The Hermitage of Santa Barbara is located in a small town in the south east of Spain called Monovar. The name Monovar is supposedly from the Arab word "manowar" which means beacon and probably refers to the Arabic castle which is located on one of the hills. The Hermitage of Santa Barbara was built in the 18th century by Tomas Estacios, and from the vantage point on which he built, you can see across the whole valley and indeed the town of Monovar. The Hermitage was originally constructed on the site of another building which had to be demolished. This building was originally built at the beginning of the 17th century.
Monovar is positioned between two hills and on the opposite hill to the Hermitage of Santa Barbara is an old Arabic castle which dates back to the 12th century. The Moors invaded this land a few centuries before and brought with them some knowledge about agriculture and irrigation. The 12th century castle is in ruins and there is really only part of one of the tower which is still standing. Over many years, archaeologists have excavated the area in an attempt to discover important clues as to the past of Monovar and the surrounding region. On the hill, they have discovered pieces of pottery that are from the Bronze Age period. Findings like this are a relatively frequent occurrence in this region because it is believed that people lived and travelled through here and going as far back as the Neolithic period.
Monovar is a great place to stay if you are looking for a relaxing vacation. There are many different areas to visit in the Costa Blanca; some of these places such as Benidorm are focused towards the party crowd during the summer months and many expatriate retirees from northern European countries during the mild winter months. But, a small town like Monovar is attracting a different type of tourist of together with the promise of a vacation full of relaxation. There are plenty of bars and restaurants in this town where you will be dutifully served with the freshest ingredients that you can find, and wine that is made locally from the local grapes.
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