Communities across Costa Blanca South will gather to observe the two‑minute silence and lay wreaths in remembrance on November 11.
Credit: RMC42 / Shutterstock
In Spain’s Costa Blanca South, Monday, November 11 holds special significance for the expatriate community and residents alike.
Though the day is not a national holiday in Spain, in towns such as Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa, Alicante, and surrounding areas, the annual act of remembrance still draws people together – British and Spanish‑speaking alike – to pause and honour those who fought and died in battle.
Remembrance at the heart of the edge of the Mediterranean
On the Costa Blanca, the tradition of observing the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month begins with the sombre notes of “The Last Post”, a few moments of silence, and often the laying of wreaths in public squares or memorial gardens.
In Torrevieja, for instance, the local branch of The Royal British Legion (RBL) has scheduled an armistice service for November 11, 2025, at the Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepción.
The event will begin around 10:30am, followed by a wreath‑laying ceremony at the Garden of Remembrance in La Siesta. The weekend before, on Sunday, November 9, at 4pm, there will also be a Remembrance Social Event at the Club Quesada, offering a gentler gathering for the community ahead of the formal service.
Such local observances reflect a meaningful convergence of traditions: the British poppy, the Spanish church service, the neutral pause of silence. The RBL guide notes that while Remembrance Sunday is the main day for many branches, services often fall on or around November 11.
Living here, honouring there
For many expatriates from the UK and Commonwealth nations living in the Costa Blanca region – from Los Balcones to La Mata and Almoradí – Remembrance Day offers a link to home. They gather in uniform, or simply in respect, to lay crosses, listen to bugles and watch standards pass.
In contrast, among the Spanish residents of towns like Elche and Torrevieja, participation tends to be more incidental rather than rooted in national custom. Many Spaniards instead keep their own day of memory on November 1 (All Saints’ Day), when cemeteries fill and families remember loved ones.
The interplay between these traditions underlines the nature of this day on the Costa Blanca: for expatriates, a formal commemoration; for locals, a respectful acknowledgment of others’ history alongside their own.
What to expect on the day
On November 11, shops, cafés and services in the Costa Blanca South area will generally open as usual – as officially, November 11 is not a public holiday in the Valencian Community. However, because the ceremony in Torrevieja begins mid‑morning, some roads near the church or the Garden of Remembrance may be quieter around 10:30‑11am.
Visitors or residents in the area would do well to arrive in advance if they wish to attend or respectfully observe the moment of silence.
In smaller towns or urbanisations, crowds may gather outside chapels or memorial sites.
If you’d rather attend a more informal gathering, the social event on Sunday, November 9 at Club Quesada (4pm-7pm) offers the chance to meet veterans and community members ahead of the formal service.
Why it matters here and now
The spirit of remembrance on the Costa Blanca remains serious and heartfelt. For expatriates, it keeps alive a tradition of honouring those who served – bridging their current home with their homeland. For Spanish participants and nearby residents, it offers a moment of solidarity: a rare, bilingual service where the communal act of remembering transcends national origin.
In a region where countless cultures meet – British retirees, Spanish locals, Scandinavian holiday‑homes and more – Remembrance Day becomes a small reminder that reflection matters. It shows that whether one’s ties are local or from afar, the pause at 11am on November 11 is a time to honour and to remember.
Final thoughts
If you’re in Alicante, Elche, Torrevieja, Los Balcones, Orihuela, La Mata, La Zenia, Almoradí or surrounding areas this November, consider arranging a quiet morning out on November 11. Attend the service in Torrevieja, or step outside at 11am wherever you are simply to pause and reflect.