Purissima Xiqueta Parish Church

Puríssima Xiqueta Church Benissa Pointeres English

During the first decade of the 20th century (1902) work began on the construction of the new parish church dedicated to the Puríssima Xiqueta that celebrated the centenary of the laying of its foundation stone in 2002. Thanks to several private donations and the contributions of all the citizens of Benissa the new church was consecrated in 1929, and some years later replaced the San Pedro Apóstol as parish church.

The building is of neo-gothic style with three naves that stands our for its central dome of great beauty, a skylight over the centre of the transept, and the altar, with the shrine containing the painted tablet with the image the Puríssima Xiqueta that is believed to have be painted by the artist Juan de Juanes.

During the feast in honour of the Purísima Xiqueta, celebrated every year on the 4th Sunday of April, the shrine is lowered from its place on the altar with the help of an ingenious hydraulic system so that the image can be carried through the streets in the procession. This emotive ceremony is known La Baixada de la Puríssima (The lowering of the Virgin)

Benissa - History and Seashore

Benissa - History and Seashore. We are: [ Calpe and Benissa villas for sale ].
Benissa is one of the oldest towns on the Costa Blanca located at 275 metres above sea level, with a historic old town and rolling hills leading to a 4km shoreline of rocky coves and the nice La Fustera sandy beach. The town of Benissa was founded by the Moors (Banu-Issa) as were the surrounding villages. After the Christian reconquest and expulsion of the Moors in 1609 the town was settled by people from the Pirenees, Catalonia and Aragon. The medieval town centre has been largely preserved with it's ironwork balconies and heraldic shields. A notable building is the Palacio de los Torres-Orduña, now a cultural centre and library. Benissa has a strong Catholic tradition with a Franciscan seminary that has educated many Franciscan followers throughout Spain and a large NeoGothic church, the Catedral de la Marina.
Inhabitants 9.500.
Access: Motorway A7 exit 62 Benissa/Teulada. Airport Alicante El Altet 1 hour, Valencia Manisses 1hour 15 minutes.
Restaurants: Casa Canto (traditional Valencian). Entry of Benissa from Calpe.
Casa del Maco (international haute cuisine). Turn right to Lleus at the low point of the Benissa-Calpe N332. Continue 3km to the old Casa del Maco finca.
Traditional dishes of Benissa are Tomates Rellenos and Mullador - both with Tuna, and locally made sausages which are bought all over Spain.
Fiestas: January 5th - The Three Kings. Arrival of the three kings with the children's presents. Easter Week - concerts of religious, classical and traditional music. 4th Sunday in April - Fiesta of the Patron Saint of Benissa, Purissima Xiqueta. Crowning of the Queen of the Fiesta. Bull running. Music and fireworks. Special days e.g. the dels Fedrins (unmarried people). Weekend nearest to 29th June - Moors and Christians. There are also local fiestas such as the Santos de la Piedra (Lleus village, August) and Santa Barbara (Partida Pinos, August).