Walking the
neighbourhood

What it is

A community-run, non-profit, non-partisan walking tour that traces the documented origin of the town: the old Benialí farmstead, the medieval layout of Calle San José, the irrigation system of the Huerta de Alicante and the Quijote 12 plot —ground zero of Modification 25 of the PGOU.

It is not a protest or a rally. It is a pedagogical visit with map in hand, historical photographs, municipal planimetry and the heritage files on the table. We bring printed copies of the allegations, the report from the Síndic de Greuges (Ombudsman) and 18th–20th century cartography for anyone who wants to consult them.

Route · 7 stops · ~60 min

01Plaza de la Cruz — Origin of the municipality. Historical context of the Huerta de Alicante, the Tibi Reservoir (1594) and the irrigation network drawn from the Montnegre river.

02Start of Calle San José — Reading the layout: width, slope, façade rhythm and why its geometry betrays a pre-Castilian origin (earlier than 1609, the expulsion of the Moriscos).

03Central stretch — The houses that resist: a walk past the properties that will be left in the shadow of the four-storey party wall planned under MP25. House by house, we identify the buildings that will lose light, ventilation and views, and contrast their traditional scale (ground floor + 1, ground floor + 2) with the blind wall about to be imposed on them. We also look at the structural cracks that have appeared on facades and party walls after nearby earthworks and vibrations, the visible shorings, and the buildings that have actually collapsed. We explain the environmental value of the street —its narrow section, the quiet, the greenery of inner courtyards, the low morning light— and the sustained effort of residents to keep the neighbourhood's memory alive: self-funded restorations, recovery of original carpentry, care for facades, and collective defence of the ensemble against decades of real-estate pressure.

04Quijote 12 plot — The epicentre. Visual explanation of the current volumetry, the volumetry MP25 would allow (+2,200 m² of penthouses) and the impact on the skyline of the old town.

05Hijuela de Mingot — Irrigation channel documented in 1594, a branch of Sant Joan's main acequia. We follow its underground course beneath the plot and explain why the municipal file omits it.

06The two pines — The public justification for the modification. On-site check: according to the Association, they do not appear catalogued or protected as monumental specimens. Comparison with the trees actually listed in the municipality.

07Closing at the Church square — Synthesis: what is lost, what is gained, who decides. Q&A and handout of materials.

Practical information

• Duration: 60–75 minutes depending on group pace and questions.

• Distance: ~900 metres, flat. Accessible for wheelchairs and prams. One avoidable step at a single stop.

• Languages: Spanish and Valencian (basic English for international groups on request).

• Group size: maximum 25 people, to keep audibility without amplification.

• Family-friendly: all ages welcome. Under-14s must be accompanied.

• Price: free. No paid booking, no tipping, no merchandise.

When and where

Meeting point: Plaza de la Cruz, in front of the main façade of Sant Joan d'Alacant Town Hall.

Regular schedule: alternate Saturdays at 11:00 and one Sunday a month at 10:30. Cancelled in heavy rain or orange weather warning.

Bespoke tours: for schools, cultural associations, journalists or research groups, we organise weekday slots on request by email, free of charge.

What to bring

• Comfortable shoes (the street is cobbled in places).

• Water and a hat in summer.

• Curiosity and questions. We bring the rest: maps, fact sheets, historical images, and the silence to let the street speak.

How to book

Email contacto@callesanjose.com with your preferred date, number of people and language. You will get confirmation within 24–48 h, including the exact meeting point and the name of the neighbour guide for the day.

Press and research groups: write to contacto@callesanjose.com with a brief outline of your story or study.