PARQUE JAUME I
Type of protected nature area: Nature Reserves Near Towns
From semi-abandoned groves to a delightful natural and recreational space in the heart of the city – this has been the transformation undergone by the Parque Rey Jaime I, between the streets known as Candalix, Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza and Luis Gonzaga Llorente.
The former groves known as Hort del Carme and Hort dels Ullets were the keystones of this new urban park and thousands of date palms were replanted in them. Furthermore, fruit and ornamental trees were planted and to ensure an effective ground cover, use was made of local species such as lucerne grass and agret (oxalis Pes-caprae).
A striking element in the park’s design is a draughtsboard made up of small ponds and floral garden beds; the hard surfaces are made of red and black marbles from quarries in Alicante.
In the centre, as a sculptural representation of the park’s name, we can see a bust of King Jaime I who overthrew the Muslim rulers of the city in 1265; the bust rests on a pedestal featuring the coat-of-arms of the Kingdom of Aragon.