Inland Areas

Inland Areas

Alcalali

Originally a Moorish farmstead that was depopulated when the Moors were expelled from Spain, this delightful village now offers a taste of real Spain with an international flavour thanks to the scores of "foreigners" who have chosen to live or buy second homes in the area. The village and surrounding area is home to several local bars, as well as plenty of restaurants offering a choice of regional or international cuisine. Of Alcalali's many historic buildings, perhaps the most impressive is the 15th century tower in the centre of the village, once used as a lookout tower for the whole of the valley, and the Church of the Natividad de Nuestra Senora.

Alcoy

Surrounded by the Sierra Mariola, the Carrascal de la Font Rotja, the Sierra els Plans and la Serreta, Alcoi is embedded among the multitude of ravines. Known as the city of bridges, the town maintains, despite high levels of industrialisation, strong links with its past. With it's beautiful surroundings, it maintains strong festive traditions, especially the Moors and Christians Fiesta.

Anna

Beniarbeig

Beniarbeig is a rich and prosperous agricultural village, mainly growing citrus fruits. The village has a privileged geographical position and its prosperous economy has ensured that it is one of the largest villages in the area (1,191 inhabitants). It is located next to the Girona River that flows between the province of Valencia and the Racons ravine. The parish church, the school opposite and the old Ayuntamiento are some of the architectural features to visit.

Benichembla

Originally a Moorish settlement, Benichembla is located between Murla and Castell de Castells and boasts some beautiful architecture including the Parish Church of San Jose, which is neoclassic in style save for its baroque belfry. Famous for its handicrafts including crocheted items and palm baskets, Benichembla also boasts its very own local delicacy, Coques, an almond sponge pie. The village is surrounded by several natural springs including the Font de Baix, Font de Dalt, Font del Ullet, Font de Murteres and Font de Pascualest and there are also several caves to explore in the area including La Cova de L´Hedrera and La Cova Roja.

Benidoleig

Is a little off the main road and shares its industrial activities with those of its neighbours. This area offers a most interesting attraction: if you follow the signposts to La Cova de les Calaveres, there is a magical cave consisting of a single gallery and with a practically horizontal floor. The cave was formed by the flow of water which created 20 metre high caverns that lead to a permanent water reserve

Benimeli

Benissa

Situated between the green of the mountains and the blue of the sea, Benissa, a town full of traditional charm, serves as the gateway to the Jalon Valley and provides the area with a range of large town amenities including supermarkets and health centre. Chief among the towns many historic buildings is the Iglesia de La Purissima Xiqueta, or the Catedral de la Marina as it is known locally, and the 17th century Franciscan Convento de los Capuchinos. Located several kilometers inland, originally to ward off pirate attacks, the Costa de Benissa includes the many beaches and coves located between Calpe and Moraira.

Callosa D'en Sarria

This is an ancient Muslim village famous for its Fonts D´Algar, set in a lush glade with an impressive waterfall and scenic pools fed by the Algar river. This area is popular with tourists and restaurants and bars are in abundance.

From its source in the Serra del Carrascal, this river Algar waters this fertile valley and this is why Callosa is the leading national producer of Medlars. Its historical town centre boasts a number of treasures such as the Church of St John the Baptist, with a late 16th century facade, a Gothic portrayal of Our Lady of the Injustices and other manifestations of Baroque imagery.

Castell de Castells

Gata de Gorgos

Gata de Gorgos is described as being the bazaar of the Costa Blanca, a town of whitewashed houses situated on the river Gata. Famous for its wicker industry still at the hands of the local craftsmen. You can buy baskets, furniture, hats and many other items all hand made.

Guadalest

This tiny cliff top village, situated 590m up , with only 200 inhabitants is a must to all travelers to the area. The only way to reach Guadalest is via a small path leading up the cliff. The views from the Castle to the valley and the reservoir with the Sierra de Aixorta as a backdrop are stunning. Museums, sourvenir shops, bars and restaurants are in abundance in this pretty little hidden treasure on the Costa Blanca.

