Orihuela, Municipality and administrative center in Vega Baja del Segura, Spain
Orihuela is a municipality and administrative center in the Vega Baja del Segura, part of Alicante province. The municipal territory stretches from 23 to 236 meters (75 to 774 feet) above sea level and includes both urban neighborhoods and agricultural plains along the Segura riverbanks.
Romans founded a settlement here called Orcelis, which became Aurariola under Visigothic control. From 713 onward the town served as the capital of Theodimir's kingdom, marking its importance in early medieval Iberia.
The Segura River has shaped local farming practices for centuries, and you can still see irrigation channels and citrus groves along its banks today. Many residents speak Spanish in daily life, which sets this town apart from other places in the region where Valencian is more commonly heard.
La Zenia Boulevard shopping center offers around 150 shops and restaurants and serves as the main retail hub in Vega Baja. Visitors planning to explore the more rural parts of the municipality should keep in mind that distances between settlements can be substantial and a vehicle may be helpful.
The Cathedral of El Salvador combines Gothic and Baroque building elements and shows the different phases of religious architecture in the town. Its interior preserves artworks and liturgical objects gathered over several centuries.
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