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From the interior to the coast following the green ways Route 10 From to

io 580 R Cotes Sant Joan dÕEnova AP-7 Cˆrcer Senyera Benifair— te Manuel ai Alcˆntera Mondœber lb Chella de Xœquer l«énova Simat o A-7 La Llosa B 1 e 4 de la Valldigna d o de Ranes 841 n i Anna Mondœber N- ra R 332 G CV- Lugar Nuevo de Fenollet o Rotglˆ i Corberˆ CV- i 841 6 R 590 75 Grao de CV- Cerdˆ GenovŽs Pinet Gandia VallŽs Xˆtiva Daimœs l«Alcœdia N- Benirredr‡ Guardamar de la de Crespins Novetl 24 340Bellœs Benig‡nim Real de Gandia Miramar

Canals C C Montesa 597 Piles CV- R—tova Beniarj— a E. de Bellœs LÕAlquer’a de la Comtesa s Guadasequies Alfahuir Palma t Benifl‡ i A-35 Oliva l L«Olleria Almiserˆ la Castellonet - Potr’es La Font L Alfarras’ Benisuera Montichelvo Llocnou a Castell— de 20 d«En Carr˜s Oliva Nova M CV- AP-7 Aielo de 60 Aielo de Rugat 23 27 a 22 n 26 Moixent Malferit Blgida Rugat 19 Azafor Marjal c R‡fol Pto. Almansa de Pego-Oliva h 21 m Otos 18 Rio a a 692 El Palomar Salem 25 ns 900 Carr’cola 17 l«Orxa 1.013 a s Albaida A-35 ole 701 Adsubia ny BeniarrŽs PegoBenimeli Beniarbei o Ca Poblado IbŽrico Atzeneta CV-E. de Ri 14 16 Vall de Gallinera R‡fol Bastida de les N-340 15 BeniarrŽs Sagra Sanet y La Font de Alcusses Alcocer Vall de Ebo la Figuera 11 CV-700 Planes Negrals La Vall Girona Rio 9 13 Muro d«Alcalˆ Orba Fontanars 10 l«Alqueria dels Alforins de Alcoy Vall de Laguar 344 Montcabser 12 Alcalal’ N- 1.390 Ll’ CV- 7 1.004 8 81 CV- Facheca Xal— 657 Banyeres Serra Gorga de Mariola Castell de de Mariola Vall del Po 70 Castells Alcoy CV- A-31 El Camp de Mirra Beniardˆ T‡rbena Ca–ada Penˆguila El Castell de 6 Guadalest Font Roja Callosa CV- d«en Sarriˆ Villena Aitana 70 CV-799 4 Ibi Don Cayo AP- -81 1 2 3 R. Vinalop— 5 La Torre A-7Pto. de la Carrasqueta de les Maanes 1.558 Las Virtudes 1.020 R io Parque Tem‡tico A Sella 0 m TERRA MêTICA 1 • Sanctuary: Santuario de las Virtudes 12 • Montcabrer 24 • Park: Parque de la Estación 2 • El Saladar 13 • Cava Arquejada 25 • Mount: Serra Segària 3 • Castle: Castillo de Villena 14 • Mount: Serra del Benicadell 26 • Mount: Sierra de Mostalla 4 • Castle: Castillo de Biar 15 • Reservoir: Embalse de Beniarrés 27 • Marsh: Marjal Pego-Oliva 5 • Sanctuary: Santuario de Nuestra Señora 16 • Ravine: Barranc de l´Encantà de la Gracia 17 • Station: Estación de l´Orxa 6 • Mount: Sierra de La Fontanella 18 • Castle Ruins: Ruinas Castillo Perpuxent 7 • Mount: Sierra de La Solana 19 • Narrow Pass: L’Estret de l’Infern 8 • Bridge: Puente Nuevo 20 • Mount: Serra d’Ador 9 • Hermitage: Ermita del Santo Cristo 21 • Mount: Serra de La Safor 10 • Covetes dels Moros 22 • Mount: Serra de La Gallinera 11 • Lagoon: El Pou Clar 23 • Waterspout: Fuente de Reprimala RUTA9y10_92a111:rutas 29/06/10 8:09 Página 103

