Yecla to transform Las Celadillas into eco-tourism hub
A restoration project will turn the area into a space for nature, leisure and environmental education
Yecla is preparing to unveil a new green space, aimed at boosting tourism, sustainability and environmental education. The "Las Celadillas" area, which lies next to the local wastewater treatment plant, will soon be transformed into a vibrant area for nature lovers and families to enjoy.
On Tuesday May 6, the mayor of Yecla, Remedios Lajara, announced the landscape restoration project, which will cover 27,000 square metres. This area, which already plays a key role in storing treated and recycled water, responsible for almost 100% of the town’s water supply, will be reimagined to offer much more than just its environmental function.
“This will be a new space for tourism, recreation, but above all, for outreach and respect for the environment,” said Mayor Lajara. “It will join other natural areas like the Chicharra Greenway, close by. Yecla is also nature, regeneration and the future.”
Part of the Yecla Es+ Tourism Sustainability Plan, this project is focused on restoring wetlands, reintroducing habitats and creating a public space for visitors. The initiative has received investment of €155,955.60, with €128,888.88 of the funding coming from the EU’s Next Generation programme.
Plans for the restoration include rewilding the area with nearly 1,000 new plants, from trees like Aleppo pine, olive and mulberry to shrubs such as lavender, rosemary and esparto grass. The aim is to foster local biodiversity while creating a space that the public can explore and enjoy.
In addition, the area will offer a range of recreational and educational facilities. These include picnic areas, play zones for children and open-air classrooms. Information signs will be placed throughout the site, explaining the importance of water reuse and the local ecosystem.
One of the main attractions will be a birdwatching hut, allowing visitors to spot local species like grebes, moorhens and stilts, as well as migratory birds like egrets and sandpipers. A viewpoint will provide stunning views over the restored wetlands, and a new parking area will be designed to accommodate pedestrians, cyclists and cars.Once completed, the Las Celadillas project is set to become a popular spot for locals and visitors alike, offering a peaceful environment for relaxation and learning.
Image: Ayuntamiento de Yecla
Address
Plaza Mayor, Casa de los Arcos, s/n 30510 YECLATel: 968 754 104
Oficina de Turismo de Yecla
In early 2025, due to renovation work at the usual office, the service is located on the other side of the Plaza Mayor at Calle Epifanio Ibáñez nº 2 (click for map).
Yecla is a large municipality in the north of the Region of Murcia, home to just under 35,000 people, and these days is best known for its wines, which enjoy Denomination of Origin status, and its furniture production, which has its origins in the abundance of pine trees on the mountainsides and the high plateaux.
While visitors in the 21st century may be attracted primarily by wine tourism, the town (or city, as it was proclaimed in 1878) also has a wide historical, cultural and natural heritage, and an identity quite different from the coastal areas of the Region of Murcia. For this reason it is often grouped together with its neighbour and fellow wine-producing area Jumilla as part of the Altiplano area.
Yecla borders with Castilla-La Mancha and the Region of Valencia and is closer to Alicante coastal areas than much of Murcia. These visitors come to see the historic old town itself - an atmospheric and interesting place, crammed full of history - the natural beauty of Monte Arabí, with stunning views for those who enjoy the outdoors, the gastonomy and of course the wine route.
Yecla boasts cave paintings from 10,000 years ago in Monte Arabí, a Bronze Age settlement at El Arabilejo, Iberian remains in El Pulpillo and a Roman administrative centre at Los Torrejones as well as the remnants of the 11th century Moorish castle on the hill behind the town. More modern (and complete) testimony to the past are the buildings in the town centre, which include the grandiose Basílica de la Purísima, with its striking blue dome, the archaeological museum and the attractive Plaza Mayor, where the 16th century Town Hall stands alongside the Renaissance Casa de los Alarcos, the clock tower and the old grain store.
The tourist office holds a full selection of leaflets, maps, pre-planned routes, accommodation and restaurant options and information about visiting Yecla for both individuals and groups.
There is parking close to the tourist office, although those driving to Yecla for the first time are advised to park in Calle Perales.
For further information go to the home page of Yecla Today.
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Friday 8.00 to 15.00
Saturdays 10.30 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 19.30.
Public holidays 10.30 to 14.00
Click for map, Yecla tourist office
