The stones here speak, because they are a part
of our past and a part of our present.
Benissa
For many years, due to the fact that there was a lack of permanent water resources, the residents of Benissa built cisterns in their homes and workshops where they collected rainwater which they could then consume throughout the rest of the year. The water from the cisterns was mainly used for drinking and for personal hygiene. For laundry, a series of public washing places were built near natural springs, namely El Pou d'Avall, Santa Anna, Nussols and Orxelles.
1. The Orxelles washing place
A washing place with two troughs and a capacity for 38 people washing at the same time. It is still in use, but above all for agricultural purposes. It is located along the road known as Camí d'Orxelles and is the largest of Benissa’s washing places. It also has a fountain and a drinking trough for animals.
2. The Nussols washing place
A washing place with a capacity for 30 people washing, next to which there are two wells and a cistern. It is located at a distance of about 500 metres from the Orxelles washing place. It has a gable roof, rehabilitated in recent years, and a well.
3. The Santa Anna washing place
A washing place with two troughs and 24 zones for washing, next to which there is a completely dry cistern. It is located along the road known as Camí de Santa Anna, about a hundred metres from the hermitage.
4. The Pou d’Avall washing place
Located on the way to the hermitage known as Ermita de Santa Anna, it has a trough divided into two zones, one for soaping up the laundry and the other for rinsing, and in total it has about 22 zones for washing.
With the funding of:
MACMA. Seu Mancomunitat Comarcal de la Marina Alta
C/ Blasco Ibáñez, 50 baix - 03760 - Ondara
Tel. 965757237 - Email: macma@macma.org
Cultura i Patrimoni:
659 219 476 - macma@macma.org
Joventut. Xarxa Jove Marina Alta:
680 516 149 - xarxajove@macma.org
Esports. Xarxa Esportiva Marina Alta:
635 636 023 - xarxaesportiva@macma.org
Servei Mancomunat d’Arxius:
620 85 22 83 - arxius@macma.org
Secretaria:
96 575 72 37 - secretaria@macma.org