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Surrounded by castles, on the Xixarra green way

Our route leaves from the sanctuary of Las Virtudes de Villena. This site is an outlying district of the town of Villena, situated seven kilometres to the west of this municipality. It seems its origin was established when, Bocairent 38º 46' 0.60" N 0º 36' 21.60" W in 1474, part of the population of Villena fleeing from the plague that was devastating , decided to take refuge in this spot, where a spring was found, known Along this route that takes us from Villena to Oliva we now as the Fuente del Chopo. Due to the ravages of will pass along a total of three green ways. The green the epidemic it was decided to choose a patron saint mtesa er ways, as we saw in Route 5, are former railway lines to entrust with their intercession. At the time of the a that have been left disused and are now made use of selection, so the legend says, the Virgin of the Virtues by nature lovers, as those people have set out ended up imposing herself as the object of devotion. itineraries suitable for hikers and cycle-tourists. The first The sanctuary, which started to be built in this era, the of these green ways is commonly known by the name second half of the 15th century, was declared a rbei of the Xixarra and follows the route of the narrow Historic-Artistic Monument in 1976. Nowadays, on the et y rals gauge train between Yecla and . On this last Sunday in August the Virgin is taken in a religious leig stretch we will pass some of the best preserved castles procession to Villena and remains there until 9th in Valencian territory and we will make a few incursions September. We also make our way to Villena, although ’ Ll’ into the Serra de Mariola nature park. The second not necessarily as in a religious procession, bordering a green way we take is the one that rescues the line of dried up former lake. Nowadays it is, in part, a salt mine del Po the train that, between 1893 and 1969, linked the and the landscape ends up looking quite attractive towns of Muro de Alcoy and Gandia. Known as the between the mounds of white salt. The other part is train “dels anglesos” meaning “of the English” - in given over to vegetable crops such as carrots and Spanish it is common for the term “English” to be used seasonal fruits like melons, with some plots being AP- for what is strictly speaking “British” because a British devoted to ecological production. We reach Villena company was responsible for financing the works, the after this pleasant walk and notice, in this town, its a spectacular route of this line takes us close beside the impressive castle of Arab origin, subsequently river Serpis which, as it flows towards the transformed over the centuries and restored to its Mediterranean, which passes at sea level between two former glory in the 20th century. It will not be the only great sierras, finally finding its way to the plain of the castle we will visit on this route. At Biar, the next town region of La Safor. Having reached the end of the through which the green way passes, we also find a railway line “dels anglesos”, at the port of Gandia, we castle declared a Place of Cultural Interest. From Biar will take the third and last green way of this route, castle a labyrinth of steep, narrow streets spreads out. which joins the towns of and Dénia and And at the next town, , we also stop then to finish our route in Oliva, where we will visit its off at its famous Alzmira castle, of which nowadays pretty beaches and the marsh that connects it with only the tower remains. In this castle, in 1244, the Pego. Treaty of Alzmira was signed, through which Alfonso X the Wise, King of Castille, and Jaime I of Aragon set out RUTA9y10_92a111:rutas 29/06/10 8:09 Página 104

