The Serra d'Irta Natural Park, situated alongside the d'Irta Marine Reserve, is a protected area of 12,000 hectares of land located to the north of Alcossebre.
Its flora is that of a semi-arid zone with a Mediterranean climate. The pine groves live in harmony with the Mediterranean dwarf palm, rosemary and fennel. The substrate of white calcareous rock makes for a spectacular coastline, with cliffs that alternate with small coves.
The Park is located to the north of the Comunitat Valenciana, between the towns of Peñíscola, Santa Magdalena de Pulpis, Alcalà de Xivert and Alcossebre.
It represents one of the last Mediterranean coastal hill ranges still untouched by construction and is one of the most beautiful landscapes along the coast of Valencia. Its highest peak, at 572 m, is the Campanilles peak, and its steep slopes descend gracefully towards the sea, along 12 km of coastline. There, practically unchanged, are numerous cliffs and coves. Over time, as a result of the continual erosion by water at its base, caves, cavities and outcrops are formed, creating a habitat for various seabirds (gulls and cormorants) that make their homes here.
History
The Serra d'Irta offers a rich historical heritage; what stand out are the Arab constructions, such as the castles of Xivert and Polpis, and the watchtowers of Badum and Ebrí, which demonstrate both the antiquity of human occupation and the military nature of that occupation. The castles, built between the 10th and 11th centuries, went through various restorations at the hands of the Almoravid dynasty, and later by Christian orders, such as the Knights Templar and the Order of Montesa.
Other important constructions are the hermitages of Sant Antoni and that of Santa Llúcia and Sant Benet. These constructions are located in an exceptional enclave, from where you can enjoy magnificent views.
XIVERT
CASTLE
The rural architecture offers interesting constructions such as the "casetas de terrat pla" and the "castes de volta", adapted so as to catch rainwater as it falls on the roofs and stored in small cisterns arranged along the wall of the house. The remains of old lime kilns are also a common sight in the mountains, where this material was made from the limestone which is so plentiful in the soil and which served as the prime raw material in construction.
Vegetation
The Mediterranean maritime climate of the Serra d'Irta Natural Park favors the co-existence of different environments. The coastal environments are especially interesting, with dramatic features such as a spectacular 40 m high cliff, among many cliffs which, while smaller, contribute to their overall grandeur.
In and among these cliffs, beaches of sand and gravel have formed in an alternating pattern, and there is a small dune field located on the beach of Pebret. In this dune field, there are plants perfectly adapted to this hostile environment, such as the sand lily (Pancratium maritimum), the yellow restharrow (Ononis natrix), the European searocket (Cakile maritima) or the sea holly (Eryngium maritimum), etc.
Closest to the coastline, there are species peculiarly adapted to the salinity of the environment, such as the sea fennel (Crithmum maritimum) and a sea lavender (Limonium perplexum) that merits special attention because it is exclusive to the Serra d'Irta and forms one of the two existing micro-reserves in the Natural Park. Also of special note are the magnificent groves of Mediterranean dwarf palm (Chamaerops humilis), the only native European palms that occupy the front line against the sea.
