Cañada Marsá City Park connects Benimar and Benijófar. In Benijófar, riverside landscapes and agriculture sit alongside a historic waterwheel, church architecture and festivals with different traditions. This gives the connection between the two places a tangible cultural and landscape dimension to help you plan your trip.
Landscapes and trails in Benijófar
El Secano, by the Río Segura near Benijófar, is a former meander, that is, a riverside woodland area. An environmentally focused recreational park with sports and leisure facilities has been established there. Its riverside setting and former meander shape define the landscape, while the park adds opportunities for sport and leisure.
The SL-CV 135 offers a different view of the agricultural landscape. This easy hiking trail of cultural interest passes through the agricultural landscapes of Benijófar. While El Secano combines a riverside setting with a park, the SL-CV 135 focuses on the farmland along the route. As trail conditions can change, check them before setting out.
Heritage: waterwheel and church
The Noria Árabe dates from the mid-17th century. As a waterwheel, it is a tangible testament to water management; it is also considered a symbol of Benijófar and the traditional Huerta. It lies outside Benijófar’s town centre, on the right bank of the Río Segura in the area known as Pantano de Formentera.
The Church of Santiago Apóstol also tells a story spanning several periods. It was rebuilt after the 1828 earthquake. A temple had already stood on this site in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. The church’s historical connections therefore reach back more than two centuries, though the earlier temple and the later reconstruction should not be treated as the same building.
Festivals and their different dates
The feast day of San Jaime is celebrated on 25 July; the associated patron saint festivities begin on the preceding Sunday. If you would like to plan your trip around this festival, check the dates and programme for the relevant year.
For the traditional Patatá, residents and visitors gather in the square to eat potatoes together. The Fiesta Holandesa is celebrated every year in Cañada Marsá Park as a Dutch King’s Day orange festival. It includes performances, a market, a flea market and fairground attractions. The city park is therefore both a connection between Benijófar and Benimar and the stated venue for this annual festival.
The Fiesta de la Primavera takes place every year in April and includes, among other things, a paella competition. In the calendar year, it offers a different date to plan around than the feast day of San Jaime in July. If you want to experience one of these festivals in particular, check the dates before planning your trip, as the exact programme can vary from year to year.
Culinary discoveries
Cuisine can also be part of your stay: in Benijófar, you can sample up to 25 typical dishes from different European countries. The specific dishes on offer may vary. If you include food in your travel plans, you can make the tasting a culinary highlight alongside the landscapes, heritage and festivals.
Discover more destinations: Ciudad Quesada.
For the overview of the wider area: Rojales.
