Barrio de los Pescadores

The Barrio de los Pescadores, known in Valencian as Baix la Mar, spreads out at the foot of the castle, between the fortress and the harbour. It's one of the oldest quarters in Denia, with origins tracing back to an Arab-era settlement, and its connection to the sea held almost unbroken until the 1970s, when sailors and fishermen still lived alongside the port's warehouses and maritime trade. The fishing fleet that still works out of Denia's port today, best known well beyond the region for its red prawns, keeps at least part of the trade that originally shaped this quarter alive.

Streets of colour

Its narrow, cobbled streets keep their low houses painted in the bright colours typical of the Mediterranean, a tradition that remains part of the quarter's identity. The mix of pedestrian layout, coloured facades and tiled details on some doorways reflects successive layers of Moorish, Roman and Christian influence in the area's popular architecture, built up over a much longer span than the buildings themselves suggest.

Walking Baix la Mar

It's one of the liveliest and most genuine corners of the city, with the feel of a quarter that's still lived in day to day by its own residents rather than staged for visitors passing through. It's best explored on foot, combining the walk with the climb up to the Castillo de Dénia or a visit to the nearby Iglesia de la Asunción, and it's a regular part of any one-day plan around the city.