ORIHUELA

The ancient town of Orihuela makes a good target if you are aiming for a genuine historic inland town, un-swamped by tourists, with a mix of impressive monuments, crumbling palaces and a gentle pace of life. Easily reached from the coast, a visit here could be combined with a trip to Elche Elx,  for a taste of untouched provincial Spain.

Called Aurariola by the Romans, the town stands in the lower reaches of the wonderfully fertile Segura valley, approached through a stately palm forest, Spain's second largest. From here, Ferdinand and Isabella embarked on the final push for Granada. Later, the town became a wealthy Renaissance cathedral and University City, the commercial focus for the surrounding area. In the 19th century, a combination of Alicante's  new role as regional capital and a destructive earthquake diminished Orihuela's importance. Today the old churches, theatre, palaces and restored historic centre provide a backdrop to the everyday life of this prosperous inland town.