PROPERTY SEARCH

Date Published: 29/11/2022

ARCHIVED - Public vote settles name for new beach in Altea, Alicante

ARCHIVED ARTICLE -

Lovers of the stretch of coastline in the Marina Baixa town were asked to choose between the names El Bol and El Sardinal

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Public vote settles name for new beach in Altea, Alicante

In addition to its charm, quaint shops and terrace-restaurants, Altea is home to 6km of beautiful coastline, a stretch of which has recently been reconstructed for public use.

And as such, the public was invited to select the perfect name for the new beach with votes cast online through Altea Town Hall's Citizen Participation website.

The options were El Sardinal and El Bol, and residents opted overwhelmingly for the latter. Some 2,185 people registered their vote between November 21 and 24, with 1,304 favouring El Bol.

The term El Bol has been used since the 18th century to refer to this coastal area after a Franciscan monastery was built in 1728 in the Bol district. It also refers to a beach or coastal area where fishing nets are spread out and is found in other seaside areas with a seafaring tradition, although the term itself is rarely used nowadays.

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The toponym El Sardinal also dates back to the 18th century and refers to a type of fishing with special nets to catch sardines. It's a very old fishing art and was the most widely used before the appearance of motor boats. Sardine fishing was historically the main activity in the villages of the La Marina region, and in Altea it was present until the 1970s.

This is the second time the public has played part in a "municipal decision" over the name of a beach in Altea.

"We are so grateful for the involvement of the public in this process that has served to revive a traditional and historical place name that had fallen into disuse and to encourage citizen participation. The Council will continue to be committed to promoting public participation in municipal decisions," said Councillor for Citizen Participation, María Antonia Laviós.

Six years ago, residents were involved in the naming of another sandy area, now affectionately known as L'Espigó, inaugurated in mid-September 2016.

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Image: Ayuntamiento de Altea

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