The Ricote Valley starts at the southern gateway, which is 23km from the capital Murcia. The eight towns (from south to north – Archena, Villanueva del Río Segura, Ulea, Ojós, Ricote, Blanca, Abarán and Cieza) in the valley straddle or sit along side the River Segura. In total the stretch is only 20km, a small portion of one of Spain’s major rivers. It starts at Santiago Pontones (province of Jaén) in the Segura Mountains, passes Calasparra, Murcia, Orihuela, Rojales and ends in the Mediterranean Sea near Guardamar del Segura in the province of Alicante, a course of 325km.
The alluvial plain is called the Vega del Segura and is a very productive agricultural region growing a wide variety of fruit, vegetables and flowers.
Much water is drawn off the Segura and its major tributary, the Guadalentín (Sangonera), to irrigate adjacent huertas (orchards), especially on the Murcia Plain.
Irrigation in the valley has been of paramount importance, as shown by the number of remaining waterwheels in various degrees of conservation. There are 19, but the number of associated mills has not been as fortunate, although there are some plans to restore several of them.
The most striking and attractive feature of the valley is the contrast between the lush green of the land around the river and the dry, stark and rugged mountains which envelop the area.
The whole valley has references to the Morisco Moors, who were forced to convert to Christianity, and it was here that the last Moors in the Levant region lived until their final expulsion by Philip II in the early 17th century. The impact devastated the area.
In 1285 Don Sancho IV donated the whole Ricote Valley to the Order of Santiago, with the exception of Archena. This town belonged to the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, principally because of the Balneario and its curative powers.
The Order of Santiago was a religious and military order founded on 29th July 1170, during the reign of León Fernando II. It owes its name to the patron saint of Spain (St James). The founder and first grand master was Don Pedro Fernández, a descendent of the kings of Navarre, and head of a group of thirteen men to whom the Order was entrusted. They were known as the Gentlemen of Cáceres.
Their initial objective was protect to the pilgrims of the on the way to Santiago. They erected many hospitals in order to harbour to the pilgrims...
As you can see in next pics is a good place to find a real spanish home
The sea near Ricote valley
Ricote town
Ricote street
River near ricote
The alluvial plain is called the Vega del Segura and is a very productive agricultural region growing a wide variety of fruit, vegetables and flowers.
Much water is drawn off the Segura and its major tributary, the Guadalentín (Sangonera), to irrigate adjacent huertas (orchards), especially on the Murcia Plain.
Irrigation in the valley has been of paramount importance, as shown by the number of remaining waterwheels in various degrees of conservation. There are 19, but the number of associated mills has not been as fortunate, although there are some plans to restore several of them.
The most striking and attractive feature of the valley is the contrast between the lush green of the land around the river and the dry, stark and rugged mountains which envelop the area.
The whole valley has references to the Morisco Moors, who were forced to convert to Christianity, and it was here that the last Moors in the Levant region lived until their final expulsion by Philip II in the early 17th century. The impact devastated the area.
In 1285 Don Sancho IV donated the whole Ricote Valley to the Order of Santiago, with the exception of Archena. This town belonged to the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, principally because of the Balneario and its curative powers.
The Order of Santiago was a religious and military order founded on 29th July 1170, during the reign of León Fernando II. It owes its name to the patron saint of Spain (St James). The founder and first grand master was Don Pedro Fernández, a descendent of the kings of Navarre, and head of a group of thirteen men to whom the Order was entrusted. They were known as the Gentlemen of Cáceres.
Their initial objective was protect to the pilgrims of the on the way to Santiago. They erected many hospitals in order to harbour to the pilgrims...
As you can see in next pics is a good place to find a real spanish home
The sea near Ricote valley
Ricote town
Ricote street
River near ricote
