Elda competes for the title of footwear capital of Spain 

To define any town in just one word is to do it a great disservice, but in the case of Elda, the capital of the Medio Vinalopó area of the province of Alicante, the municipality is inevitably associated in the minds of most Spaniards, particularly women, with just one thing: SHOES.

Elda is the capital of the important footwear industry of the province of Alicante (although Elche also lays claim to this unofficial title), carrying on a tradition which has its roots far back in the past when local craftsmen and women made rudimentary “esparteña” sandals and shoes from the abundant esparto grass which can be found in the mountains around the town on the banks of the River Vinalopó. Over the course of the centuries the craftsmen of Elda were willing to adapt their skills to work with leather rather than esparto grass, and when industrial production techniques replaced those of cottage industry the town became a pioneer in using mechanized production.

This occurred largely during the first half of the 20th century, when the population rose abruptly from 6,000 to 20,000 despite the interruption of the Civil War.

Large shoe factories emerged as a result, specializing mainly in footwear for women, and in 1960 Elda’s unofficial reputation as the shoe capital of Spain was cemented when it held the country’s first International Footwear Fair, an event which took place in the town every year until 1991. That event is no longer a part of the calendar in Elda, but the town is still home to a footwear museum, which traces the development of shoemaking technology over the centuries, and of course numerous wholesale outlets competing for the custom of the thousands of visitors who converge on the Medio Vinalopó in search of top-quality shoes at affordable prices.

The close ties between the world of footwear and Elda are also reflected by the presence of various monuments and statues in the town, including those dedicated to the Zapatero de Silla, the Aparadora and the Familia Zapatera.

There is, of course, far more to Elda, as is bound to be the case in a town of 53,000 people. The location has attracted human settlers for thousands of years, with the first Iberian settlement in the fertile valley known to date from around 2,500 years ago. Since then the area has been occupied by Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths and Moors, before finally being re-conquered by Christian forces in the 13th century, and nowadays both Elda and Petrer have grown to such an extent that there is no natural boundary between them and the combined population is close to 90,000.

For centuries the main occupation of those who lived in Elda and Petrer was agriculture, with the main crops including cereals, fruit, vegetable, olives and grapes for wine production, but the leaning towards industry was apparent from an early stage due to the dominance of esparto grass products. Such was the abundance of the grass in this area that it was even sold as a raw material to artisans in other towns.

The need for water led to the construction of one of the first dams and reservoirs in modern Europe in 1698 – the structure can still be visited, although it is now disused, and the area around the old reservoir is now home to an unusually large grove of African Tamarisk (or salt cedar) trees. Another haven for lovers of nature is the “Jardines del Vinalopó”, a park which runs alongside the river as it winds its way through the town.

Visitors will also be drawn to the remains of the 12th and 13th century castle, although these are mostly ruinous as much of the stonework was re-used to build a bridge over the river in the 19th century, the archaeological museum, the Iglesia de Santa Ana and the Plaza Mayor, which is modeled on those of Madrid and Salamance but in a more modern style. In addition, special events during the year include the Moros y Cristianos celebrations in late May or early June and the Fiestas Mayores, which are held in honour of the Virgen de la Salud and the Cristo del Buen Suceso every September 7, 8 and 9. These feature music and much revelry as well as the religious services and processions, and are a reminder that even in a traditionally industrious town such as Elda there is always time to let your hair down!

There is no doubt about it, Elda is a lively and busy town, with a fascinating history and in an attractive location. However, for most visitors the fact remains that no trip to the capital of the Medio Vinalopó would be complete without visiting at least one shoe manufacturer!

ELDA