In Jávea you can stroll through the narrow, pleasant streets of the old town, do some shopping at the traditional market or take a trip to the port and the beach. It is also a good starting point for excursions to many interesting places nearby.
The most interesting part of Jávea is Jávea Pueblo, the old town which is located 2 km from the beach. Here you will find beautiful buildings with roots dating back to the 13th century. There are several parking lots just outside the old town, for example at Plaza Constitución. From this it is a short walk to most of the old town. Right next to the parking lot is the chapel Iglesia San Felipe Neri y Santa Monica and some buildings from the 19th century that were used to clean and dry raisins.
Traces of nomads dating back 30,000 years have been found in Jávea. You can see 5,000-year-old cave paintings on the nearby El Montgo mountain that date back to this period. You can also see traces of the Romans and Moors, but the oldest buildings you see today date back to the 13th century when the Christians took over and expelled the Moors.
The most famous streets in the old town are Carrer Estret, Carrer Sant Pere Mártin, Carrer Mayor and Carrer Verege de Pilar, but the old town centre is not large enough to allow you to wander around the narrow streets without any particular destination. Sooner or later you will reach the church square with the Iglesia Fortaleza de San Bartolomé where the most important buildings are.
Many of the Moors who were driven out in the 13th century later became pirates who made a living by plundering coastal towns. To protect themselves from this danger, they built a large wall around the old town centre in Jávea and a combined fortress and church in the middle. The church was established in the 15th century, but the building as it stands today in Gothic style dates from the 17th century. This is a sparsely decorated, functional building that has space for cannons as well as a church room with a tower and church bell.
On the sides of the church you will find the old town hall from the eighteenth century in neoclassical style with the tourist information office and the traditional market hall Mercado Municipal de Abastos (open from 08-14 and 17-20 on weekdays and 08-15 on Saturdays).
It is peaceful to wander the narrow streets of the old town of Jávea. The houses are well-kept and dignified. Although most of the city walls are gone, it is easy to tell when you reach the limits that the streets are wider and more busy.
In the historical museum you can immerse yourself in the different eras of Jávea. As mentioned, the area has been used by nomads all the way back to 30,000 years ago. The first permanent settlement came with the Romans who occupied Jávea for 600 years from the second century BC. This is the oldest Roman settlement with a port for fish and minerals along the Spanish coast. After the Romans, Jávea was uninhabited for 300 years before the Moors took over in the ninth century. In the 13th century, the Christians took over and expelled the Moors.
There are many restaurants in Jávea both in the old town and down by the harbour. The most famous is the Michelin restaurant Volta in Volta in the old town.
When you have seen enough in the old town, it is a good idea to walk or drive down to the harbour area, about 2 km away. There are also many restaurants and a nice promenade here. Keep your eyes open, as there is also beautiful decoration on the walls and streets.
Near the port of Jávea Puerto is the newest church in the city: Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Loreto de Duanes de la Mar Jávea. It is a church building with modern and interesting architecture that is located close to the rest of the building, but which still stands out from it.
More excursions: www.turideer.com
Excursion of the week: City trip by the coast to Jávea on the Costa Blanca
Suitable for: Everybody.
Getting there: The town is located on the coast, just off Dénie, on the north-eastern edge of the Costa Blanca. Parking is convenient at Plaza Constitución.
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