Xàbia recovers part of its history with the visit, Interactive, from the Refugi del Port (Port Refuge) or also called Refugi del Moll (Dock Refuge), built during the Civil War period. This historical place that housed a torpedo store was built between 1938 and 1939. It is located in the old Cove of the Raco, now defunct and known as Cove of the Port.
At present, there we find a huge concrete slope that hides this historic refuge. Discovered after brushing off this wall.
Despite the objective of the consistory, five years ago, to rehabilitate and make it accessible, finally its poor condition, makes it impossible to open to the public but does not limit knowing its interior up close. And it is that, while it was being built, there was a collapse, in which a worker was injured and died a few days later.
Thanks to the project launched by the Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum Municipal Soler Blasco de Xàbia you can see, virtually, what the shelter is like, in 360º and what its history is.
According to the project, the shelter was intended to be a torpedo depot for torpedo boats. It is 25 meters long and has two manholes, one on each side of the tunnel. Specifically, this unique construction is dug into a hillside next to the port of Xàbia and is made up of galleries that go more than 20 meters underground. Its access door remained sealed and hidden in the undergrowth from the 70s until just five years ago.
When it was reopened and a first inspection was carried out, it was considered that it could be a refuge against the air attacks of the war. However, a more in-depth study discards this hypothesis and opts for the possibility that it was an ammunition depot to supply the torpedo boats and antisubmarines of the Spanish Republic.
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Plan of the Civil War refuge in Xàbia
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Plan of the refuge of the architect Pablo García
You are right: Xàbia is sold to foreigners; little remains of the historical, family and fishing village. A voracious and superficial tourism has been created.
How beautiful and personal the traditional architecture was and what a pity that it was not respected in the new constructions. All those "Villas" built following the image that foreigners believed they had to have but totally turned their backs on the Valencian reality that they had in front of their noses and did not want to see or respect. A shame to have allowed it.
You are right: Xàbia is sold to foreigners; little remains of the historical, family and fishing village. A voracious and superficial tourism has been created.
Too late now what is taking are those fish tank box constructions. Besides, they neither cared then nor do they care now.
You would have to make an effort and get it back