Pozos de Garrigós (Garrigós Wells)

The Pozos de Garrigós are accessed via the Museo de Aguas de Alicante. This interactive display tells the story of the evolution of Alicante’s water supply system. While the displays and information boards are very useful and a joy to read (however, they are available only in Spanish and Valencian), the stars of the show are the three Garrigos Wells.  

These massive stone structures are not actually wells, but water storage cisterns cut into the solid rock of the mountain. Atop the mountain sits the Castle of Santa Barbara. These cisterns could hold 141,000, 275, 000 and 425,000 liters respectively. One of which is believed to have been constructed during the period of Moorish rule, while the others may have been created around the 16th century.

The massive cisterns were filled with rainwater falling in the city and were used to supplement the water supply during times of drought. 

They were used until 1889, when water began to be pumped from the town of Sax, high up in the nearby mountains. The cisterns are located in the old part of the city.