A Virtual Tour of Alicante's Snow Wells

CENID, the Digital Intelligence Centre of Alicante province, driven by the Alicante Provincial Council, the University of Alicante, along with CaixaPetrer, have organised the launch of the web portal "Guide to the Snow Wells of Alicante Province", which will take place on November 21st, at the CaixaPetrer auditorium (C/ San Bartolomé nº2, Petrer). This digital resource has been promoted to expand and make accessible to all citizens the information about snow wells and the trade of snow and ice, essential activities in the region's economy during past centuries.

The event, starting at 7:30 PM, will feature a comprehensive programme including a round table of experts and various presentations. Notably, Miguel Ángel Erades, representative of CaixaPetrer, and Manuel Palomar from CENID, will welcome attendees and highlight the importance of this project for the conservation of Alicante's heritage.

Subsequently, Manuel Vicedo and Jaime Ramírez, authors of the guide, will officially present the portal, detailing its structure, contents, and the technological advancements employed in its creation, such as the incorporation of aerial footage and geolocation.

The event will culminate with a round table featuring the authors and other guests from the cultural heritage sector, such as José María Segura i Martí, an expert on the snow wells network of the Valencian Community; José Ramón Ortega Pérez from ARPA Patrimonio; Joan Ripoll Mora, mayor of Parcent, who will discuss both the research process and the opportunities the portal offers for collaboration with institutions and citizens interested in preserving history and promoting knowledge of natural and historical heritage.

Since the publication of the "Guide to the Snow Wells of Alicante Province" in 2004, the authors have continued their research, incorporating new technologies such as drones to visually document the wells. This effort has resulted in the new portal, organised into five thematic blocks: 'Chapters', 'Regions', 'Routes', 'Sections', and 'New Wells'. The first three maintain the original format of the guide, while the rest offer expanded content including new image galleries, drone-captured videos, and links to digital resources.

For those interested in cultural heritage and active tourism, the portal offers the opportunity to discover certified routes and trails in the Valencian Community that allow visits to many of the documented wells. In this regard, a "Trails" section has been designed to highlight the most attractive, safe, and accessible routes connecting the region's snow wells and ice houses.

Additionally, in the "Map" section, visitors can navigate an interactive map showing the exact location of snow wells across Spain, complemented by points of cultural, museum, and audiovisual interest. Visitors will also find sections like the Digital Library, with over 4,500 pages of text, and the Dronoteca, which compiles videos of the wells from aerial perspectives.