Archena

Archena is home to a hot water mineral spa dating back to Roman times and has 3 hotels built around it.[5] The Romans created around this place temples, lodges, paths and roads connected with the rest of Hispania.With the conquest of the Nasrid kingdom of Granada by the Catholic Monarchs in 1492, the Christian Reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula ended.Like the rest of the Kingdom of Murcia and the territories of the Iberian Peninsula, the seventeenth century is a period of crisis for Archena for several reasons.This century saw a demographic increase and a development of the cultivated surface, being rice, corn, oil and barley the most important productions at that time.In this century Archena suffered negative economic effects since a company of French troops remained stationed there, which meant a high cost to the town.However, the century of the Enlightenment is for the municipality the beginning of an upward trajectory from the demographic point of view, which lasts until today.The political and social tensions which the Restoration pretended to hide, burst uncontrollably in the 1910s and finished in the long Civil War.Archena had also got the figure of Vicente Medina, a great naturalist poet who spent most of his life away from the village but who loved and appreciated its orchards.[9] After the Spanish Civil War, the "Virgen de la Salud" and the "Corpus Christi" were turned into patron saints of Archena.[10][9] Thanks to archaeological excavations in 2001, a cave was found dating back to c.2300 BC, in Copper Age, used by a community of 23 people.[14] The Archena's surface is slightly undulating, with two mounds, the highest of them (in the north) called Ope, and the other being the Sierra de la Serrata.[18] Las Arboledas (meaning "the groves") is a small neighbourhood which takes part in the common history of the town.Nowadays, they are an integrated area in the urban part of Archena; a hotel complex which manages the operation of the thermal springs and offers to the visitor services dedicated to health and beauty.In 1900, it became momentarily famous when the rumours spread that a woman known as "La Quica" had visions in which the Virgin appeared.Torre del Junco was always part of La Algaida, being one of the largest and most recognized areas by their abundant crops.[22] The best-known and busiest streets in Archena are Ramón y Cajal St., where there are many shops; Primero de Mayo Av.The Thermal Space of the spa has a 3,000 m2 surface surrounded by a natural landscape next to the Segura river, and it includes swimming pools, Jacuzzis, waterfalls and installations for children.Walking up to the cross of the Ope is a very popular activity among the people who live in Archena and also among the tourists, as they are able to enjoy a beautiful view of the town and the Ricote Valley.The calculation includes people who have some kind of relationship with the municipality, either because they live, work, and study or spend some time in it.In relation to secondary schools, there are two public centres with compulsory secondary education, bachillerato and vocational training degrees: IES Vicente Medina and IES Dr. Pedro Guillén, the latter placed in the neighbourhood El Otro Lao, belonging to the district of "La Algaida".[34] Archena also counts with one semi-private school, "El Ope", that offers kindergarten, pre-school, primary and secondary education and vocational training.In June, the Corpus Christi festivities begin, in which various offerings are made to the Virgen de la Salud and there is usually a pilgrimage.[39] The main source of wealth in Archena is agriculture: 1,403 hectares of the town are used as farming lands[40] where fruit trees predominate.A third source of income is tourism: Archena has representative examples of cultural heritage such a museums, churches, a theatre, etc.It consists of four divisions: They are only used in case of emergencies, natural or deliberate catastrophes, or in events that, for a great civil gathering, are needed by the competent authorities.The moon is growing, with the tips pointing up, and the sun is represented by a circle surrounded by 16 rays, which means truth, abundance, wealth, liberality and benevolence.Together with other cities like Amersham, Rickmansworth, Watford, Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted, High Wycombe and Slough, they form the Valley of the Chess, name of the river that crosses this region.