Route 10 From Villena to Oliva

Marchaleta, a tributary (the river Marchal) of the Vinalopó. We continue walking and make out the town of Benyeres de Mariola ahead and behind it, the magnificent Serra de Mariola nature park. At this town we will visit its old centre, to enjoy its unusual stepped location and its impressive castle perched on a hill that is covered in snow in winter. In addition we will go to the Paper Museum, the only one of its kind in the Region of Valencia. It offers a wide-ranging historic, economic and social overview of the evolution of Bocairent 38º 46' 1.19" N 0º 36' 37.80" W paper, from its origins in China (in 105 AD) through its introduction into Europe through Xàtiva and the boundaries of their respective kingdoms. These highlighting its subsequent importance throughout frontiers were, over the centuries, a bone of contention Spain, but especially in the Region of Valencia, the between the subsequent kingdoms of Castille, Murcia leading papermaking area for some decades in the and Valencia. This fact is why such powerful and manufacture of cigarette paper. The Museu Valencià del substantial castles were built in the region of Vinalopó, Paper is also a living museum and, in this sense, it puts amongst which, as well as the three already mentioned, on demonstrations of papermaking by hand, shows those at Benyeres de Mariola, Castalla, Sax and documentaries, publishes works on the subject of are also outstanding. We leave the town of Campo de paper and hosts exhibitions. We leave the town of Mirra and, travelling a short distance, reach Beneixama, Benyeres de Mariola and, from the town’s disused a town that gives its name to the valley we are in, railway station, we resume our itinerary along the track between the sierras of La Solana and Fontanella. From bed of the green way. Beneixama, leaving the green way on a small there and back detour, going across the Sierra de la Solana, we can get to the delightful town of . This town, set on a plateau, is known as the ‘Valencian Tuscany’, due to the idyllic landscape surrounding the town, with its fields occupied by vineyards and the occasional Holm oak or pine standing guard over them. We can see the beauty of the countryside in Mediterranean land, with the morning or evening light bathing the fields in gold and Sierra Mariola ripening the grapes. We return to our green route and from Beneixama, passing Xixarra station in a very good state of conservation, we head eastwards following the green way. Before reaching the landscape changes, passing from fields of crops to fairly leafy woodlands. We cross the recently reconstructed bridge over which the former train used to pass and which crosses the RUTA9y10_92a111:rutas 29/06/10 8:09 Página 105

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store the snow in winter and have it available in summer to cool drinks, conserve foods, especially fish at the ports on the coast, and to make ice cream. Moreover, in Sierra Mariola the past, this snow had another essential facet: a beneficial therapeutic and medicinal use for inflammations and haemorrhages, just as we still do nowadays in the care of fevers or as an anaesthetic, amongst others. Once we have passed the Sant Blai cave, the route enters between market gardens and terraces already made use of by the Arabs, who create a dynamic Bocairent of prestige going beyond the borders of Al-Andalus [the Arabic name for their land in Spain]. We now find ourselves at the foot of the stretch that leads to a monument that continues to intrigue archaeologists and historians: Les Covetes dels Moros. Its description is common to all those who visit: 53 rooms, with their corresponding windows, cut into a The Benicadell 38º 49' 31.80" N 0º 22' 47.40" W straight wall in the mountainside, all interconnecting and at different irregular levels. It turns out to be more From the indispensable Bocairent difficult to know their origin and their primitive to the Alcoy valley below the Serra function, but it seems they were probably used as Mariola granaries-warehouses to store supplies in safety, made in the Hispano-Arabic era by the agricultural After a few kilometres we reach the spectacular town of communities in the environs, probably Berbers. We Bocairent. We take some time to visit this town, which leave Bocairent and propose an alternative trip to get as receives its name from the Arabic bekirén, which means far as Muro de Alcoy. This route, which leads us to pineapple or beehive, for the shape of the town. And Ontinyent and Albaida leaves the Xixarra trail to take Bocairent is situated on a hill 660 metres above sea the CV-81 and the CV-40. Before we get to Ontinyent level, over which the town’s large houses are scattered, along this stretch we will discover the transparent between narrow streets with clear Arab influences. The waters of the Pou Clar, one of the most famous water medieval neighbourhood is impressive with its bell holes of the inland Valencian mountains. Once we reach tower acting as a beacon, that is, as a landmark so that Ontinyent we will go through its medieval quarter and, visitors never get to feel lost around the steep, narrow at Sant Maria church, we will find a bell tower that alleyways. From Bocairent’s Town Hall we can take competes in height with the one of Bocairent. The next various routes to get to know the town’s cultural and destination on this alternative route is Albaida; natural heritage. One of these leads us to Les Covetes outstanding in this town is the palace of the Marquises dels Moros. On the way we pass the Santo Cristo of Albaida, the Milà y Aragó family, which houses one of hermitage, at the top of a steep mountain that is the most original museums in the Region of Valencia, reached on foot up a ‘Calvary’ or ‘Way of the Cross’. The the International Marionette Museum. If we decide not Sant Blai cave is a former snow store, which was used to to take the alternative route, but to stay on the Xixarra RUTA9y10_92a111:rutas 29/06/10 8:09 Página 106