Jalon

Located in the southern part of the interior of the Marina Alta, the town of Jalon, the vibrant capital of the Val de Pop, nestles among vineyards on the valley floor and offers magnificent panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.

Dubbed the Jewel in the Crown of the Costa Blanca region by the UK travel press, Jalon is within easy striking distance of the coastal resorts of Javea, Moraira and Calpe, and yet it has lost none of its traditional rural charm.

The area is famed for its almond, orange and lemon groves which in Spring, see the valley blanketed in beautiful, sweet-scented blossom, as well as its muscatel grapes, cultivated originally for the production of raisins, but now used to produce award-winning wines, which can be sampled in the local bodegas. All around the town you will see beautifully restored riu-raus, traditional open-arched farm buildings used, in times past, to store harvested grapes.

The town´s main square is dominated by the beautiful blue-domed Iglesia de Santa Maria and is the focal point for the many fiestas staged throughout the year. Jalon´s narrow streets are home to handicraft and antique shops, wine merchants, a wide selection of bars and restaurants as well as a good range of local retailers. Each day, the town´s bakers serve up delicious sweet and savoury pastries unique to the area including the famous bolos (green pea pasties) while the the numerous award winning butchers are renowned for award-winning sausages.

As with most Spanish towns, Jalon has its own Fiestas and events including a Medieval market held each Spring and a Mooros Y Cristianos Fiesta in July. One of the town´s patron saints, Santo Domingo de Guzman, is celebrated in August with a fiesta that features outdoor traditional dancing as well as a bull run in the town square. And later in the year in October, the fiesta of the Virgin Pobre features more open air dancing while the highlight of the Christmas festivities in Kings Day in January when the three wise men ride into town laden with gifts for all the local children.

Although Jalon life is relaxed and laid-back, there is still plenty to keep visitors and residents occupied. Tuesday is market day when the town square and surrounding streets are lined with stalls selling everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to household goods. And on Saturdays, the town hosts the famous rastro, the biggest antique and crafts market in the area, which sets up alongside the River Gorgos, and attracts thousands of visitors and traders from all over Spain hoping to find a bargain.

La Vall de Laguar

The Valley of Laguart groups three villages together: Fleix, Benimaurell and Campell. None of the villages has more than 400 inhabitants and growing cherries is their main economic activity. The Ayuntamiento (town hall) is located in Fleix. The Valley of Laguart was the last strong hold of the Moorish uprising of 1609 which protested against the expulsion decree. The Jalon River (also called Gorgos), which flows into Javea from the Vall d'Alcalali and the Infern Ravine forms the Laguart Valley. The three villages are situated in the Sierra del Cavall Verd - Campell is the first village reached, followed by Fleix and finally Benimaurell where the road ends. The Sierra de Migda is located opposite the Sierra del Cavall Verd.

Lliber

The smallest village in the Val de Pop, perched on a south facing slope on the north side of the valley, has a quaint village square with church and Moorish dome and again offers all the amenities you need for a peaceful holiday or relaxing lifestyle. Iberian remains have been found in the surrounding area of while many of the village´s old houses and fincas have been sympathetically restored.

Murla

Synonymous with the traditional ball game of Pelota Valenciana, which is still taught and played every weekend in the narrow streets of this charming village, Murla is also home to an unusual fortified church with illuminated crypts and reconstructed towers. The Castle-Church of San Miguel dates from 1861 and was built on site of an old fortified tower to a design by Martin de Martin. The village itself provides a range of local amenities and has a laid-back, friendly atmosphere.

Ondara

Known for its Arabic style bull ring in Dr Fleming Street, where all the famous bull-fighters have performed, Ondara lies north east of the Marina Alta. It is primarily flat except for the district of the Segaria mountain area where the town has developed a lovely open park with great facilities. The Bull ring is a sight not to missed, which was built at the end of the 19th century and has a strong Arabic influence in its architecture. It was more or less destroyed during the Civil War and was then sympathetically restored in 1957.

