Just 7 kilometres from the ancient city of Orihuela, lies the town of Redovan. Best known for its ceramics work (a tradition going back to the third century BC), Redovan was founded as a town during the Arab occupation (eighth to thirteenth centuries), although there is evidence of pre-historic settlements in the area where Redovan is now situated.

It is thought that there were some small settlements on elevations of land in the region of Redovan from the Neolithic period up until the Bronze Age.

Though the surrounding countyside is prone to flooding it has always attracted settlers due to its being an excellent area for agriculture thanks to being well irrigated by the River Segura.

Foremost in the history of Redovan is the Arab occupation, the name Redovan is thought to be derived from a Moorish general called Farax Ben Redvan. The Arabs occupied Redovan and most of the surrounding region from the 8th Century until the 13th Century when Redovan was re-conquered by the Christians under king Jaime I of Aragon in about 1242.

Redovan was greatly affected by a pestilence which destroyed the crops during the years 1347-1351 and the town went into decline many of its inhabitants moving to the more prosperous Orihuela. During this low period the town was often looted by renegades and bandits. The plague returned in the years 1374 and 1383.

Redovan recovered very slowly during the following centuries and by the 17th Century was enjoying a period of great prosperity due to a successful agriculture industry and also a growing silk industry (the mulberry became an important crop).

In 1829 Redovan, along with most of the towns and villages in the region, suffered a huge earthquake which caused a tremendous amount of damage and some loss of life.

Present day Redovan is a busy little town with a population of about 5000-6000, its economy relies mostly on the production of hemp, ceramics, cotton and espadrilles. At the end of September an exhibition of hemp products takes place in the town dedicated to St Michael.

A little north of Redovan you will find the village of Cox (formally a Moorish farmstead). Worth visiting in Cox is the fifteenth century fortified palace and also the hermitage, which is close to the palace.

Redovan can be reached by way of the N-340 of the AP-7 motorway. Alicante airport is some 52 kilometres away.