Benitachell / Poble Nou de Benitatxell history

The archaeological remains found in the Cueva del Moro cave reveal that the history of this area dates back to a little over 18,000 years ago. There are various prehistoric, Iberian, Roman and Al-Andalus period sites. In the year 1244 the area was conquered by the Catalonians and Aragonese. The vicissitudes of history, among them the expulsion of the Moors, resulted in the ancient Moorish settlements of Abiar and Benitagell being abandoned by their residents and left empty. The latter settlement was re-established in 1698, from where its name Poble Nou de Benitachell comes from.

 

An ancient Moorish estate whose old quarter of narrow streets and steep hills offer much to delight by the visitor.

It is a coastal municipality with a history of agriculture, fishing and traditional basket weaving using willow, palm and esparto grass. Today, beyond the residential and holiday home developments, the area still has a rich agricultural landscape of terraces, where the main crop cultivated is the Muscatel grape.

It has a rich gastronomy thanks to its variety of rice dishes and fresh fish. Its best known typical dishes are fish risotto, octopus stew, pasties and little cakes made of sweet potato traditionally eaten at Christmas.