5 reasons to visit Archena

Archena is located in the Ricote Valley region. It is a town with a varied offering. One can spend a few pleasant days with a full schedule of activities for adults and children.

Archena has a spectacular thermal water spa that has provided vitality to locals and visitors since Ancient Rome. However, in Archena, there are many more options to enjoy.

We present our five reasons to visit Archena:

Archena Museum

This is a place that you cannot miss when you are in Archena. Its exterior design is impressive; its transparent glazing stands out, designed so as not to obstruct the views of the banks of the Segura river as it passes through Archena.

Here, we find the most coastal route in the region, that of the poet Vicente Medina. It includes the surroundings of the Archena Museum, where you can have a good time with the little ones thanks to the bio-healthy circuits while enjoying one of the best views of the town.

Religious buildings

The Church of Saint John the Baptist is another essential stop. This is a baroque building from the end of the 18th century, built with the help of the residents of the town and executed with exposed brick and ashlar plinth. It stands out for the simplicity and sobriety of its façade, which as a window to the future already pointed towards the academicism of the 19th century.

Another outstanding temple is the Virgin of Health Hermitage, built during the 19th century. Its vertical design and the large number of pilasters that support the building stand out on the outside, giving this beautiful temple a medieval air.

Festivals and celebrations

Gastronomy and crafts

The Ricote Valley collects, in its traditional gastronomy, the traces left by its ancient Moorish settlers. Their food is based on vegetables and fruits according to the seasons of the year.

The top craft in Archena involves esparto grass. Heading towards the urban centre of the municipality, in the Palace of Villarias, you will find one of the most successful museums among locals and tourists: the Museum of Esparto and Antiques of Archena. Here, you can enjoy innumerable artisan pieces made with esparto grass, as well as implements and farming tools.

The Big House

This is the oldest and most important building in Archena, the current seat of the City Council. It is a Renaissance building that was owned by the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem.

Built in the 15th century, it was initially used as a House of Tercia and a grain store.