Door opening in Daya Vieja

Daya Vieja: the rebuilt village in the heart of the Vega Baja

Daya Vieja (in Valencian Daia Vella) is a municipality in the province of Alicante, located in the south-east of the Comunidad Valenciana, in the Vega Baja del Segura district. Set beside the Segura river, right in the market garden and a step from San Fulgencio, it is one of the smallest and quietest municipalities of the district, with a singular history marked by its reconstruction in the 19th century. In this guide we go over its most relevant facts: population, economy, festivals, tourism and gastronomy.

General information

According to the official figures of the INE (register as of 1 January 2024), Daya Vieja has a population of 657 inhabitants. The municipal area is one of the smallest in the province, with a surface of 3.1 km² and a population density of around 210 inhabitants per km². It sits at just 4 metres of altitude, right in the plain of the vega. It borders Daya Nueva, Dolores, Formentera del Segura and San Fulgencio, and is well connected by dual carriageway to Guardamar del Segura, Dolores and Crevillente.

Demographics and nationalities

The split by sex is very balanced, with an approximate percentage of 50% men and 50% women. Despite its small size, Daya Vieja has a presence of foreign residents, drawn by the tranquillity of life in the market garden. Among the most present nationalities, the following stand out:

• Residents of European origin (Britons and other EU countries).
• Population of Maghrebi and Latin American origin.

This mix coexists with a deeply rooted local community, typical of a small village where everyone knows each other.

Economy

The economy of Daya Vieja rests fundamentally on:

• Irrigated agriculture: the fertile market garden of the Vega Baja, with vegetables and citrus fruit, is the traditional pillar of the municipality.
• Local retail and services, which cover the day-to-day life of the residents.
• Small activity linked to construction and to the district surroundings.

Emergency and home security services

Although Daya Vieja is a very small municipality, its homes and businesses equally need reliable locksmith services available at any time. Having 24-hour locksmiths is essential to resolve everyday mishaps such as leaving the keys inside the house, suffering the breakage of a cylinder or finding the door jammed on returning from work or from a trip.

Our emergency door opening service provides coverage to Daya Vieja and to all the municipalities of the Vega Baja, with on-call locksmiths available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. By day or in the early hours, at the weekend or on a public holiday, there is always a professional ready to act quickly on openings of homes, lock changes and armoured doors.

Festivals and traditions

Daya Vieja keeps alive the traditions typical of the Vega Baja. Among its most notable celebrations are:

• The patron saint festivals in honour of the Virgen de Monserrate, held around 8 September, with religious events, open-air dances and popular activities.
• Holy Week, deeply rooted throughout the district.
• The community events and pilgrimages that bring the locality together.

Tourism: what to visit

Daya Vieja offers quiet inland tourism, ideal for those seeking authenticity and calm:

• The parish church and the 19th-century town centre, the result of the rebuilding of the village after the 1829 earthquake.
• The market-garden landscapes beside the Segura river, perfect for walks and cycle tourism.
• Its closeness to the neighbouring villages of the plain and to the beaches of Guardamar del Segura, a few minutes away by car.

Gastronomy

The cuisine of Daya Vieja is a faithful reflection of the gastronomy of the Vega Baja, based on market-garden produce and on rice dishes. Among its typical dishes and products, the following stand out:

• Arroz con costra, an emblematic dish of the district.
• Cocido con pelotas and the traditional stews.
• The vegetables and citrus fruit of the market garden, protagonists of the table.
• Seasonal artisan pastries.

Other points of interest

The history of Daya Vieja is singular: it belonged to the area of Orihuela from the Reconquest and, together with Daya Nueva, was separated in 1791 under the lordship of the Roca de Togores family. The 1829 earthquake left the old core almost completely destroyed, so the village was completely rebuilt by order of the Count of Pinohermoso between 1855 and 1857, and inaugurated on 12 October 1857. It was finally declared an independent municipality in 1871. Small, quiet and with a history of resurgence, Daya Vieja brings together the charm of a village with a character of its own and all the comforts of the district. A place where having trustworthy 24-hour locksmiths brings the peace of mind that residents and businesses deserve all year round.