Penyal d'Ifac

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View from the beach
View from the mountains behind the city
View from the Toix

The Penyal d'Ifac (Spanish Peñón de Ifach ) is a rock on the Spanish Mediterranean coast near the city of Calp , north of Alicante .

geography

The Penyal d'Ifac rises 332 meters from the sea, is about one kilometer long and covers about 47 hectares. It is connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus .

Although the rock looks like a lava dome and a history of volcanic origin is occasionally assumed, the Penyal d'Ifac consists of calcareous rock and has nothing to do with volcanism . Rather, it is assumed that it is a remnant of a landslide in the Sierra de Oltà. In a larger geological context, the Penyal d'Ifac is part of the Betic Cordillera and is therefore directly connected to the Balearic Islands .

history

As a highly visible landmark of Ifach served as a landmark for travelers on both water and land since time immemorial. It can be assumed that the rock has not only been used as a landmark but also as a lookout throughout history. The Iberians , the Phoenicians , the Romans , the Byzantines and other peoples settled at the foot of the rock and were thus able to recognize any danger they might face from hostile seafarers (e.g. pirates) at an early stage.

The Penyal d'Ifac has also been a tourist attraction since modern times. In the past, the last section to the top could only be climbed over bare rock faces. At the beginning of the 20th century, a 30-meter-long tunnel was built through which one can get from the north side to the northeast flank of the Penyal and from there via paths to the summit.

owner

Over the years, the owners of the Penyal d'Ifac changed. In the 19th century it belonged first to the municipality of Calp, then to a resident of Valencia and finally to a Mr. Gregorio González Ausina from Altea. In 1915 the rock was bought by Vicente París Morla from Gandia for 5000 reales . This owner also built a house ( París ) and a manor house on the slopes, and at a height of about 180 meters he dug the tunnel that led through to the south-west. In 1951, José Más Capó bought it from París' heirs and was the last owner until 1987 before the rock became the property of the Valencian Community, which then declared it a nature reserve. Since then, what was once the París house has been converted into a natural space, and laboratories and exhibition rooms have been set up in the former manor house.

Web links

Commons : Penyal d'Ifac  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ http://www.calpe.es/turismo/web/penyon-ifach/penyon-ifach.php?id_idioma=5
  2. ↑ z. E.g .: Archived copy ( memento of the original dated August 6, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.spanienforum.de
  3. ↑ http://www.calpe.es/turismo/web/penyon-ifach/penyon-ifach.php?id_idioma=5
  4. ↑ http://www.calpe.es/turismo/web/penyon-ifach/penyon-ifach.php?id_seccion_padre=20&id_seccion=37

Coordinates: 38 ° 38 ′ 5 ″  N , 0 ° 4 ′ 28 ″  E