Catral Spain

Catral is a small town located in the Vega Baja district in the province of Alicante.

It is easily reached from the AP7 and is ideally situated being only 20 minutes south of Alicante airport and 30 minutes north of Murcia (San Javier) airport.

The nearest beach to Catral is located in Guardamar Del Segura approx 14km away.

The history of Catral can be traced back to the Arab occupation 8th-13th centuries.

Several theories exist for how Catral got its name, some say it is derived from the Moorish Al-Quatrullat, others that it comes from the Latin for fortified villa Castrum Altum.

In 1255 the Moors were defeated by Alphonso of Castille and then in 1296 control of Catral passed to the kingdom of Aragon

In 1829 an earthquake shook the region but Catral was lucky to escape the devastation that some of its neighbouring villages suffered.

Although a small town Catral is packed with many bars and shops both typically Spanish and English.  In the towns square you can visit the beautiful church of San Juans which over the centuries has undergone a series of alterations and contains a beautifully ornate alter.