La Nucía Celebrates 321 Years of History with Medieval Market, AI Heritage Project and Three-Day Festival

La Nucía / 8 July 2026

La Nucía is preparing for one of the biggest weekends in its cultural calendar as the Costa Blanca town marks the 321st anniversary of its independence with a packed programme of historical celebrations, cutting-edge technology and its much-loved 20th Medieval Market.

Running from 10 to 12 July, the medieval festival will transform the historic centre into a bustling marketplace filled with artisans, musicians, knights, dancers and street performers, while separate anniversary celebrations on 9 July will showcase an ambitious Artificial Intelligence project designed to preserve centuries of local history.

The events underline La Nucía's growing reputation as one of the Costa Blanca's leading destinations for cultural tourism, combining heritage, innovation and family entertainment.

A town celebrating more than three centuries of history

La Nucía officially became an independent municipality on 9 July 1705, separating from the Barony of Polop. Each year the town commemorates the occasion, but organisers say this year's programme is among the most ambitious yet.

The anniversary celebrations begin at the Auditori de La Nucía, where residents and visitors will be invited to explore the municipality's historical archives while discovering how modern technology is helping preserve the past for future generations.

Artificial Intelligence meets local heritage

One of the headline attractions is the launch of a pioneering project using Artificial Intelligence to transcribe, digitise and preserve historical municipal documents.

The initiative will make centuries-old archive material easier to access for researchers, historians, schools and the wider public, while helping protect fragile historical records from deterioration.

Experts believe AI-assisted transcription could dramatically speed up the preservation of handwritten historical documents that would otherwise take years to catalogue manually.

The anniversary programme also includes the official opening of the exhibition "El Passat és Present" ("The Past is Present"), featuring photographs, original documents and exhibits tracing La Nucía's development from the early 18th century to the present day.

20th Medieval Market returns

Following the anniversary celebrations, attention turns to the 20th Medieval Market, which opens on Friday 10 July and runs until Sunday 12 July.

Each evening from 6pm until midnight, the streets between Plaça Major and Plaça Sant Antoni will be transformed into a medieval village.

Visitors can expect:

• More than 40 authentic artisan stalls
• Traditional crafts including ceramics, wood carving, jewellery, leatherwork and handmade soaps
• Medieval music and dancing
• Knights, jesters, stilt walkers and roaming entertainers
• Children's workshops and games
• Medieval combat demonstrations
• Living history encampments
• Nightly fire shows in the town square

Unlike many commercial markets, the event is organised by AMATA (Association for the Improvement of Traditional and Contemporary Crafts), ensuring every stall features genuine handcrafted products rather than mass-produced goods.

Food, family fun and medieval atmosphere

A large gastronomic area will showcase regional produce and international flavours, including:

• Artisan cheeses and cured meats
• Traditional sweets and preserves
• Mediterranean specialities
• A medieval tavern
• Fresh octopus dishes
• Arabic cuisine served in a Bedouin-style tent

Families can also enjoy a traditional wooden carousel, medieval board games and interactive workshops designed for younger visitors.

Easy access for visitors

The Town Hall has confirmed that admission is free throughout the weekend.

To help accommodate large visitor numbers, free parking will be available at both the Les Nits car park (approximately 400 spaces) and the nearby Planet parking area, both within a short walk of the market.

Boosting cultural tourism

The Medieval Market has become one of La Nucía's most popular annual attractions, drawing thousands of visitors from across the Costa Blanca every summer.

Supported by the Costa Blanca Tourist Board and Alicante Provincial Council, the event also provides an important economic boost for local businesses, restaurants and accommodation providers during the busy holiday season.

By combining historical celebrations with modern technology and family entertainment, La Nucía continues to strengthen its reputation as a destination that celebrates both its rich heritage and its forward-looking approach to culture and tourism.