What to see in Jávea
Jávea, in addition to kilometres of coastline, coves and beaches, has many things to see during a visit to this town. Jávea is a town full of traditions, culture and history and this is reflected both in its people and in its buildings, museums, places of worship or simply in its streets. In this article we will detail some of the main places to visit in Jávea and get to know it better.
Old Town
We start our list of what to visit in Jávea in the Old Town of Jávea. Without a doubt the main place to visit is the Iglesia Fortaleza de San Bartolomé. As its name indicates, this Valencian Gothic style building fulfilled a double function, on the one hand, to cover the religious needs of the population and, on the other hand, as the main element of defence against attacks. It is a beautiful building constructed with a local sandstone known as tosca stone that was extracted from the “Cova Tallada” and from the beach of Primer Montañar.
It is located in the Town Hall Square in the heart of the historic centre of Jávea, so that once you have visited it you can start to wander through the streets past stately homes, restaurants, shops and corners with a special charm. A place not to be missed on our visit is the Abastos market, a former convent of nuns that was destroyed during the Civil War by the municipal council in order to build a covered market. Its architectural style and its shops with local and artisan products make it the perfect place to take a short stroll, load up your shopping basket or even stop for a typical dish in one of its bars.
Soler Blasco Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum
Very close to the Iglesia Fortaleza is another place to visit in Jávea, the Soler Blasco Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum. Located in a 17th century palace house with a façade made of the same material as the church, it has 13 exhibition rooms with finds from prehistoric times, the Iberian and Roman world. In addition, there is also a gilded bronze replica of the Iberian Treasure of Jávea made up of fine pieces of goldsmith’s work that made up a female adornment. The original, made of gold and silver, is currently in the National Archaeological Museum of Madrid (MAN).
Seafaring Quarter
If we stop to think about what to visit in Jávea, we cannot leave out the fishermen’s quarter. It breathes fishing tradition from all sides and we only have to approach the port to see it. Located at the foot of the cape of San Antonio, it is a beautiful walk through fishing boats, a trade that, although increasingly harder, continues to be the livelihood of many families in Jávea. Next to the port is the fish market, the best place to buy fresh fish and seafood of the day to prepare a delicious meal back home.
From the port itself we quickly reach another church. Although it has nothing to do with its neighbour in the Old Town, the Church of Nuestra Señora de Loreto is a modern and curious building, as once inside, when we look up, we can see its roof in the shape of a ship’s keel.
Viewpoints in Jávea
Another of the strong attractions of the municipality of Jávea are its viewpoints, which are scattered throughout the town. From the Cabo de San Antonio to the Granadella cove, there are 15 viewpoints where you can rest, relax and, above all, fall in love with the views. Among them, the most outstanding and essential are the viewpoint of Cabo de San Antonio, next to the lighthouse of the same name, which has a privileged view of the whole bay of Jávea, the viewpoint of Cruz del Portichol from which you can see the Portichol Island and which is the start of two beautiful hiking routes, the viewpoint of La Falzia with La Barraca cove at our feet and the viewpoint of Cabo de la Nao which is the most easterly point of the Valencian Community and the closest point of the peninsula to the island of Ibiza.
In our article on what to visit in Jávea we don’t want to forget the Montgó National Park. If you visit the municipality and you love nature and hiking routes, we recommend that you climb this mountain, the icon of Jávea, 753 metres above sea level. We assure you that the experience and the views when you reach the top are well worth it.
Jávea is surrounded by beautiful coastal towns, so if you are wondering what to visit in and around Jávea, we leave you a small list with some Mediterranean corners:
Gata de Gorgos
Situated just 9Km away by car is the town of Gata de Gorgos, a small village where you will find beautiful handicraft shops focused on decoration and accessories made in the town itself.
Dénia
11Km away is Dénia, the capital of the Marina Alta, its castle, the port and its old town full of shops and bars are some of the attractions of this coastal town.
Moraira
Just over 13Km from Jávea is Moraira, a pretty coastal town with beautiful coves and beaches.
Altea
A 43Km drive away is the town of Altea. This picturesque village has a beautiful old town with cobbled streets and is one of the places you should not miss.
If after this article you can’t decide what to visit in Jávea, we recommend a visit to any of the tourist offices in the municipality. There you will be offered detailed information on all the places to visit in Jávea depending on your tastes and preferences.