Just a short boat ride from Alicante lies Tabarca Island.
Turquoise waters, whitewashed houses and sleepy beaches, it looks like a Mediterranean daydream. But beneath its calm surface lies a past filled with pirates, royal interventions and even a few optical tricks that once baffled sailors.
Hideout of Barbary pirates
Long before sunseekers arrived, Tabarca was the hideout of Barbary pirates who terrorised the Mediterranean. From its rocky shores, they raided coastal towns and Christian ships, spreading fear along the Alicante coast. The threat grew so serious that in the 18th century, King Charles III decided he’d had enough.
The king’s solution was bold. After driving the pirates out, he repopulated the island with 269 Italian fishermen who had been freed from slavery on the Tunisian island of Tabarca. These rescued families were given homes and supplies, and the new settlement became known as Nueva Tabarca. Even today, many islanders still bear Italian surnames.
To keep pirates from returning, Carlos III ordered the construction of defensive walls, which still encircle the island. These fortifications, now listed as a Site of Cultural Interest, give Tabarca its distinctive character. Tabarca is a small walled island with centuries of stories built into its stones.
Is there hidden treasure on Tabarca Island?
And of course, where there were pirates, there are rumours of treasure. Locals whisper that beneath the Church of San Pedro lies a secret cave where stolen loot was hidden. No gold has ever been found, but the legend endures, luring curious visitors who come in search of mystery rather than riches.
Adding to the island’s strangeness is an optical illusion known as the Fata Morgana. On certain days, light and heat distort the horizon, making Tabarca appear to change shape or drift across the sea. Early sailors were so confused they nicknamed it the “Deceptive Island.”
Among the island’s many tales, few are as haunting as that of the Sea Lion’s Cave. Fishermen once spotted a lone male sea lion circling a cave entrance; inside, they found his mate and pup dead. Heartbroken, the male threw himself into their nets and died beside them. Whether myth or memory, the story really tugs at the heart strings.
