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Number of Inhabitants:
31.905 (2018)
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Video San Javier
Belong to San Javier:
Location: Coast
Airport: 33 km (Murcia)
Torrevieja: 28 km
In a nutshell:
The town of San Javier has in fits and starts become what it is today: a flourishing municipality with a high level of facilities. And of course it features the pearl of the tourist industry on the Costa Cálida, namely the Mar Menor. Traces of San Javier's often turbulent past can be found in buildings, museums, old windmills and in the local festivals.
After trial and error over the centuries, San Javier is today a textbook example of vitality and forward thinking, which have a huge appeal to tourists. The attractions for visitors and home buyers are extremely varied and numerous. The town boasts a large shopping center in the form of Dos Mares. Golf enthusiasts can go to Roda Golf. Anyone who wants to soak up culture can choose from a series of parties, festivals and museums. Add to that regular spectacular international air shows, an inviting long promenade in Santiago de la Ribera and a wide range of water sports in the Mar Menor and the total package of San Javier is hard to resist.
Long before San Javier could show off its current status as a tourist paradise, a great deal preceded it. It all started about 65 million years ago when the Mar Menor was still a bay of the Mediterranean. A series of geological events, such as a series of underwater volcanic eruptions, eventually formed Europe's largest saltwater lagoon as we know it today.
During the early Middle Ages, San Javier was plagued by brutal attacks from Berber pirates. Many residents fled the recurring violence and sought refuge in the agricultural sector inland. In the early 1800s, with the final departure of the pirates, San Javier started to take shape reluctantly. In 1836 it gained independence from the city of Murcia. But a period of economic growth was short-lived. A general economic slump at the end of the 19th century caused a new exodus to the mines in La Union, the agricultural hinterland and even Algeria in Africa.
Ultimately, a complete return to medieval poverty was averted with the arrival of wealthy families, who began to sell land, creating a new middle class. The real big step forward came in 1888 with the development of Santiago de la Ribera as a village on the Mar Menor.
At the moment, San Javier includes eight other villages and hamlets in addition to Santiago de la Ribera and part of La Manga. It seems that calm has finally returned and the sights can be turned to the future with confidence.
The importance of the Mar Menor to San Javier can hardly be overestimated. The inland sea has especially given Santiago de la Ribera an important reason for existence. Just a few kilometers from the parent community, Santiago has rapidly developed into a popular destination for tourists and home buyers from Spain and many other European countries. With beaches stretching four kilometers along the sheltered and warm waters of the Mar Menor, Santiago is a major tourist resort. A long and inviting promenade has certainly contributed to the popularity of the town.
This promenade, the Explanada Barnuevo, is where much of the outdoors takes place. Throughout the year it is buzzing with activities such as exhibitions, markets and concerts. Here along the water is also the central place where the annual carnival and the many local festivals reach a peak.
Bathers who enjoy their holiday in the water or on the beach along the Mar Menor also always have a terrace close by to settle down for a drink, a tapa or a complete meal thanks to the promenade.
San Javier and the associated municipalities have a very full festive calendar every year. It starts on January 5th with a parade of the Three Kings in Santiago de la Ribera. Here the kings arrive from the sea. Afterwards there is a parade with a combination of horses and floats. Santiago is also the location on February 3 for the pilgrimage in honor of the patron saint San Blas. The small villages of Grajuela and Pozo Aledo honor their local patron saints in April and May with parades, dancing and games.
Midsummer's Eve parties are celebrated in Santiago on 23 June. More commonly known as the bonfires of Saint Juan, processions and musical performances are then held, after which the so-called Fallas are burned around midnight. On July 16, Santiago is under the spell of the Virgin del Carmen celebrations. This is done with a procession by the sea in honor of the patron saint of fishermen and seafarers. Nine days later it is again a prize with the Santiago Apostle festivities with dance, music, fireworks and a procession.
In September, attention shifts to La Manga, where a lot of sports, food and dancing are central during the tourist festivities. The year in partying ends on December 3 with the San Francisco parties in San Javier featuring an audio visual show, dance, sports and a float parade.
For a community with such a modest population, San Javier hosts an unbelievably wide variety of cultural events every year. The facilities for this consist of art galleries, event halls and especially the Almansa Municipal Park auditorium. This open-air theater in the heart of San Javier has strong architectural similarities with the old Roman theaters. Known for good acoustics, the Almansa auditorium is the place where many festivals take place, especially in the summer months.
During the summer months it is buzzing with multi-day festivals. The peak is set in June with the National Folklore Festival. Various performances take place in the auditorium. National and international music and dance groups also show their skills on the beaches of Santiago and La Manga.
Jazz lovers can visit the park in July for the internationally acclaimed jazz festival of San Javier. Many big names from the world of jazz have now given concerts here. In August it is the turn of the International Theater, Music and Dance Festival. This cultural event is now also highly regarded far beyond the city limits of San Javier.
Those who want to soak up a piece of San Javier's history in a more relaxed way can visit one of the museums. The local museum provides an interesting insight into history, from prehistoric times to modern times and San Javier's prominent role in the Spanish aviation industry. In a separate room, the focus is on the strong bond between the town and the annual Belens, the miniature narrative of the Christmas story. A museum in the San Francisco church tells the story of the religious activities in San Javier from the 17th century to the present day.
Sports enthusiasts can choose from a wide range of activities in San Javier. Along the Mar Menor, the prestigious marina in Santiago and the marina in La Manga have several training schools for sailing, canoeing and diving enthusiasts. In addition, other clubs and commercial companies offer a wide variety of water sports such as kite surfing, kayaking and windsurfing. The Mar Menor is an ideal setting for all of these activities. The beautiful promenade in Santiago is also very suitable for long walks and joggers. A cycle path has also been constructed along the Explanada Barnuevo.
San Javier also has a large number of amenities for fans of football, tennis and a range of other sports. Finally, the town in the form of Roda Golf has a golf course, which is highly regarded.
