The mayor of Orihuela, Pepe Vegara, along with the councilor for festivities, Rocío Ortuño, and Consell delegate Agustina Esteve, inaugurated the 25th edition of the Orihuela Medieval Market this morning. The event kicks off three days full of performances, surprises and medieval animation in the streets of the historic city center. The opening ceremony was also attended by City Councilors and the president of the Moorish and Christian Association, Enrique Riquelme, Armengola, Loli Sánchez, and Moorish and Christian ambassadors, Francisco Javier López and Vicente Calderón.
New this year, the inauguration took the form of a march from Plaza de Santiago to Rincón Hernandiano, where a staged knight's tournament took place. During this spectacle, the councilwoman for ceremonies officially opened the Orihuela Medieval Market, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. From the early hours of the morning, hundreds of students from various schools in Orihuela had the opportunity to be the first to walk through the entire market.
Pepe Vegara stressed that “we are dealing with a unique edition in which we expect a large number of visitors. Orihuela presents itself as never before, and the medieval atmosphere takes us back to a time when the city was a commercial and social center, set in the spectacular setting of our historic center and its impressive heritage.”
The councilwoman for the celebration encouraged “all Orihuela residents and visitors to surrender to the magic of this 25th anniversary, discover all the novelties and performances we have prepared, and enjoy three intense days in which Orihuela has much to offer.”
Medieval Market 2025
One of the biggest new additions is the Witches' Village in Plaza de Santiago, as well as “completely revamped animation, music and performances to make the experience of walking through our streets more immersive than ever,” according to the councilwoman for the celebration.
Medieval Market Zone
The layout of the market is divided into three zones: Jewish, Christian and Arab. The first zone includes Plaza de Santiago, Plaza del Carmen, Marqués de Arneva, Plaza Antonio Balaguer, Santa Justa, Plaza Condesa de Villa Manuel, José María Sarget, López Pozas and Colón. The second zone extends from Calle Mayor through Dr. José María Sarget, Plaza del Salvador, Plaza de la Anunciación, Plaza de la Soledad, Plaza Teniente Linares, Pasaje Emilio Bregante, Plaza Ramón Sijé, Calle Soleres, Pasaje Semana Santa, Plaza Santa Lucía, Santa Lucía and Dr. Don Jaime Sánchez. The third zone includes Santa Lucía Street, Adolfo Clavarana, Explanada de Santo Domingo and Rincón Hernandiano.
For three days, attendees will be able to enjoy traditional artisanal and gastronomic booths and medieval inns. The Santas Justa y Rufina Association of Moors and Christians will also participate in the event, and individual companies will have their own inns. As it does every year, the fair will also offer an inn adapted for people with celiac disease, which will be organized by the Association of Celiacs of the Valencian Community (ACECOVA) in Plaza de la Soledad.
Parking
The councilwoman also recalled that several buffer parking lots have been prepared to facilitate the parking of vehicles. The parking lots are located in Los Huertos, behind the Álvarez de la Riva Health Center, on the road to Hurchillo and on the road to Beniel.
