Salinas – Lagoon and Iberian Heritage

The Laguna de Salinas is a closed saltwater lagoon in the province of Alicante, located about 2 km from the centre of Salinas. Anyone comparing holiday apartments in Salinas can compare travel dates, room categories and cancellation policies on the listings page.

Culture and History

The Museo Municipal Salinas Lugar Viejo presents aspects of local life. Exhibits include reproductions and original works by local painter Juan Gabriel Barceló, as well as themed information panels. Admission is free by prior appointment with the town hall.

The Iglesia de San Antonio Abad was built after the 1751 flood and inaugurated in 1755. El Puntal holds a special place in the town's history: the Iberian settlement dates from the 5th and 4th centuries BC, is located in the Sierra de los Altos de Don Pedro and is considered the most significant Iberian settlement in the Alto Vinalopó. Its remains include defensive walls and towers, rectangular and square dwellings, and around 37 graves; they also point to a pronounced commercial character.

The Fábrica de la Sal was originally a magnesium factory and was later converted into a saltworks where around one hundred people worked. The salt trade provided significant support to the population of Salinas. During a visit, visitors can see the historic monument, the Laguna de Salinas, the ruins of mills and pumping wells, as well as basins, washing areas and irrigation channels.

The Finca Casa de la Molineta was home to an Iberian settlement around the 5th century BC, which served to exploit the lagoon's resources. The Acueducto de la Casa de la Molineta is also part of the historic landscape: irregular blocks of stone and mortar form a series of arches, above which runs an irrigation channel that carried water from the finca to Casa Plaza on the southwestern edge of the lagoon.

On 15 May, the Romería de San Isidro leads from the Iglesia de San Antonio Abad to the Ermita Nueva. The festival includes, among other things, an outdoor mass and a giant paella prepared for visitors. The Danzas Populares de Salinas are also among the May festivals and, according to the tourism information, have been danced since time immemorial.

Nature and Landscape

The Cueva del Lagrimal is located at the western end of the Sierra de Salinas. The path there is an easy, adaptable hiking trail suitable for families. A viewpoint in the Sierra de la Sima offers views of the Sierra de Salinas.

The Ermita Nueva de San Isidro is a small building constructed at the end of the 1990s. It is surrounded by around 60,000 square metres of pine forest and offers views across the municipality of Salinas and its surrounding area. The Parque Forestal La Térmica consists mainly of a pine stand covering around 10,000 square metres and is considered an example of reforestation.

La Térmica is also an equipped recreational area with tables, barbecue facilities, a children's area, a large picnic area and walking paths. Several short hiking trails leading through the municipality of Salinas begin at Parque Casica Mataix. The park is also an educational botanical area where visitors can learn to distinguish between different types of trees.

The Laguna de Salinas is under municipal responsibility and enjoys a certain degree of protection. The 868-metre-high Alto de Don Pedro is designated as a ZEPA, that is, a special bird protection area. Its mammal fauna includes badgers, genets and stone martens, among others.

Trails and Experiences

The Salinas–Monóvar circular route can be walked or cycled and passes the Laguna, Alto de Don Pedro and the Iberian archaeological site of El Puntal. The Salinas–Alto de Don Pedro–Pinoso route connects the named places via Alto de Don Pedro and passes architectural heritage associated with the country houses of Salinas.

The Centro Ecuestre Yeguada de Salinas offers horse rentals, trail rides, carriage hire, riding lessons, dressage and hippotherapy. The Bodega Finca Collado in Salinas complements this selection with wine tourism experiences such as picnics among the vineyards and guided tours of the winery.

Other places at this level

Orxeta, Benilloba, Benissili, Benitachell, Daya Vieja, Las Virtudes, Parcent and La Vall d'Ebo

For the higher-level travel overview: Alicante.