Javea is a different kettle of fish to its neighbour on the Costa Blanca, Benidorm. Actually I’ve not been to Benidorm so maybe it is a city of culture with architectural integrity.
First, Javea and Xàbia are the same place, lying mid-way between Valencia and Alicante. Yesterday morning I walked along the seafront to the harbour.
There were surfers, a couple of people fishing from rowing boats, elderly men fishing with hand-lines on the pier and many folk making a matutinal passeggiata, often accompanied by their dogs. I only saw one Daily Mail reader and there wasn’t a red-top in sight; all very civilised.
Something I did not expect to come across was a church built in the 1960s of reinforced concrete that I would fall for hook, line and sinker; an apt expression as it is known as The Fishermens’ Church.
The twelve external buttesses are supposed to represent the apostles but I prefer to see them as a modern take on flying buttresses that have been part of church architecture since the 4th century. It is an extraordinarily successful building on an unprepossessing site.
Turning inland, I walked up to the old town to look at a much older church glowing in the sunshine.
It was a rewarding three hour walk and I will venture further afield in the coming days. The modern Parador where we are staying is the curved building on the right hand side below.