Route 10 From Villena to Oliva

Bocairent 38º 45' 58.20" N 0º 36' 25.20" W

The Covetes dels Moros. Bocairent 38º 46' 11.40" N 0º 36' 30.00" W and streams over all its slopes. The most important rivers in the north of the province of rise here: the Vinalopó, the Serpis, the Agres and the Clariano. The green way, the next town we find after Bocairent is snowfalls were much more copious a couple of Alfafara. This tiny town, situated at the foot of the Serra centuries ago, as demonstrated by the abundance of de Mariola nature park, has, in these mountains, famous snow storage constructions, scattered throughout the for their medicinal and aromatic plants, one of its most sierra, above all during the period known as the ‘small compelling attractions. From the green way we ice age’, between the 17th and 18th centuries, the era approach the municipality, once we have passed the when most of its famous stores destined for the former railway station of Aflafara, which has recently commercialisation of the snow were constructed. These been restored. From the town we climb the slopes of snow stores, like those of Bocairent, are a representative the Serra de Mariola to find numerous natural and display of the over 300 scattered throughout the cultural spots, amongst which we pick out the Coves de Region of Valencia, reflecting a commercial activity les Finestres, the remains of the walls of the Cabezo de which peopled our mountains with workers, leaving a Mariola Iberian settlement and the Bolumini cave. At legacy of civil architecture of the greatest magnitude. Agres, the next hamlet we pass through following the On the way from Agres to Montcabrer we come across green way, we shall do the same as we did at Alfafara, various different examples of these snow stores, the visiting it and climbing up the Serra de Mariola. From main exponent being the Cava Arquejada. But the Serra Agres there is a path that takes us up to the highest de Mariola is, above all, a sierra known for the variety of summit of the natural park, Montcabrer, which, at 1,394 different aromatic plant species it possesses: sage, metres above sea level constitutes an exceptional lavender, rosemary, thyme, juniper, pennyroyal… all vantage point over the southern Valencian lands. The gathered for centuries as medicinal herbs. Serra de Mariola is one of the most-loved and most Coming down from the Serra de Mariola we continue visited mountains in Valencian lands. The protected part our route along the platform of the green way as far as of the mountain is clearly marked and perfectly defined, Muro de Alcoy. This part of the route runs through as it is a steep ridge overlooking the adjoining valleys. It cuttings with the dense vegetation of the foothills of reaches on its eastern face a difference in level of nine the Serra de Mariola. We will come across some of the hundred metres in a very short space and its silhouette infrastructure specific to the railway now in disuse, like as an impenetrable wall is unmistakeable from any water holes and signal boxes. We leave the lush neighbouring mountain. The height and orientation of vegetation of the mountain and, after a bend, the Alcoy the Serra Mariola means that the area has a lot of rain valley opens up before us. We stop in the town of Muro and snow, above all because the moisture-laden east de Alcoy and leave the Xixarra green way to now take winds reach the sierra and deposit the water on it, the Serpis green way, travelled in its day by the train sometimes violently, sometimes as snow. These special known as “dels anglesos”. At Muro de Alcoy among the conditions turn the sierra into a mountain that captures places of interest we can visit the monument in honour the waters which it distributes in the form of springs of Tio Pep, known throughout the length and breadth RUTA9y10_92a111:rutas 29/06/10 8:09 Página 107

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of the Region of Valencia for a popular song. The statue is placed at the entrance to the town.

Through the Serpis ravine, the foot of the Benicadell and the Safor Circo de la Safor 38º 52' 39.00" N 0º 14' 36.60" W cirque

