Finestrat, human settlement in Marina Baixa, Alicante Province, Valencian Community, Spain
Finestrat is a municipality in the Marina Baixa region of Alicante, built on a hillside beneath the Puig Campana mountain, with a compact old quarter of narrow streets and white-washed houses. The municipal area extends from the inland hills down to the coast, where a bay and a beach area belong to its territory.
Finestrat was founded as a Moorish settlement and taken by King James I of Aragon in the 13th century as part of the Christian reconquest of the region. The watchtowers still visible on the surrounding hills were built in later centuries to warn the population against raids coming from the sea.
The white houses and narrow lanes of Finestrat reflect the Moorish roots of the settlement, and the layout of the old quarter still follows the original hillside pattern. Every summer, the festival of San Bartolomé fills the streets with music and shared meals, drawing both locals and visitors to the old center.
The old center is best visited on foot, though the streets are steep and the stone pavement can be uneven, so sturdy shoes are a good idea. To reach the coastal area that forms part of the municipality, a car or taxi is needed, as the two areas sit several kilometers apart.
The Puig Campana has a deep notch near its summit, and a local legend says this gap was cut by the giant Roland in a single sword stroke. What is less often told is the follow-up: the chunk of rock that broke off is said to have fallen into the sea and formed the island of Benidorm.
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