On this guided tour of Tabarca, we'll walk the streets of the only inhabited island in the Valencian Community, uncovering the pirate past of the Alicante coast and soaking up the Mediterranean breeze.
Tour Details
At the designated time, we'll meet in front of the CEAM entrance to begin our guided tour of Tabarca. Did you know this small island was a refuge for Barbary pirates before being fortified by order of Charles III? We'll start unpacking its fascinating history as we head into the town.
Our first stop is the San Gabriel gate, one of the main entrances to the walled town. Here we'll take in the niche of the Virgen del Esclavo and discover Tabarca's curious twinning with Carloforte, on the Italian island of San Pietro.
Nearby, we'll see the quarry from which the materials were extracted to build the sturdy defensive wall, today listed as a Site of Cultural Interest.
We'll continue to Plaza Baillencourt. Standing in front of the old artillery warehouses, we'll explain the building's function and share a few anecdotes about the archaeological finds in the area. We'll then stop at the Church of San Pedro y San Pablo, a fortified church that has been the center of Tabarcan social life for centuries.
Along the way, we'll also talk about local traditions. We'll head down to the boats to explain the importance of fishing on the island and its principal method: the almadraba.
We'll keep exploring the historic entrances, passing through the San Miguel gate, where we'll see the image of San Pedro, patron saint of the island, and Plaza Pou del Pal. There, under the shade of the tamarisk tree, we'll talk about the constant challenge posed by the lack of fresh water in this environment.
After crossing the San Rafael gate, we'll reach the Plaza Grande to understand the distinctive 18th-century urban design. We'll also see the Governor's House, now a hotel, and look out over the Cova del Llop Marí, the former habitat of the last monk seals in the Mediterranean.
To finish, we'll take a walk along the southern side of the island down to the beach. On this stretch, we'll spot the Torre de San José and the lighthouse, while discovering why the Tabarca Marine Reserve is such a vital ecological treasure for the Mediterranean.
After 1.5 hours, we'll head back to the starting point, bringing the visit to a close.
What Will We See on the Guided Tour of Tabarca?
Throughout our guided tour of the island, we'll enjoy a comprehensive route taking in its most important landmarks:
- Walled enclosure and its gates: we'll explore the bastions and the three monumental gates (San Gabriel, San Miguel, and San Rafael) that protected the original settlers.
- Civil and religious heritage: we'll learn the history of the fortified church, the Governor's House, and the old military warehouses.
- Seafaring tradition: you'll learn about the art of the almadraba and how fishing has shaped the identity of this Alicante paradise.
- Tabarca Marine Reserve surroundings: we'll walk trails with views of the Torre de San José and the lighthouse, surrounded by crystal-clear waters.
