What to see in Alcoy

Alcoy

talk to you about what to see in Alcoy means making it one of the attractive monuments of one of the most beautiful towns in the province of Alicante. In addition, due to its location in the interior, surrounded by the Mariola mountain range and two natural parks, it offers you a different type of tourism, but compatible, with that of sun and beach.

The foundation of the town dates back to the XNUMXth century, although the Iberians had already inhabited the area, as evidenced by the archaeological sites of La Serreta and El Puig. However, its great boom occurred in the second half of the XNUMXth century, as evidenced by the constructions modernists that line its streets. We are going to talk about all this and other monuments to see in Alcoy below.

The church of San Jorge and other religious buildings in the city

Facade of the church of Saint George

St. George's Church

The church of San Jorge was built in 1921 to replace another demolished eight years earlier. It responds to the historicist style and, within it, to the Neo-Byzantine. This can be seen, above all, in its dome with a drum on tubes that presents a mosaic decoration. Inside, you can see a painting of Fernando Cabrera that reproduces the legendary intervention of San Jorge in favor of the people of Alcoy in 1276. Due to this fact, he is one of the patron saints of the city together with the Virgen de los Lirios and San Mauro.

Precisely, this one also has its own church. It was destroyed after the Civil War and was rebuilt in 1942. It also houses the Parish Museum of Sacred Art. For its part, Church of San Roque and San Sebastián It stands out for its slender bell tower. Instead, that of the Virgin of the Helpless it does so because of its neoclassical traits and that of Santa Maria, whose construction began in the XNUMXth century, responds to the same style and stands out for its dome with a blue roof.

As to Monastery of the Holy Sepulcher it is baroque and the hermitage of San Antonio Abad It has two buildings. One responds to the Valencian Gothic and the other, later, to traditional features. Finally, the chapel of st michael shows neoclassical traits and the Saint Anthony Cemetery It has magnificent modernist architecture and sculpture.

Two beautiful squares to see in Alcoy

Place of the Dins

The spectacular Place del Dins

The historic center of Alcoy is configured around two squares that compete to be the most beautiful in the city. In both you can see important monuments, although, in reality, they already are by themselves. The first is the Dins square, which responds to the neoclassical style, with semicircular arcades on its perimeter and houses framing it. As a curiosity, in it you can see an arch that is the only vestige of the old convent of San Agustín, a Levantine Gothic jewel that was destroyed in the Civil War.

Even more spectacular is the Spain Square, located next to the previous one and presided over by the church of Santa María, which we have already told you about. It was restored a few years ago by Santiago Calatrava, who also built in it the St. George's Market. This contrasts with the rest of the buildings that make it up, since they are academic in style.

This is the case, for example, of Alcoy Town Hall, which was built in the XNUMXth century following the neoclassical canons. and also of Calderón Theater, built at the beginning of the XX. He's not the only one in town. Very close is the Home Theater, built in 1838 by the architect Juan Carbonell taking advantage of the refectory of the aforementioned convent of San Agustín. Also of interest is Goya Cinema, magnificent sample of art decó Valencian due to Roger Montllor.

In the Plaza de España, many of the events of the popular fiesta of Moors and Christians, declared in 1980 of International Tourist Interest. The fact that the city even has a permanent exhibition dedicated to it will give you an idea of ​​its importance. Its about Alcoyano Museum of the Festival.

The castle of Barchell and other buildings of interest in the Alicante town

Tower of Na Valora

The popular and beautiful tower of Na Valora

Soon we are going to talk to you about the modernist wonders that are among the best things to see in Alcoy. But first we are going to talk about other interesting constructions that you should also know about. Among them, there are two old hospitals: the Swedish-Norwegian and Oliver's.

The latter, the work of Geronimo Granell and sponsored by the industrialist Agustín Oliver (hence its name), it was built in 1877 and responds to an academic style. As for the first, it was built during the Civil War with the humanitarian aid of the nations that give it its name. It is a large construction of harmonic forms that currently houses the Higher Polytechnic School of Alcoy.

