La Séquia Mare, a hydraulic infrastructure essential for the development of Benidorm

The municipal building of El Torrejó has been the stage where, today at noon, the book 'Séquia Mare. Riego Mayor de Alfaz del Pi and Benidorm (1666-2016) ', a work of Antonio Gil Olcina, former director of the University of Alicante (AU) and the professor of the same, Antonio Manuel Rico Amorós.

With the room full and a lot of public standing, the authors have detailed the development of the project started in 1666 by Beatriz Fajardo and Mendoza and how this infrastructure became over time the backbone of the region making possible its advance. In the first place facilitating the creation of cultivation areas and, finally, being a key and essential piece for the development of Benidorm as the capital of tourism of the Costa Blanca as we know it today.

In addition to the authors, the Mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez, the publications director of the Alicantino Institute of Culture Juan Gil Albert, Joan Borja; and the provincial deputy of the Water Cycle, Francisco M. Sáez. Among the public the provincial deputy Fernando Sepulcre, the councilman of the Water Cycle, José Ramón Gonzalez de Zárate, representatives of different groups of the corporation and councilors of the neighboring towns of Polop, La Nucia and L'Alfàs del Pi.

In his speech, Toni Pérez highlighted the "fundamental" role of Séquia Mare for the renaissance of Benidorm and emphasized the need to "value our historical and cultural heritage". The mayor recalled that the idea of ​​recognizing the importance of this water infrastructure, currently in disuse in the municipality, comes from the hand of the Taula del Bon Profit and soon was taken over by the City.

Toni Pérez has referred to the restitution and enhancement of the only section of the ditch on public land, flanked by a mural also made by the Taula del Bon Profit that will be "portico and entrance of which is called to be one of the great parks of the city ", the Parc de la Séquia Mare in some works that, in the first of its phases already completed, has had a very important funding from the Diputación de Alicante. "A reality - Pérez has emphasized - that in a short time will be open to the public and where nature and especially water, and its importance for this great city and our territory, will share the protagonism, putting in value the own Séquia Mare and its relevant social role and economic for more than 300 years. "