Illa de Tabarca, protected area in Spain
Illa de Tabarca is a small inhabited island off the coast of Alicante measuring 2 kilometers long and less than half a kilometer wide. The village features narrow cobblestone streets bordered by stone buildings, a simple church from the late 1700s, an 1800s lighthouse, and defensive towers scattered across rocky shores and small coves.
In the 1500s, North African pirates used the island as a base for raids on nearby coastal towns. During the 1700s, Genoese settlers relocated here after their captivity in North Africa, building a new community that at its peak housed around 1,000 residents.
The church of San Pedro y San Pablo from the late 1700s remains the spiritual center of the village. Residents and visitors gather in small cafes to share traditional seafood dishes, particularly Caldero Tabarquino, a rice and fish dish that holds special meaning in local food culture.
Most visitors reach the island by boat from Santa Pola, a journey of about 25 minutes with regular departures throughout the day. It is wise to book tickets online in advance, especially during summer months when the island attracts larger numbers of travelers.
The island once supported around 1,000 residents but today has only about 50 permanent inhabitants, while thousands of visitors arrive each summer. This stark shift reveals how the place transformed from a self-sufficient fishing community into a popular day-trip destination.
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