The Mediterranean Wall

The Mediterranean Wall was a series of coastal defences built by the Republican militia to defend an area tretching from Cadiz to Genoa from sea borne attack. The area around Santa Pola is dotted with these defences, some reasonably well preserved and others slowly crumbling away as the two pictures above from Tamarat Beach near the salt processing facilities just south of Santa Pola show. This area was of strategic importance lying around 100km north of the Republican naval base of Cartagena. It was thought that Franco and his allies would be unlikely to mount an invasion from the sea at Cartagena itself but may look to invade the coast further north to establish a bridge head before pushing south and possibly north into the Republican strong hold of Alicante as well. That invasion never came as the fascists concentrated on land offensives which eventually saw them break through the lines, ultimately surrounding Alicante which was the last city to fall to Franco's forces. You can find a series of pill boxes on the nature reserve area as you head south along the coast out of Santa Pola. Be warned, not only is it a favourite spot with bird watchers but with nudists as well.