Pego: Nature, History and Culture

Pego offers several highlights to consider when planning your trip: the Marjal Pego-Oliva natural area, historic landmarks, and museums devoted to art, rice and traditional crafts. This helps you decide what to focus on, whether you are especially interested in the landscape, history or culture.

Natural Area and Views

The protected Marjal Pego-Oliva natural area lies between the provinces of Alicante and Valencia. Its western half belongs to Pego in Alicante, and its eastern half to Oliva in Valencia. The area includes dunes, malladas (seasonal wetlands), rivers and agricultural land. The Marjal de Pego-Oliva Natural Park is a wetland and dune system whose ecosystem is sustained by the Bullent-Vedat and Racons-Molinell rivers and the Mostalla and Segària aquifers.

The Muntanyeta Verda offers a different perspective on the landscape: its panoramic views stretch across rice fields to the Sierra de Segaria and Montgó. Alongside the features of the wetland landscape, visitors can enjoy specific views of fields and the two named mountain ranges.

Traces of Different Eras

The remains of Ambra Castle stand on a rocky ridge 264 metres above sea level. Archaeological investigations date its construction to the beginning of the 13th century. In Pego, the Church of the Assumption dates from the late 16th century, while its bell tower was built in a later phase: it was added in the early 18th century. The Ecce Homo Chapel dates back to 1759 and stands on the site of the former Hospital de Pobres.

The Portal de Sala also tells the story of Pego’s medieval past: it is the only one of the town’s three medieval gates to have survived. In December 2024, Pego’s urban cultural heritage route received a total of 13 multilingual information panels. Written in Valencian, Spanish, English, French and German, they guide visitors to up to 13 historic sites in the town centre.

Museums: Art, Rice and Crafts

Pego’s Museum of Contemporary Art opened in 1991 with works that had received awards in the “Vila de Pego” painting competition. It also houses donations from “Los Amigos del Museo de Pego”, prominent artists and art galleries. The Ethnological Museum focuses on different subjects: primarily rice cultivation and marketing, as well as traditional crafts and orange growing.

The Ethnological Museum uses donated tools and historical photographs to illustrate rice cultivation and milling. Together with its coverage of marketing, crafts and orange growing, this offers a different perspective on Pego’s local culture from that of the art museum. When deciding what interests to explore during your stay, you can choose between fine art and subjects related to agriculture and crafts.

Moros i Cristians in June

The Moros i Cristians festival takes place every year in late June. The programme includes Moorish and Christian comparsas (festival groups) and an Embajada (mock embassy): it depicts the Christian king’s entry into the Moorish castle. If you plan to time your trip around the festival, confirm the exact dates of the celebrations before your visit.

Getting Here from the North

To reach Pego from the north, take the Oliva–Pego exit on the A-7 motorway. After the toll, head south on the N-332 to the far end of Oliva. There, turn right onto regional road 3318 to Pego. Check current traffic conditions before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Tibi, Beneixama, La Encina, Barbarroja, Lorcha, Aspe, Forna, Sella.

For the broader travel overview: Alicante.