History of Benitachell, Alicante
- Fact: All the towns in this region whose names start with “Beni”, like Benitachell and Benissa, were founded by the Moors.
- Fact: After the Christian conquest, the Moorish villages were abandoned and later people from Mallorca were encouraged to settle here.
Moorish strongholds to Berber pirates
Going back in time, early archaeological remains of the first settlers from 20,000 BC have been found in this area in Cova de la Cendra on the headland at Cap d’Or.
In the first millennium AD the region was ruled from Rome and from the 8th to the 13th century. It was colonized by Arabs from North Africa, who certainly left their mark on the culture of the area.
The Moors brought with them agricultural knowledge along with wheat, fruit, nut and olive trees, creating the rich agricultural economy which remains to this day. The attractive stone terraces and the numerous mountain footpaths were their work too.
In the 13th century the Moors were expelled by Jaime I when people from Catalunya and Aragón settled here, bringing their Valencian language with them.
In the 16th century the coastal villages came under attack from the Berber pirates and lookout towers were erected along the length of the coast as people retreated inland. You can still see the remains of many of these towers; there is a restored tower on the Cap d’Or.
In more recent centuries the development of modern rail and air travel has attracted people from across the world, creating the vibrant tourist industry which continues today.
Buy your own piece of history in this beautiful land. See what great Spanish Properties are available in Benitachell and across the Costa Blanca.
