La Malladeta
La Malladeta is a very special place where it is possible to observe the Mediterranean surrounded by nature. The 'Tossal de la Malladeta', with fantastic views of the coast, can be reached by taking a walk from the promenade along the coast to Alicante. Here we find remarkable examples of the natural and historical heritage of La Vila Joiosa, pointing out the importance of this place, which is also traditionally used for picnics on the feast of San Blas, due to its proximity to the saint's chapel.
On the one hand, the Iberian sanctuary, dedicated to the Mother Goddess (the Tanit of the Carthaginians), once located on the slope and top of the hill, where a 19th century tower can now be seen. In the year 100 B.C. the former buildings were demolished and some series of rooms were built on terraces on the hillside. Fourteen of them have been found, and several explanatory panels have been settled to allow visitors to discover and understand the remains.
According to the excavations carried out at the site, "at the beginning of the Roman Empire (around 25 BC) these rooms were abandoned, although there continued to be some kind of temple on the hilltop. The sanctuary was completely abandoned around 80 AD and the cult was probably transferred to the forum of the city, which had just been declared a municipium by Emperor Vespasian."
If we look at Iberian culture, sanctuaries were always built in special or magical places. Well, from La Malladeta, every 21-22 March, every spring equinox, the beginning of the agricultural year, very important for this civilisation, the sun rises over a very special place such as the island of Benidorm.
About the tower located at the top of the hill, and although its appearance may be misleading as it may look like an anti-corsair watchtower, it was built by the famous politician, head of the Republican Party, and psychiatrist Dr. José Mª Esquerdo, at the end of the 19th century as a place of study. From there, he also controlled the psychiatric wards of the sanatorium he had in La Vila, located on the Paradís beach.
On the other hand, there are the remains of the 'Villa Giacomina'. A rural mansion owned by the doctor Alfonso Esquerdo, nephew of the psychiatrist Dr. Esquerdo, which was built in 1920. A building in a late historicist style and with a very rich architectural decoration with a mixture of symbols of the three religions (Jewish, Islamic and Christian). This, and the combination of black and white tiles like a chessboard, as well as other architectural details, have linked it to Freemasonry.
At the end of the civil war this palace was the residence of Dr. Bastos, head of the Swedish-Norwegian Hospital in Alcoy, which was partly moved to Villajoyosa when it was bombed by the Italians .
Work is currently being carried out on a project to research and restore the building.'La Malladeta', a place with plenty of history that also allows us to enjoy nature, just a few metres from the city centre, with the typical vegetation in the area such as white or Aleppo pines, and a network of paths with views of the Mediterranean. For those more intrepids will also enjoy 'la cala de la Malladeta' a small and charming cove of rocks and crystalline waters, difficult to access between the cliffs, but well worth to visit.
