Door opening in Jacarilla

Jacarilla: the village of the palace and gardens in the Vega Baja

Jacarilla (in Valencian Xacarella) is a municipality in the province of Alicante, located in the south of the Comunidad Valenciana, within the Vega Baja del Segura district. Located just a kilometre from the Segura river, it is a small, quiet locality with seigneurial roots, famous for its palace and its historic gardens. 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), Jacarilla has a population of around 2,120 inhabitants. The municipal area has a surface of 12.2 km², which gives a population density of around 174 inhabitants per km². It sits at about 25 metres of altitude and borders the municipal areas of Benejúzar, Bigastro and Orihuela, the latter being the town that heads its judicial district.

Demographics and nationalities

The split by sex is very balanced, with an approximate percentage of 50% men and 50% women. Jacarilla retains strong local roots —almost half of its residents were born in the municipality itself— alongside a notable foreign component, around 20% of the population. Among the foreign nationalities, the following stand out:

• Britons, the largest foreign colony.
• Residents from other European countries.
• Population of Maghrebi and Latin American origin, largely tied to agricultural activity.

Economy

The economy of Jacarilla rests fundamentally on:

• Irrigated agriculture: the citrus fruit (orange and lemon) and the vegetables of the fertile market garden of the Vega Baja are its historic pillar.
• Local retail and services, which cater to the day-to-day life of the municipality.
• Small activity linked to construction and to the district surroundings.

Emergency and home security services

Although Jacarilla is a 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 Jacarilla 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

Jacarilla 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.

Tourism: what to visit

Jacarilla offers quiet inland tourism, with a singular heritage:

• The Palace of Jacarilla, commissioned by the Marquis of Fontalba at the beginning of the 20th century, the main hallmark of the municipality.
• The Gardens of the Marquis of Fontalba, an ensemble of some 20,000 m² with palm-tree avenues, entered through the famous «Puerta de los Leones».
• The parish church and the traditional town centre, with its Mediterranean village atmosphere.
• The market-garden and citrus landscapes, ideal for walks and cycle tourism, and its closeness to Orihuela and to the rest of the district.

Gastronomy

The cuisine of Jacarilla 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 citrus fruit and vegetables of the market garden, protagonists of the table.
• Seasonal artisan pastries.

Other points of interest

The history of Jacarilla is tied to the lordship: its area has remained united since 1572, when the entailed estate was created that belonged for centuries to the noble Togores family, until the abolition of the lordships. Already in the 20th century, the locality was marked by the figure of the Marquis of Fontalba, a great landowner who drove the construction of the palace and its gardens and made investments that improved the life of the village. Small, quiet and with heritage unique in the district, Jacarilla brings together the charm of a village with history and all the comforts of the Vega Baja. A place where having trustworthy 24-hour locksmiths brings the peace of mind that residents and businesses deserve all year round.