On the other hand, the town of Alicante also has several bridges that we advise you to see. the one of the seven moons It is a high viaduct that was built so that the railway between Alcoy and Alicante would cross the San Antonio ravine. Older is the the pendentive, since it was built in 1863. It stands out for its five arches and also has an important height of almost thirty meters.

To the same period belongs the San Roque bridge, although it is smaller and crosses the Soler ravine. But more spectacular is the Canalejas viaduct, since it is 200 meters long and 35 meters high. It was built in 1907 and is a sample, precisely, of the strength of modernism in Alcoy. Share spectacularity with this one St. George's bridge, since it measures 245 meters long and 45 meters high. In his case, it is in the art deco style and its creator was the architect Victor Eusa.

St. George's Bridge

The one of San Jorge is one of the most spectacular bridges to see in Alcoy

Regarding Maria Cristina or Cervantes, which dates from the first half of the XNUMXth century, owes its name to the queen wife of Ferdinand VII and the by Fernando Roig it is a modern cable-stayed bridge due to engineers Jose Antonio Fernandez Ordonez y Julio Martinez Calzon.

But, as in many other towns in the area, Alcoy has a castle located on the outskirts of the town. Specifically, it is located on a mound on the road that connects it with Bañeres. Is he barchell castle and is dated to the XNUMXth century. Documentation recently appeared shows that it was a Christian fortification against what was believed until now of its Muslim origin. Best preserved is the Na Valora towerAlthough it is from the same century. It was not discovered until 1987 and its great pointed arch and its battlements stand out.

Industrial heritage of Alcoy

Molinar Fountain

The source of the Molinar

You can also visit in the Levantine town some industrial constructions that remain as a vestige of its aforementioned economic strength in the second half of the XNUMXth century. Many of them are old factories, but the train station, built in 1904. Likewise, the carriage workshop number five Agres street, which responds to industrial modernism, as well as the building of the hydroelectric substation, of the same architectural style.

As for the factories whose buildings are still preserved in the city, you can see that of Ferrándiz and Carbonell, that of the Royal Cloth Factory of Alcoy, that of Papeleras Reunidas or that of "El Rosendo". All of them without forgetting other equally modernist constructions such as the Slaughterhouse or the Fountain of El Molinar. By the way, many of the chimneys of these factory complexes are protected as they are considered part of the Valencian cultural heritage.

Route of Modernism, the best thing to see in Alcoy

Escaló House

Casa de Escaló, one of the most beautiful examples of Alcoy's modernist heritage

We have just told you about Alcoy's brilliant past in the XNUMXth century, which is reflected in its many modernist buildings. In fact, the vast majority of the old part of the city responds to this style, to the point that it has been included in the European Route of Modernism. Among these buildings are the Laporta, Vilaplana and Mataix housesas well as the building of the Mount of piety.

But, above all, we must make special mention of the Círculo Industrial de Alcoy building, the Pavo and Escaló houses, the old fire station and the Glorieta Park. The latter was created in the first half of the 1899th century, but today we see it as it was after the modernist remodeling of XNUMX carried out by the architect Vicente Pascual. Among other elements, the fence with motifs art nouveau and the temple.

For his part, the old fire station It was built in 1915 following the canons, precisely, of the art nouveau. In fact, the plans were carried out by Pascual himself. You will find it near the Plaza de España and it stands out for its beautiful façade decorated, it is believed, by the sculptor Ramon Ruiz. He also took part in the turkey house, so called for its wrought iron sculptures that simulate this bird with its feathers unstuck. It was built in 1909 under a project by Vicente Pascual, an architect that we have already mentioned. Also due to this Escalo's house, built a year earlier. In his case, it is one of the best art deco displays in the city.

Finally, the headquarters of the Industrial Circle of Alcoy It is also a jewel of Valencian modernism, the work of the architect Timothy Briet. Its façade stands out for its geometric ornaments, the Hellenistic female statues on the upper floor and the forging of the balcony railings.

In conclusion, we have shown you the best what to see in Alcoy. The city of Alicante stands out, as you have seen, for its rich modernist heritage, but also for previous monuments such as the aforementioned castle. It only remains for us to advise you that you also visit other precious towns of this Levantine province. Dare to do it.


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