 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
ViewsJaveaFrom eTripTips Wiki
[edit] Get inJavea is also known by its Valenciano name: Xabia Valencia airport is to the north. Alicante is found to the south, and Murcia a bit further [edit] Get aroundRent a car and walking [edit] SeeExcerpts from a talk by Sylvia Matheson on the history of the area: Montgó's prehistoric cave dwellers and hunters dating from at least 30,000 years ago, and its paintings in Migdia cave are well-enough known. Its slopes have certainly yielded evidence of the ancient past to many local residents whether collecting Stone-Age handaxes and flints, Roman pottery or Muslim ceramics. If you are among those who gather the wild herbs still struggling to survive amid ever-increasing construction, just think of the Moorish Caliph Abd ur Rahman the Third who, 1000 years ago, at the beginning of the 10th century, made a special journey from Cordoba to collect over a hundred medicinal herbs from the slopes of our Montgó. The slopes of Montgó, the tops of surrounding hills and the valley itself, all tell of the earliest known Neolithic settlements in the Western Mediterrean, where men developed agriculture and domesticated animals from around 3000 BC and into the Valencian Bronze Age between 1900 and 500 BC. In our Museum you can see Iberian beads, sherds of decorated pottery, stone axes and pestle and mortars found all around us, including from a fox's burrow dig into the hill crowned by the Santa Lucia Ermita, and which revealed a Bronze Age and Roman Village. Visigoths were here too. In the 6th century AD. Christian Visigoth monks whoses ancestors had accompanied the troops sent to battle in North Africa, came across to Javeda and founded the monastery of San Martin, now disappeared but which probably gave its name to the Cabo San Martin. Here Hermangildo, son of the Visigoth king Leogevild of Toledo, sought refuge in the Monastery after angering his father by marrying a Christian girl. When his father's troops arrived to arrest him all but one ancient monk fled to Portichol - but Hermengild and the old monk were killed. You'll find a number of Javiense with Visigoth names even today. A dilapidated village house in the angle of Santa Marta, leading off the Church Square, was pulled down and in the brief period given the archaeologists to examine the site, they made an astonishing discovery- The foundations of the 17th - 18th century house had been built right on top of a 3000 year old Bronze Age farming site, thus preserving the remains of two cabins and several silos. And in San Bartholome. the next street, facing the church, another house has been demolished to reveal relicsof a 14th. century dwelling with a cistern, well and various ceramics and coins. Come to that, do you remember when the police station, then part of the Ayuntamiento was moved to its purpose-built location opposite the car park, in 1994(?) The intention was to open a tourist office in the old premises, part of the Ayuntamiento, and renovations included relaying the floor. But what did they find? Fourteenth century graves- some with several skeletons added later, all of the first Christians to repopulate Jávea after the long Muslim occupation- The cemetery was in use for another two hundred years and archaeologists found the remains of what appeared to have been a high, fortified tower and the later, smaller, 17th century chapel of the Desamparados. Making use of some of this material the original Ayuntamiento was built over them in 1774. Fortunately several of the rock-cut graves - without their skeleton inmates which have been removed to the nearby Museum - have been preserved and can be seen under the glass floor as you enter what is one of the Ayuntamiento's offices. A datable lead weight used by Roman fishing boats, put back Roman occupation of Jávea to the 2nd century BC, making ours the oldest known Roman site on the coast with a commercial port for fish and minerals. And of course you know about the important Roman fish factory under the Parador, and the nearby cemetery, probably the largest in the province, part of which lies under the recently built "Alkazaba holiday apartments. The late Solar Blasco, that fine artist who painted the triptich (now divided) over the Ermita de Popol's altar, and who was also our Alcalde, greatly concerned about Jávea's past, showed me many Roman and Iberian sites already lost or being covered by apartments along the coast. He pointed out the remnants of a Roman theatre, now disappeared, on the slopes of Montgó overlooking the main Valencia road, and a temple site by the Arenal's Canal de la Fontana, among many other relics of Jávea's ancient past. There is little left of the Moors but some inscribed gravestones and ceramics, although they were here from about 714AD until the last were expelled from Jávea and Denia in 1609. Most were farmers, cultivating and terracing the land but undoubtedly there are remains hidden beneath many buildings and wooded areas. Well, walk where you will in the valley, town or hills, you can be sure of one thing, you are walking on history. [edit] Do
And if you need to... go to the Tourist information shop to find something to do! [edit] Buy[edit] EatCorral del Pato - One of our faviorites outside of Gata on Lliber-Jalon road. Very good catalan cuisine with polular menu; amazing wood fired lamb, oxen and duck! Eat in or outside under huge carob trees. Recommended/must book Tel 96 575 68 34 Local Jalon wine by pitchers. Xcept Mon Casa Pepa - Fantastic food in a nice setting. This restaurant is located in the orange groves near Ondara. Great menu/food, and excellent wine list. Pricy but worth it! Tel 96 576 6606 Xcept Sun/Mon La Boheme (& Los Remos) - Are the two better restaurants at Javea's arenal. French owned/fine tapas. Consistently good reports. By Parador end of promenade Tel. 96 679 1600 Xcept Wed El Clavo - In Port, Classic Spanish fishermans bar we've frequented for 30 years. Fresh seafood and good values. Menu on wall only! Overlooking sea near fishing docks. Drassanes - Near Denia is one of the best fish restaurants. Excellent "memu Gastronomique". Denia harbour front, end of palm treed avenue north of roundabout Tel 96 578 1118 Xcept Mon Mena - On rocks at end of Las Rotas road (over Montrgo-Denia rd, hard right at bottom roundabout. Tele 96 578 0943 Lovely terrace right on the Sea! Good for rice dishes. Austrian Cafe Wien (& bakery)at arenal beach. Excellent bread, pastries and croissants (a favorite place for breakfast). Tel. 96 579 3804 Xcept Wed Austrico restaurant is here too. Piripi - Excellent/imaginative copious "Tapas": on new pedestrian Javea port sea-front. Book or but worth the wait. Probably the most frequented by us for food and scenery. Xcept Sun-pm & Mon Azorin - Javea Port (in street behind Napoli Pizza and Piripi) Super Fish & Chips (&chicken), great for kids! Order a paella or fidejua ahead of time. Great mixed fish plate. Tel 96 659 4495 Cabo de la Nao - On the cliff next to the lighthouse Fantastic views and good food. Tel 96 577 1835 Masena - Swiss owned with very good foods and wines, On road between Javea roundabout and Golf course, across the street from Giardino. Try the salt encrusted sea bass. Tel 96 579 3764 Gota de Mar - On main road just below the villa at entrance to Tosalet and Hotel Rodat. Lovely terrace overlooking valley. Tel 96 577 1648 Xcept Sun/Mon Montgo - 2 to 3 Kms on Javea -Jesus Probre road on left with large patio below Montgo) Amazing value, quantity, quality & well presented. Praised for world's best fish & chips! Tel. 96 579 5021 Great view of the mountain. Also try Los Almendros across the street! Calpe Harbor - Can be the best place for fish: any restaurant will entice you in with marvellous displays of fresh fish. There is nothing like this anywhere else nearby. Strongly recommended. Montevideo - A favorite for meat. Just out of Benitachell on way to Cumbre Del Sol. Tel 96 649 3283 Pepe Y Estrella - On sea front near the port. Classic spanish with a great view of the bay. [edit] Drink[edit] Sleep[edit] Get outWikipedia:Xàbia
|