Orba

Orba is a small inland town in a central position within the Marina Alta. Orba offers its natural mountain areas as well as its spectacular valleys, which are rich with charm and lots of agricultural activity. Famous for its orange trees, almond, carob and olive groves. It has historical importance being the centre of the Moors who converted to Christianity. The town also offers good facilities and services for tourists, with sports centre, swimming pool, tennis courts, restaurants and bars.

Parcent

Once desribed by Spanish novelist Gabriel Miro Ferrer, a one-time resident whose former home is now something of a tourist attraction, as a paradise between the mountains, Parcent is the last village before the road winds its way up the valley wall to the high pass of the Coll de Rates. This picturesque pueblo, home to a good selection of local restaurants and bars, is perched on a small hill surrounded by almonds, oranges and olive groves.

Pedreguer

Pedreguer is a typical agricultural village located at the foot of the Muntanya Gran. The village is surrounded by abundant farming land on which fruits and vegetables are grown. The village also specializes in the manufacturing of bags, hats and leather goods. This is an original village - many of the facades of the houses are painted in vivid colours, which give the village a lively appearance. The village has several modernist buildings and on the Plaza Mayor is a structure entitled 'Porxens' where the market is held.

Pego

Pego is situated in a valley facing the sea located to the North of the Alicante province. It is a rich agricultural area specialising in fruits and rice. Pego´s nature park, the wetland area separates the town from the coast. The Marjal marsh of Pego is one of the most interesting wetlands on the coastline with its wonderful flora and fauna.

Pinos

Polop

The silhouette of Ponoch, the sleeping lion of Gabriel Miro, and the profile of the town with its tower and ancient cementery are the main symbols of this attractive town. Polop was discovered by Gabriel Miro also Oscar Esplo lived here, as did Benjamin Palencia, whose workshop is still maintained. The famous Font dels Xorrets has 221 water spouts to offer its visitors. From the Font there is a walk to the closed cementery, named by Gabriel Miro the Orchard of Crosses, which crowns the town. Polop still has the sharp local colour of the blue and white towns of the Alicante coast.

Rafol D'Alumunia

Rafol de Almunia is the historical capital of the villages of Benimeli, Sanet y Negrals, Sagra and Tormos. The lord of the area, the Marquis of Almunia, created the village in 1535 as a reaction against the region's Muslim inhabitants. Rafol de Almunia is a small village with 369 inhabitants who are mostly involved in growing citrus fruits on the sunny side of the Sierra Segaria.

Sagra

Sagra is found in the Rector area, a village that clings to the sides of the Caval and Migda Sierras, opposite the Girona River. In 1609 the Moors rose up against the Royal Decree that expelled them from their lands. Sagra has preserved a typical Moorish town structure with twisting narrow streets surrounded by orange groves.

Sanet y Negrals

Senija

This little village is a member of the Vall de Pop built around it’s parish church, Santa Catalina which was built on a site of an old mosque dating from the XVIIIth century. Places to see are the Bassetes, the Cave of the Garaganta and fossilized tree, the Creu Alta, the High Cross from which fantastic views can be enjoyed. Senija offers great tracking opportunities, bicycle touring and walking. There are several bars/restaurants and one curiosity of the village is that each Monday, the motorcyclists gather in mass at the local bars to have breakfast.

Sueca

Located 32 Km from Valencia, Sueca is known for its’ rice fields, which are found next to the Valencian nature reserve of Albufera. It is a city that combines traditional ways of life with modern and as well as sun, sea and sand, offers a wide selection of gastronomy and strong cultural presence.

Tarbena

Tollos

Tormos

Tormos is one of the five villages in the area known as the 'Rectora'. The village is located at the foot of the Sierra del Recingle, next to the Caval and Migda Sierras, which means that it is an excellent place for hiking. Tormos, is located next to the road from Callosa d'En Sarrio to Pego via the Coll de Rates, and is a serene village - the smallest of the entire Rectora area - mainly devoted to growing fruit. Its inhabitants enjoy a peaceful life: playing dominoes in the streets and watching the cars go by.

Vall de Laguart