Door opening in Pilar de la Horadada

Pilar de la Horadada: the southernmost municipality of the Comunidad Valenciana

Pilar de la Horadada is a municipality in the province of Alicante, located at the southern end of the Comunidad Valenciana, in the Vega Baja del Segura district. Bordering the Region of Murcia, it is the southernmost municipality of the whole autonomous community. It combines an inland town centre with an attractive Mediterranean coastline, which makes it a destination of agriculture, tourism and sun. 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), Pilar de la Horadada has a population of 23,844 inhabitants. The municipal area has a surface of 77.81 km², which gives a population density of around 306 inhabitants per km². It lies about 66 km from the city of Alicante and just 45 km from Murcia, with the airport of the Region of Murcia (Corvera) very close. Its area includes cores such as Torre de la Horadada (on the coast) and Pinar de Campoverde (inland).

Demographics and nationalities

The split by sex is very balanced, with an approximate percentage of 50% men and 50% women. Like much of the Alicante coast, Pilar de la Horadada has a markedly international character, with thousands of foreign residents. Among the most present nationalities, the following stand out:

• Britons, one of the largest groups.
• Germans and other residents from northern Europe.
• Population from Eastern Europe and of Latin American and Maghrebi origin, the latter tied in part to agricultural activity.

Economy

The economy of Pilar de la Horadada rests on several pillars:

• Agriculture: it is the main sector, with a strong fruit and vegetable production of the Vega Baja (vegetables, citrus fruit and irrigated crops).
• Residential tourism: in strong growth in recent decades thanks to its coastline and to construction.
• Retail, services and industry, which complete a dynamic economic fabric.

Emergency and home security services

With almost 24,000 inhabitants and a notable presence of holiday homes and second homes, above all in the coastal area of Torre de la Horadada, Pilar de la Horadada 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 arriving from holiday.

Our emergency door opening service provides coverage to Pilar de la Horadada, Torre de la Horadada, Pinar de Campoverde and 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, in high season or in winter, there is always a professional ready to act quickly on openings of homes, apartments, storerooms, lock changes and armoured doors.

Festivals and traditions

Pilar de la Horadada lives its festive calendar intensely. Among its most notable celebrations are:

• The patron saint festivals in honour of the Virgen del Pilar, the great event of the municipality, with the traditional multicoloured offerings on the 11th of October and the solemn procession on 12 October.
• The Moors and Christians celebrations, deeply rooted.
• Holy Week and the summer festivals in the coastal area.

Tourism: what to visit

Pilar de la Horadada offers tourism that combines beach, nature and heritage:

• The beaches and coves of Torre de la Horadada and Mil Palmeras, of fine sand and clean waters, with a blue flag.
• The Torre de la Horadada watchtower, from the 16th century, which gives the locality its name and watched over the coast against pirate attacks.
• The Roman remains of the Thiar site and other archaeological remains.
• The natural setting of Pinar de Campoverde and the agricultural landscapes of the interior, ideal for walks and cycle tourism.

Gastronomy

The cuisine of Pilar de la Horadada combines the produce of the sea with the market-garden tradition of the Vega Baja. Among its typical dishes and products, the following stand out:

• The rice dishes and the fresh fish, undisputed protagonists of the table.
• Arroz con costra and the traditional stews of the district.
• The vegetables and citrus fruit of its strong market garden.
• Seasonal artisan pastries.

Other points of interest

Pilar de la Horadada is a young municipality: for centuries it formed part of Orihuela and did not achieve municipal independence until 1986. However, its history is thousand-year-old, with a Roman presence —the settlement of Thiar was a staging post on the Via Augusta— and a 16th-century defensive tower that gives the village its name (the «Horadada»). Located between the sea, the market garden and the border with Murcia, and with a much-appreciated coastline, Pilar de la Horadada brings together the charm of a municipality with history and all the comforts of the Costa Blanca. A place where having trustworthy 24-hour locksmiths brings the peace of mind that residents, tourists and second-home owners deserve all year round.