Due to the scarcity of energy sources, at the end of the which passes the track bed of the railway that we are 19th century the ‘Alcoy and Gandia Railway Harbour following on this itinerary. From here to Villalonga the Company Limited’ built the railway line from Muro de green way takes us along a spectacular route known as Alcoy to Gandia port, known in the region as the ‘trenet the l’Estret de l’Infern. We start walking along this dels anglesos’. The line enabled the regular supply of thrilling way and right from the outset we are British coal to the two industrial centres of these valleys, captivated by the abundant vegetation and the Alcoy and Cocentaina, at the same time as enabling the immensity of the mountains that surround us, in transport of merchandise manufactured there to the contrast to the tranquillity of the river Serpis flowing coast for export. The railway line was operational from peacefully along. We come to a fall on the river, with a 1893 until the end of the 1960s, when the tacks were spectacular dam and the now disused electricity lifted and even some bridges dismantled, but the firm generating station, L’Infern, which it served. The flat ground where the line itself ran was kept intact, the building of the power station has a certain charm, both tunnels, halts and some buildings associated with the for the landscape in which it is set and its 19th century line were also conserved. The first town we come to architectural forms. We pass through the occasional coming out of Muro de Alcoy along the itinerary of the tunnel and further on find ourselves in the area known green way is Gaianes. From Gaianes we will continue as Racó de Duc, which along with the Safor cirque walking along the slopes of the Serra del Benicadell, forms a space that covers some 2,900 hectares. It is not admiring this majestic mountain formation, to reach hard to detect the presence of birds of prey, small Beniarrés a little later on. At this hamlet we will find a carnivores and wild boar. We pass another waterfall narrow road which takes us to the Beniarrés reservoir. forming a beautiful cascade in the Parra gully. We also We leave our route to visit the Barranc de l’Encantà, one pass a quarry and continue marvelling at the steep of the best preserved and spectacular ravines of these mountains. The Safor cirque, at over 1000 metres above parts and where there is a recreational area around sea level, now opens up towards the coast. We must some delightful waterfalls. Neither can we miss visiting the caves Els Nou Forats and l’Or, with important Agres 38º 46' 48.60" N 0º 30' 55.80" W archaeological sites. Back on our itinerary along the green way we keep walking until we come to l’Orxa station and after that, on a small hill, the ruins of Perpuxent castle, declared a Place of Cultural Interest. On the right is the town of l’Orxa and, ahead of us, we see how the way seems to be blocked by large mountains. However it is not closed because the river Serpis has worn away a spectacular ravine through RUTA9y10_92a111:rutas 29/06/10 8:09 Página 108

Route 10 From Villena to Oliva

Gandia, irrigated by the Serpis, we get to Almoines. And from Almoines it only leaves us to cross the river once more to arrive at Gandia, the end of the green way of the “trenet dels anglesos”. Gandia, The capital of La Safor is and always has been one of the chief tourist Ducal Palace in Gandia destinations in Spain throughout history. As well as delightful beaches with fine yellow sand, it also possesses an admirable cultural heritage. In this town not miss getting up close to the slopes of this we visit the ducal palace and the collegiate church, an legendary mountain from the vicinity of Villalonga. elegant display of Gothic architecture from the 14th From its summit a spectacular panoramic view can be and 15th centuries, which in 1499 was elevated to the enjoyed of the nearby coastline of La Safor. We are category of collegiate church, and in 1931 declared a reminded of the words of the hiker José Soler Carnicer National Historic-Artistic Monument. Another place of who says of this mountain: ‘The almost Pyrenean interest in Gandia is the Museu Arqueològic de Gandia characteristics of this Safor cirque, which opens up in a (MAGa). The archaeological museum’s permanent fan shape, forming a narrow horseshoe, whose walls are exhibition focuses thematically on the region’s enormous ridges of rock, inspire admiration when prehistoric period, from the early inhabitants of the contemplating this huge amphitheatre, topped off by Palaeolithic era up to the “Metal Ages”. We reach the colossal rocky walls.’ We continues along the green way Grao de Gandia, the harbour and the end of the green and find ourselves at the Fuente de la Reprimola with way of the “trenet dels anglesos” and, without leaving its sixteen waterspouts. The water is good to drink in Gandia, we look for the Parc de l’Estació to find the start this corner of the river Serpis, well loved by the people of the itinerary along the third green way of this route: of the town of Villalonga. At this point on the way the the Safor green way. At the Parc de l’Estació, restored as mountains have opened up and a few kilometres an urban park, the passenger building still stands and a further on we come to the municipality of Villalonga semicircle of columns still evokes the old engine shed. itself, now on the Safor plain. The urban group of this One of these locomotives is on display by the tourist municipality is quiet and a welcome place to stroll information office. This green way goes along the route around its narrow streets and peaceful plazas. After of the Carcaixent-Dénia line, undoubtedly the oldest Villalonga the valley of the Serpis opens up giving way narrow gauge railway on the peninsular. The railway to irrigated crops, small market gardens and citrus was most notably used for transporting agricultural orchards. Before we get to the next town, , the produce. Serpis gives us another beautiful spot with the We leave Gandia heading south towards Oliva. The Villalonga Azud [small dam]. Having reached Potriés we route of the green way is a seven-kilometre-long must visit the Town Hall, located in an impressive 17th straight that passes between innumerable orange century building of the nobility. We continue along the groves. The landscape is spectacular despite the green way and the next town at which the “trenet dels monotony. It must not be forgotten that the Arabs anglesos” stopped, as we do now, is Beniarjó. In this introduced oranges into Al-Andalus as an ornamental municipality Ausiàs March was born, the most famous element in their gardens and not for food farming poet in the , when this town was purposes. In the season when the orange trees bloom, just a farmstead. We leave this town and, continuing the perfume of orange blossom and the spectacular through the fertile market gardens and orchards of sight of it is an intoxicating experience for any traveller. RUTA9y10_92a111:rutas 29/06/10 8:09 Página 109

