Santa Pola History

Costa Blanca Details

 

Since the fall of the Roman Empire until the Middle Ages, the lack of work and activity in the area led to a massive depopulation. Santa Pola was integrated into the Kingdom of Aragon in the 14th century.

The presence of bandits and pirates during this period led to the construction of a castle and a watchtower. During the 18th century, the people saw an economic and population growth, developing the town around the castle, which began to shape the current Santa Pola.

In 1812 the population became independent from Elche. In 1874 King Alfonso XII awarded Santa Pola the rank of town and assigned it a territory in 1944. The port’s business development was largely conditioned by the city during the 19th century. Santa Pola currently relies mainly on tourism and has a large fishing fleet.

The first traces of life in Santa Pola dates back to third millennium BC, when the first settlers lived in the Cave of the Spiders. The activities of these people were limited to hunting and fishing.

The influence of Greek and Phoenician civilizations shaped the cultural features of the Iberian city. From the first century the port was built. It was called the Roman Portus Illicitanus and was critical to the development of maritime trade and later gave rise to what we now know as Santa Pola. There is a preserved salted fish factory and the house of the Roman Palm from this period.

 

 

After a continued strong population growth that began in the’60s, Santa Pola now has 30,981 inhabitants ( 2008). Santa Pola is ranked number 14 in Alicante in terms of population.

Of the residents surveyed in 2008, 24.5% were foreign nationals, and 74% were outsiders from other countries in the European Union, with British being the dominant nationality.

For many years the main activities of Santa Pola have been the same as those of any Mediterranean coastal town: crafts, agriculture, and especially fishing. The port and the auction of the city have always been a major center of fishing in the Spanish Mediterranean. In recent decades the population has undergone a spectacular revival.