Door opening in San Fulgencio

San Fulgencio: one of the most international municipalities in Spain

San Fulgencio (in Valencian Sant Fulgenci) is a municipality in the province of Alicante, located in the south of the Comunidad Valenciana, in the Vega Baja del Segura district. Located near the Segura river and a few kilometres from the sea —although without a coastline of its own—, it is famous for its extraordinary international character, with one of the highest proportions of foreign residents in the whole country. 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), San Fulgencio has a population of around 9,400 inhabitants. The municipal area has an approximate surface of 20 km², which gives a population density of around 455 inhabitants per km². It lies about 16 km from Elche, 22 km from Orihuela and 26 km from Alicante-Elche airport. The municipality is organised around two cores: the traditional village and the large coastal urbanisation of La Marina (Urbanización La Marina-El Oasis), where most of the population is concentrated.

Demographics and nationalities

The great hallmark of San Fulgencio is its international character: around two thirds of its inhabitants are of foreign nationality, one of the highest percentages in the whole of Spain and of the European Union. The split by sex is very balanced, with an approximate percentage of 50% men and 50% women. Among the most present nationalities, the following stand out:

• Britons, by far the largest group.
• Germans and other residents from northern Europe.
• A large and diverse group of other European nationalities on the rise.

This plurality means that English is one of the most spoken languages of the municipality, especially in the La Marina area.

Economy

The economy of San Fulgencio rests on several pillars:

• Residential tourism: the municipality's great driving force, boosted by the La Marina urbanisation.
• Irrigated agriculture: the market garden of the Vega Baja, with vegetables and citrus fruit, keeps its traditional weight.
• Retail, hospitality and services, a good part of them geared towards the large international community.

Emergency and home security services

With nearly 9,400 inhabitants and a very high proportion of foreign residents' homes and second homes in La Marina, San Fulgencio is one of the enclaves where reliable locksmith services are most needed in the district. It is very common for owners who spend periods away to return and find the door jammed, or for incidents to arise with keys inside the house after arriving on holiday.

Our emergency door opening service provides coverage to San Fulgencio, the La Marina urbanisation 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, a service greatly valued by the large community of international residents.

Festivals and traditions

San Fulgencio combines Spanish traditions with celebrations typical of its international community:

• The patron saint festivals in honour of San Fulgencio, the patron that gives the municipality its name, with religious events, open-air dances and popular activities.
• The celebrations of the Virgen del Rosario and Holy Week.
• Multicultural festivals and events in the La Marina area, keenly experienced by the foreign community.

Tourism: what to visit

San Fulgencio offers quiet tourism, between the market garden and the nearby coast:

• The traditional town centre, with its church and its Mediterranean village atmosphere.
• The La Marina urbanisation, with its wide offer of services, shops and international leisure.
• Its closeness to the beaches of La Marina (Elche) and Guardamar del Segura, a few minutes away by car.
• The setting of the Natural Park of the Santa Pola Salt Flats and the market-garden landscapes, ideal for walks and cycle tourism.

Gastronomy

The cuisine of San Fulgencio is as varied as its population. Here coexist:

• The traditional cuisine of the Vega Baja, with arroz con costra and the stews of the market garden.
• The Mediterranean rice dishes and fish.
• The vegetables and citrus fruit of the local market garden.
• A notable presence of international cuisine, a reflection of the diversity of its residents.

Other points of interest

San Fulgencio owes its name and its origin to the Pías Fundaciones of Cardinal Belluga, the great drainage and colonisation works of the old marshy lands of the lower Segura promoted in the 18th century, which gave rise to several «Pueblos Nuevos» of the district. Its singular demographic composition —with a majority of foreign population— has made it a case study and an example of multicultural coexistence on the Costa Blanca. Located between the market garden and the sea, San Fulgencio 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.