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On this straight section across the orange groves we will cross various ditches forming a labyrinth of water irrigating the fields. We reach Oliva after crossing the longest walk through orange groves in the whole of Europe. Throughout this area it is typical for there to be a small traditional urban centre in the midst of the orchard and, on the line of the corresponding beach (2 or 3 kilometres further down), its coastal town. This is the case of Oliva. In the town we must visit the Mayans family house-museum. Also known as La Casa de los Mayans, it hosts inside the Aula de Latinidad or Aula de Beniarrés 38º 49' 13.20" N 0º 22' 43.80" W Gramática [Latin-ness or grammar classroom], built in the 18th century under the patronage of Gregorio Mayans, and which today serves as a study centre and and the balance of the waters in the park. In the areas for running adult education courses. After a visit to the of the park that flood and of greater depth, the reed- beach we will head in a south-easterly direction to visit beds are surprising, with the reeds and bulrushes the Pego-Oliva marsh. This is a former lagoon that, due rivalling to dominate the view. to the advanced process of silting up, has ended up in Although the great protagonist of the landscape of the its present state. This nature park covers an area of marsh waters vegetation is, undoubtedly, the yellow lily, some 1,290 hectares. It is surrounded by the Mostalla, a rich birdlife may be observed in the nature park, with Migdia and Segària sierras, which form a horseshoe the presence of such species as the plover and the open to the Mediterranean. It is a swamp system set up osprey. In the municipal district of Oliva and in the in the lowest area of a depression, almost flat and at sea interior of the nature park we can find Fuente Salada, level: an area of storage and discharge of underground one of the most agreeable spots in the park and the waters that balance out the effects of flooding and source of waters with medicinal properties. A natural regulate the water quality. Two watercourses with open-air spa from where the Oliva town council has abundant waters, the river Bullent and the Molinell or urbanised the access and the surroundings of the Racons, break through the coastal range and allow the waters of the two springs. We take our leave here of this natural drainage of the abundant waters from the route which has snaked between the provinces of springs and water sources, thus maintaining the cycle Alicante and Valencia and has enabled us to get to know some of the most beautiful regions of Valencian territory. Ruins of Perputxent castle RUTA9y10_92a111:rutas 29/06/10 8:09 Página 110

