To talk of Tosca stone is to talk of Javea. Everywhere
the old quarter oozes that ancient flavour, rustic and monumental
at the same time, given to it by the working of the golden
sand stone, forged by the sea which bathes its coasts, Muntayar,
natural, rugged, so many times recreated in the lines of
the poet or the brush strokes of the artist. The heart of
still retains its defensive power with machicolations over
beautiful porches, arrow holes, and openings for mortars.
It is usual setting for classical concerts with the special
acoustics lent to it by its Elizabethan Gothic style vaults.
At the side of the church is the market, a beautiful Neo-Gothic
building which is constructed on the site of the old Augustine
convent and the Town Hall - a plain building constructed
on a necropolis, thrown into relief by the semicircular
arches which also decorate its rear façade.
Together they form the historical artistic centre of the
old town where also preserved on one of the buildings opposite
the church porch, is the balcony from which Saint Vicente
Ferrer preached, as one can see from the beautiful tiled
mosaic situated on the wall.
The golden colour of Tosca stone also dominates the architecture
of the surrounding winding streets within the old town walls,
made up of narrow passages and whitewashed facades, with
front porches and awning supports.
The Gothic doorways of the Carrer Major and Sor María
Gallart stand out particularly. Only a few metres from the
Town Hall can be found the Palau d´Antoni Banyuls,
home of the Soler Blasco archaeological and ethnographical
museum. In this Renaissance style building the gallery displays
a clear Castillian influence.
Around the old town a new modernist style of architecture
can be seen, a consequence of the economic growth resulting
from the production and export of raisins to American and
north European markets. Of note are the houses of Senyoreta
Josefina Bolufer and the Primicies.
