COSTA NEWS, May 13-19, 2016 Page 37

Guadalest Valley

stay over at an enchanting rural we’ll be talking about them in a fu- Picturesque villages and mountain walks retreat for a relaxing break or as a ture edition! base for a walking or cycling holi- You can see more features By Karen Marco Guadalest. The Alcozaiba castle peeping over the rooftops of the day. about the Costa Blanca on my per- he Guadalest Valley is a was built in the same era - only small three-storey townhouses, There are several mountain sonal travel blog. T beautiful area to explore, es- the iconic tower remains at the en- which traditionally had base- routes and more sleepy villages to www.kalitravel.net pecially in springtime when the trance to Guadalest. Guadalest ments for stabling mules, living discover in the Guadalest Valley… Photos by K. Marco fruit trees are in blossom and the prison goes back to the XII cen- quarters on the first floor and lofts fields are filled with colourful wild tury - you can visit the dungeons for drying almonds or grain. flowers. beneath the town hall. There are several good hikes in The valley is confined by Con- Guadalest has become famous the area such as the circular route frides mountain pass at the top, for its interesting museums which from the fresh water springs at Sierra Aitana (the highest moun- include the ethnologic museum, Font de Molí () to Font tain in province at 1,558 Nativity scenes and dolls houses, de Partagas (Beniarda) - an easy metres) to the south, with Sierra instruments of torture, micro- walk in the foothills of the Aitana de Xortá and Sierra Serella on the miniatures, salt and pepper sets mountains through breathtaking northern side. The Guadalest (20,000), micro-giant (miniature countryside (approximately 10 river flows through the valley and giant sculptures), historic ve- kilometres, 2 ½ hours). from the source at into hicles, and Casa Orduña (a noble- Take a quiet walk or enjoy a the reservoir. man’s house built in the XVIII picnic down by the reservoir – Guadalest, Benimatell, Be- century, decorated with typical find the turning down to the dam niardá, Benifató, Abdet and Con- XIX furniture, and a collection of on the CV-70 from Callosa de Ens- frides, the villages that lie in the paintings and pottery). arriá, just before Guadalest. A cir- valley date back to Moorish times. Gift shops offer a fascinating cular walks starts on the footpath Many local families still carry on selection of arts, crafts and sou- under the Guadalest fortress, lead- the agricultural tradition handed venirs, while delicatessens sell ing through pine woods following down through the centuries, culti- local produce such as sausages, the reservoir to Beniardá – alter- vating almonds, olives, loquats, or- cheese, honey, vinegars and olive natively, continue driving or cyc- anges and vines - some continue to oil. ling along the lane on the opposite elaborate wine in the natural eco- The village square overlooks bank. logical way, treading the grapes the valley and the clear turquoise You can find some great res- and with no additives. waters of the reservoir below, re- taurants in the vicinity of Guada- is one flecting the blue sky and green lest which serve wonderfully pres- of the prettiest mountain villages pine trees on the slopes of the sur- ented traditional cuisine, carefully in and has been classed as rounding mountains. elaborated with fresh local in- an official ‘place of historical cul- Benimantell is some two kilo- gredients. Typical dishes include tural interest’ since 1974. Built on metres further up the valley. The garlic rabbit, rice dishes, ‘olleta de a crag, the only entrance to the vil- peaceful medieval village is a blat’ (pork, bean and wheat hot- lage is tunneled through the rock. maze of steep winding streets on pot), ‘pilotes de dacsa (meatballs San José castle was built as a de- the hillside with views down to with maize) or ‘minchos’. Local fensive fortress in the XI century the reservoir and surrounding game, roast lamb and vegetables by the Moors and the remains are countryside. You can see the dis- are also popular. located on the highest part of tinctive hexagonal church tower If you have the opportunity,