Door opening in Dolores

Dolores: market-garden tradition on the Segura plain

Dolores (in Valencian Dolors) is a municipality in the province of Alicante, located in the south of the Comunidad Valenciana, in the Vega Baja del Segura district. Located right in the deltaic plain of the Segura river, in the heart of the market garden, it is a locality of strong agricultural and religious tradition, very close to the coastal beaches. 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), Dolores has a population of 8,102 inhabitants. The municipal area has a surface of 18.25 km², which gives a population density of around 433 inhabitants per km². It sits at just 4 metres of altitude, right in the plain of the vega, about 10 km from the beaches of La Marina and Guardamar, and about 20 minutes from Alicante-Elche airport. It borders Elche to the north, Almoradí and Daya Nueva to the south, San Fulgencio to the east and Catral to the west.

Demographics and nationalities

The split by sex is very balanced, with an approximate percentage of 50% men and 50% women. Dolores retains strong local roots: around half of its residents were born in the municipality itself. Alongside that native population there coexists a notable international component, around 20% of foreign origin. Among the most present nationalities, the following stand out:

• Residents of European origin (Britons and other EU countries).
• Population of Maghrebi origin, largely tied to agricultural activity.
• Residents of Latin American origin.

Economy

The economy of Dolores rests on several pillars:

• Irrigated agriculture: the fertile market garden of the Vega Baja, with vegetables and citrus fruit, is the historic pillar of the municipality.
• Retail and services, which make Dolores a reference point for its surroundings.
• Small industry and construction linked to the district's activity.

Emergency and home security services

With more than 8,000 inhabitants and an active town centre, Dolores concentrates numerous homes and businesses that require reliable locksmith services. 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 Dolores 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

Dolores lives its festive calendar intensely. Among its most notable celebrations are:

• The August Fair, at the beginning of the month, one of the most important events of the municipality.
• The Festival of the Virgin, in honour of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores, the patron that gives the locality its name.
• Holy Week, deeply rooted throughout the district.

Tourism: what to visit

Dolores offers inland tourism tied to heritage, the market garden and leisure:

• The 18th-century parish church, its most important monument, which houses sculptures attributed to the school of Salzillo and to Roque López.
• The traditional town centre, with its Mediterranean village atmosphere.
• The market-garden landscapes of the Segura plain, ideal for walks and cycle tourism.
• Its closeness to the beaches of Guardamar and La Marina, a few minutes away by car.

Gastronomy

The cuisine of Dolores 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 name of Dolores has a religious origin, in the Marian invocation of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores. The municipality sits on land reclaimed from the old marshy areas of the lower Segura through the great drainage and colonisation works promoted in the 18th century by Cardinal Belluga, which gave rise to the so-called Pueblos Nuevos or Pías Fundaciones. Well connected and right in the heart of the market garden, Dolores brings together the charm of a village with a strong identity 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.