Pego
Pego General Information
Monte Pego General Information
Useful Information / Telephone Numbers
Map of Pego
Map of Monte Pego
Weather
Property Sales and Rentals
Pego Shops Bars Services
Pego
Lying just inland from the northern Costa Blanca resort of Denia, the
quaint Spanish town of Pego sits in a depression, surrounded by
mountains. A part of the Marina Alta region of Alicante, Pego has a
population of 10,721 (2006) and a history going back to the Arab
occupation.
Doubtless the area around Pego was settled during the Bronze Age and
later by Iberian and Roman civilizations, though the story of the town
really begins during the times of the Moors in around 726, when Pego was
an important Arab enclave which later formed part of the Taifa of Denia.
Subsequently conquered by forces under Jaime I of Aragon in 1244, Pego
was later repopulated with peasants from Catalonia and the barony of
Pego was created in 1262, and control of the town passed through the
hands of various members of the Valencian nobility.
During the late 13th century the wetlands between Pego and Oliva were
developed for the production of rice, fishing and grazing, rice in
particular became an important source of income, though later rice
production in the wetlands was banned by Martin I (1403) and attempts
were made to regulate the cultivation of the wetlands. The final
expulsion of remaining moriscos (Moors converted to Christianity)
occurred in 1609 and Pego became virtually deserted for some time.
In the late 18th century certain areas of the wetlands were further
developed, beginning with the formation of drainage ditches in the outer
sections, though rice production did not return until 1805 when a Royal
Order allowed the crop to be grown once more, significant areas were
transformed between 1820 and 1840 though much of the wetlands remained
untouched. The cultivation of rice continued to increase and by 1901 382
hectares were dedicated to rice production, this reached a high of 900
hectares in 1945.
During Moorish times Pego was of course a walled town, with the
obligatory castle, after the reconquest these fortifications were
extended and had in all 16 towers, most of this was destroyed during the
War of Spanish Succession (1701-14). There are still some remains of the
wall, these can be found in the Old Town where the medieval streets
still retain much of their original charm.
Worth visiting in Pego are the Arciprestal Church of Our Lady of the
Assumption (16th century) built in the Renaissance style, built on the
ruins of an earlier church, the Chapel of Ecce Homo (18th century) in
the Baroque style and designed by the Valencian architect Fray Francisco
Cabezas, the Church of the Sagrada Familia, the hermitage of San Jose
(19th century), the hermitage of San Miguel (17th century), the Castillo
de Ambra (Castle Ambra) thought to originate from the early 13th century
and the Parque Natural de la Marjal de Pego-Oliva (Natural Park of the
Peg-Oliva Marshes).
Pego celebrates a number of fiestas and festivals throughout the year
and these include the Moors and Christians (late June), Porrat de Sant
Antoni del Porquet (January) and the Pinyata (burial of the sardine).
Some typical local dishes include coconut shrimp with rice crust, rice
with beans and turnips and paella with eel and duck. Situated around the
church square are bars and restaurants offering traditional
Mediterranean cuisine, paellas made with rice from the local paddy
fields, fresh fish, seafood and tapas – all served with great wines and
desserts made from freshly picked fruit.
Pego is situated on the CV-715 just inland from Denia and Oliva. Pego is
situated on the CV-715 and can be accessed from the AP-7 (E-15) motorway
or the N-332 coastal road. The new urbanization of Monte Pego is located
to the east of the town towards Els Poblets and Denia. Pego is around 90
km from both Alicante and Valencia airports
Tennis Club Los Amigos Oliva
Plays tennis on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from
10:00-13:00. Everybody is welcome.
Based at Pg Oliva al Mar km 1.3, 46780 Oliva.
Tel: 962 839 543
Villa sales website of Monte Pego
