32 Beyond the Costa Blanca – Murcia Region COSTA NEWS, August 5-11, 2016 Discovering Jumilla By KarenMarco new variations of reds, whites streets where an amazing lore Festival’ and Moors & traditional townhouses, where Murcia is the next province and rosés to please modern 70,000 litres of wine is ‘poured’, Christians Fiesta. you’ll come across a wealth of down from the Costa Blanca; palates. and a full programme of fiesta The best way to get to know ancient architectural treas- bordering Alicante Province to Vines, olives and cereals ures! the west and south, it’s a Re- have been planted on these Climb up to the castle for gion in its own right and name fertile lands since Iberians amazing views across the town of the capital city. A beautiful times, many centuries ago. and surrounding countryside, stretch of Mediterranean The ancient Greeks followed or drive into the pine-clad hill- coastland, inland towns of his- in their footsteps, and went on side to see the ancient Santa toric interest and picturesque to export wine to Greece. The Ana Convent (1573) where there rural landscapes, put it top of local wine industry has are shady picnic areas, natural your wish-list of places to ex- steadily flourished since the springs and fabulous views. plore. Middle ages... in 1950 the first In a future edition we’ll be Jumilla is located inland in automatic bottlers were in- focusing on Jumilla’s fascinat- the far northeast corner of stalled and finally in 1966 Ju- ing history, the castle and the province, a small lively milla was awarded its very monuments, plus info on the city with an attractive histori- own distinction of ‘Denomi- wine route, touring bodegas, cal centre, crowned by the em- nación de Origen’. local cuisine... blematic castle and sur- The August Wine Harvest rounded by agricultural land, Festival is the highlight of the ■ Nearest airports: Ali- mainly vineyards...what Ju- year, starting in June when the cante-Elche (91.4 km); San Javier, milla is internationally re- ‘child of the grapes’ holy statue Murcia (116 km). nowned for, and why the name is carried down from the con- ■ Getting there by car: probably sounds familiar, it’s vent in a procession to the From Murcia city: A-30 & A-33 one of Spain’s great wine pro- Plaza de la Constitución, where (46 min - 70.3 km). ducing areas! the image remains until the fes- From Alicante city: A-31 & Famed for D.O. Jumilla red tive pilgrimage to take it back CV-83 (1 h 12 min – 90.2 km). wine in particular, and the the first Sunday in September. From Valencia city: A-7 & N- many bodegas in and around Other not-to-be-missed at- 344 (1 h 55 min - 159 km). the city; the new generations tractions include the wine at the mainly family-run wi- fountain in Rey Don Pedro You can see more features neries combine expert oenol- Gardens, grape offerings and activities taking place around Jumilla is a walk through the about the Costa Blanca on my per- ogy with a centuries-old wine- grape treading, the popular the middle of August...Jumilla historic centre, a maze of side sonal travel blog: making tradition, to produce wine parade through the Wine Harvesting Day, the ‘Folk- streets, lined with elegant www.kalitravel.net Photos courtesy of Jumilla Town Hall.