Door opening in Formentera del Segura

Formentera del Segura: market garden and Mediterranean flavour beside the river

Formentera del Segura is a municipality in the province of Alicante, located in the south of the Comunidad Valenciana, in the Vega Baja del Segura district. As its name indicates, it sits on the left bank of the Segura river, right in the market garden and a few kilometres from the coast. It is a quiet locality, of strong agricultural tradition and with a notable international component. 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), Formentera del Segura has a population of 4,749 inhabitants. The municipal area is very small, with an approximate surface of 4.3 km², which gives a very high population density, of around 1,096 inhabitants per km². The village lies about 10 km from Guardamar del Segura and its area includes the district of Los Palacios. It borders Benijófar, Daya Nueva, Daya Vieja, Rojales, San Fulgencio and Las Heredades.

Demographics and nationalities

The split by sex is very balanced, with an approximate percentage of 50% men and 50% women. Formentera del Segura has undergone notable growth in recent decades, largely because of the arrival of foreign residents. 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.

This diversity coexists with a deeply rooted local community, typical of a market-garden village.

Economy

The economy of Formentera del Segura rests fundamentally on:

• Irrigated agriculture: the fertile market garden of the Vega Baja, with vegetables and citrus fruit, is the traditional pillar.
• Local retail and services, which cater to the day-to-day life of the municipality.
• Residential tourism and construction, boosted by the arrival of new residents.

Emergency and home security services

With a compact and densely populated town centre, and a notable presence of residents' homes and second homes, Formentera del Segura is a municipality where reliable locksmith services are especially necessary. 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 a trip.

Our emergency door opening service provides coverage to Formentera del Segura and to the whole Vega Baja district, 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

Formentera del Segura keeps alive the traditions typical of the Vega Baja. Among its most notable celebrations are:

• The patron saint festivals, with religious events, open-air dances and popular activities.
• Holy Week, deeply rooted throughout the district.
• The events and pilgrimages that bring together residents and visitors around the market garden and the river.

Tourism: what to visit

Formentera del Segura offers quiet inland tourism, very close to the sea:

• The parish church and the traditional town centre, with its Mediterranean village atmosphere.
• The ensemble of the mill and the waterwheel beside the Segura river, hydraulic heritage that it shares with neighbouring Benijófar.
• The market-garden landscapes, ideal for walks and cycle tourism.
• Its closeness to the beaches of Guardamar del Segura (about 10 km) and to Torrevieja.

Gastronomy

The cuisine of Formentera del Segura 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

Of Islamic origin, Formentera del Segura was a lordship throughout its history: it belonged to Juan de Portugal (1357-1433) and, later, to the Marquesses of Algorfa and the Counts of Casa Rojas. Its name is linked to the cultivation of cereal («froment», wheat), a reflection of its age-old agricultural vocation. Small, welcoming and right in the heart of the market garden, Formentera del Segura brings together the charm of a village with history 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.