"COVA DE LES MORRETES" TURNING A CAVE INTO A MUSEUM

© Benitatxell Town Hall

Now it's official. Following the recent installation of interpretive panels, Cova de les Morretes can now be considered a museum overlooking the sea that recounts the history of the caves on the cliffs of El Poble Nou de Benitatxell, which were once a refuge for smugglers, fishermen and farmers.

The museum project concludes with the installation of interpretive panels that highlight historical activities linked to both the cave and the “Pesqueres de Cingle”. 

The project to turn this cave into a museum, which has involved several phases of restoration and enhancement, began in late 2022. During the initial restoration work in 2023, a 19th-century hoard of 67 Spanish coins dating from between 1869 and 1879 was discovered, probably the result of smuggling. Later, in 2024, a large outdoor oven was restored, which may have been used communally by the other caves.

This latest panelling project, financed with 18.000€ from the Destination Tourism Sustainability Plan (PRTR Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan financed by the European Union), this museum overlooking the Mediterranean has been given a solid foundation, emphasising the historical activities linked to the interior of the cave, the stable and the oven, as well as the traditional fishing activity carried out in the “Pesqueres de Cingle”.

One of the most costly aspects of the project has been the production of graphic material, which has been handled by Producciones Cronos – ZOE, led by Pablo Doménech. The decision was made to create original, realistic illustrations based on all the information gathered, with the aim of making the content easily understandable for all types of audiences. In terms of accessibility, the panels can be read in Spanish and Valencian, and content in English is available via a digital application. In addition, an inclusive panel has been incorporated that describes the cave and its activities using easy language, pictograms, Braille and a relief map.

 

The texts and explanations have been compiled from various sources, including specialist publications on the fishing grounds of Benitatxell and Xàbia, such as “Nits de Tinta” and “Les pesqueres de cingle a la Marina Alta”, audiovisual documentaries, and information provided by local residents and municipal staff.

The interpretive panel project at Cova de les Morretes is a fundamental step in the dissemination, conservation and enhancement of this heritage site, combining historical rigour, technical quality and universal accessibility,’ said Councillor for Heritage Víctor Bisquert, who announced that work is already underway to organise guided tours in the future to raise awareness of its valuable history.

A haven for smugglers, fishermen and farmers

The rocky shelter that forms this cave, located on the well-known Benitatxell Cliff Route and enclosed by masonry walls, served as a refuge from the rain, sun and night for fishermen, farmers and smugglers who, in centuries past, waited in hiding for the arrival of ships carrying goods.

The cave has enough space to spend the night, store goods, tools, equipment and food. On the wall, there is a small cupboard with wooden shelves made of carob wood and two windows, one to monitor the stable and the other to monitor the coast.

Smuggling was a clandestine activity, deeply rooted, fuelled by the scarcity and economic hardship of the time, high taxes, rural poverty and strict state control over key products. The most common contraband was tobacco, alcohol, coffee, sugar and fabrics.

Smugglers used to work at night, taking advantage of their knowledge of the coastline, with its many hidden coves, such as Llebeig, where they unloaded their goods, which were then collected by mules. They enjoyed the complicity of the local population, including fishermen, farmers and, on occasions, bribed authorities, as smuggling was not seen as an illegal practice, but rather as a means of subsistence.

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