Route 10 From Villena to Oliva

potato and fresh green beans]. The region has good wine and exquisite liqueurs are made like the herb liqueur and coffee-liqueur, without forgetting the tasty sweets, amongst which the most notable are: sugared walnuts, nougat and peladillas [candied almonds]. And regarding fiestas, around the Xixarra green way most of the towns and cities celebrate the popular festivals of Moors and Christians, as well as the famous local pilgrimages and religious processions to the numerous hermitages there are throughout the area. In the Safor region we can delight our palate with fresh produce from the market gardens combined with fish. Most recommended are the Barranc de l'Infern 38º 52' 45.60" N 0º 15' 29.40" W dishes like fideuà (small pasta in fish stock), and gamba amb bleda [shrimps with Swiss chard], without forgetting the popular paella and fresh fish and seafood from the Practical information coast. As for fiestas, the heart of the Safor region has recourse to the popular Fallas in March, along with Fiestas, food and crafts different festivals of maritime origin, without forgetting In the area of the Xixarra green way, between Villena and the feast days of the patron saints of its municipalities. Muro de Alcoy, culinary production and preparation uses the raw ingredients from the area to delight us with Recommended time of year to visit dishes like the popular gazpacho manchego [a thick stew Any time of year is recommendable to do this route. of rabbit, partridge or other game bird, or poultry, garlic From the end of January to the middle of March it is and tomatoes, thickened with bread], ajotonto [mashed accompanied by enjoying the colourful landscapes cod, tomato and potato], gachamiga [like a thick paste when the almond and cherry trees are in glorious made with flour, olive oil and water, may have onion, bloom. In the months of autumn the banks of the garlic, longaniza etc], pericana [made with dried cod and Serpis surprise with the changing colours of their dried peppers], olla [stews/casserole], bajoca farcida deciduous trees. [green beans], fassegures [dumplings], or giraboix [cod, Public transport Villena can be reached by regional train services. From Gaianes 38° 51' 13.68" N 0° 26' 40.20" W Gandia there are local train services for the return to Valencia. Bicycles are transported free of charge.

Recommendations and precautions In case you want to travel the route just as it is set out in the guide, making use of the green ways by bike or on foot, a word of advice: it is better to use a mountain bike, or as a minimum, the hybrid type. We de not come across too many waterspouts to quench thirst and refresh oneself away from the urban centres, so make RUTA9y10_92a111 OK ingles:rutas 01/07/10 12:48 Página 111

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sure you replenish supplies whenever you have the chance. The early hours of the morning and at dusk are the best times of the day as the temperature is agreeable and the light is especially good. The route may be done by car, substituting the green ways with the nearest local roads. See the text for each stretch of the route for alternatives by road.

Beniarrés 38º 49' 18.61" N 0º 22' 31.20" W

RECOMMENDED MAPS TO FOLLOW THE ROUTE CORRECTLY:

National Geographic Institute: Scale: 1:25,000, sheet numbers: 740-I. 795-II, IV; 796-I; 820-II, III, IV; 821-I, II; 845-II & 846-I. Further information: www.comunitatvalenciana.com Information on regional and local trains: Renfe 902 24 02 02. www.renfe.es

TOURIST INFO OFFICES FOR THE ROUTE:

Tourist Info Agres Tourist Info Gandia Tourist Info Muro de Alcoy Tourist Info Ontinyent C/ Mayor, s/n Av. Marqués de Campo, s/n Pl. Matzem, s/n Pl. de Sto. Domingo, 13 bajo 03837 Agres 46700 Gandia 03830 Muro de Alcoy 46870 Ontinyent Tel. 965 51 00 01 Tel. 962 87 77 88 Tel. 965 53 20 71 T. 962 91 60 90 Fax 965 51 02 88 Fax 962 86 55 77 Fax 965 53 20 71 Fax 962 91 63 03 agres@ touristinfo. net [email protected] [email protected] ontinyent@ touristinfo. net

Tourist Info Albaida Tourist Info Gandia-Playa Tourist Info Oliva Tourist Info Vila de Biar Pl. del Pintor Segrelles, 19 Pº Marítimo Neptuno, 45 Passeig Lluis Vives, s/n C/ Cura Reig, 1 46860 Albaida 46730 Gandia 46780 Oliva 03410 Biar Tel. 962 39 01 86 Tel. 962 84 24 07 Tel. 962 85 55 28 Tel. 965 81 11 77 Fax 962 90 06 67 (Ayto.) Fax 962 84 52 17 Fax 962 85 04 62 Fax 965 81 08 33 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Tourist Info Bocairent Tourist Info Gandia-Port Tourist Info Oliva -Playa Tourist Info Villena Pl. del Ayuntamiento 2. Av. de la Pau, s/n C/ Roger de Lauria, 38 Pl. de Santiago, 5 46880 Bocairent Recinto Portuario 46780 Oliva 03400 Villena Tel. 962 90 50 62 46730 Gandia Tel. 962 85 03 91 Tel. 966 15 02 36 Fax 962 90 50 85 Tel. 962 95 98 14 [email protected] Fax 966 15 00 66 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]