The old municipal market used to be held in Sant Roc Square. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was also the chosen spot for the fair during the March and September festivities. For many decades, this was the usual location for street performers, known as "volantiners," whose specialty was performing somersaults.
The previous names of this square correspond to José Calvo Sotelo, Luis Sirval, Sant Roc and Ivorra.
There are references to the original name of this place, Plaza Ivorra, in the 18th century, in a fragment of a story written by Antonio Liqüery in the book La Confraria de Nostra Senyora de Loreto, in 1758.
Another reference also appears in Miguel Gómez's report, written on July 31, 1781.
Ferraz House is located in this centuries-old site. This manor house belonged to the Ferraz Alcalá Galiano family, Marquises of Amposta. Its most characteristic feature is the tower, built in ashlar and intended to protect the neighborhood. It is presumed to date from the 16th century. It is a square-shaped building with a prismatic volume, distributed over three floors connected by a spiral staircase. It has been declared a Site of Cultural Interest (BIC).
The entrance door with the noble coat of arms at the top is noteworthy. On the façade, we find the image of Saint Roch, an emblematic figure in Valencian towns as he was a defender of the plague. Also of great interest are the large gardens inside, known as the Gardens of Saint Helena.
The Garden of the “Casa Ferraz” Estate has been declared a Site of Cultural Interest, within the Historic Garden category.
Just a few metres from this square is C/ Manuel Antón, where we find the HOUSE OF THE ANTHROPOLOGIST DON MANUEL ANTÓN Y FERRÁNDIZ, who was born in Mutxamel on 29 December 1849 and died in Madrid on 4 September 1929.
He was an anthropologist and politician from the Valencian Community. He graduated in Physics from the Central University of Madrid and earned a doctorate in Natural Sciences.
He created the Anthropology Section of the Museum of Natural Sciences in Madrid in 1883, became a professor of zoology at the University of Madrid, and in 1885, secretary of the Exact, Physical, and Natural Sciences Section of the Ateneo de Madrid. In 1886, he founded and directed the International Scientific Library, for which he translated The Intelligence of Animals by George John Romanes, a disciple of Charles Darwin, and in 1893, he was appointed professor of Anthropology at the University of Madrid. In 1910, he was appointed the first director of the Anthropological Museum, which had since been separated from the Museum of Sciences, a professor at the School of Criminology, and president of the Culture Section of the Africanist League. In 1917, he joined the Royal Academy of History with his speech "The Origins of Humanity: A Study in Prehistory."
Politically, he actively participated in the Conservative Party of Alicante in the clashes between the different leaders, and was elected deputy for the district of Denia in the elections of 1891, for that of Albaida in those of 1896 and for that of Alicante in the general elections of 1907. During his political representation he was interested in the improvement of railway and road infrastructure and the transfer of water from the Vinalopó River in Sax to the coast (1898), which is why in 1892 he was named adopted son of Alicante.
If we walk down C/ Manuel Antón a few meters away, on C/ Cura Fenoll, we can admire the mural commemorating the Tram as it passes through Mutxamel. The electric tram from Mutxamel to Alicante used to pass through this street. This mural was created by Hunter, a black and white mural artist.
