route 13 - valenciafr.comunitatvalenciana.com/sites/default/files/ruta_13_240910_en.pdf · route 13...

Route 13From Alcoy to Alicante

A forgotten, unfinished project convertedinto a green way

1 • Viaduct: Viaducto de Canalejas

2 • Industrial ruins: Fábricas de El Molinar

3 • Nature Park: Parque Natural del Carrascal

de la Font Roja

4 • Mount: Montcabrer

5 • Paraje del Salt

6 • Viaduct: Viaducto de Sant Antoni

7 • La Sarga

8 • Cave drawings: Mas de la Cova

9 • Summit: Cumbre del Menejador

10 • Gully: Barranco de los Molinos

11 • Castle-Hermitage: Castillo de Castalla y

Ermita de la Sang de Crist

12 • Mount: Sierra del Maigmó

13 • Mount: El Maigmó

14 • Hotel: Xorret del Catí

15 • Abandoned house: Caserío Sarganella

16 • Balcón de Alicante

17 • Castle: Castillo de Tibi

18 • Reservoir: Pantano de Tibi

19 • Mount: Sierra del Ventós

20 • Narrow Pass: Collado de la Horna

21 • Viaduct: Viaducto del Barranco del

Fontanar

22 • Viaduct: Viaducto del Barranc del Forn del

Vidre

23 • Mount-Castle: Monte Benacantil/Castillo

Santa Bárbara

24 • Mount: Serra Grossa

25 • Settlement: Tossal de Manises-Lucentum

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In 1926, as industry around Alcoy grew, it was decided

to create a train to give an outlet for the products

created at these factories. The narrow gauge railway

that went from Alcoy to the Grao de Gandía [port] was

proving insufficient, so it was decided to create a broad

gauge railway that would go as far as the Alicante port.

It was a Titanic project from the start, due to the

mountainous geography. The route was laid out, great

differences in level were negotiated by means of

viaducts and mountains were passed through creating

various different tunnels: civil engineering works of

Pharaonic scale that have remained to this day despite

the tracks never having been laid along the line and so,

no train ever ran along it. The last stage of the works

coincided with the outbreak of the Civil War. The post-

war period and its miseries prevented the project ever

reaching its conclusion and the tracks being laid so as

to get this railway service running, so this route through

the Alicante sierras was left in oblivion. Even today the

sides of the track bed are still visible, the mounds of

chippings and stones for bedding-in the sleepers and

supporting the rails that were never laid. The route has

been rehabilitated in two stretches for hiking and cycle-

tourism, thus creating the Alcoy Vía Verde or “green

way” and that of Maigmó. On the stretch from Alcoy to

Alicante we will get to know, amongst other places, the

Carrascal de la Font Roja nature park, the town of Ibi,

the spectacular Maigmó sierra, the town of Tibi and its

reservoir, the town of Agost, San Vicent del Raspeig and

finally the provincial capital: Alicante; a spectacular

route that unites impressive natural richness with a

splendid cultural heritage.

From Alcoy, city of bridges,through Serra Mariola and FontRoja nature parks

Our route starts in the city of Alcoy. Two things mark

the character of this place: first, its geographical

location, and secondly, its having been the pioneer of

the Industrial Revolution in Spain. Alcoy is set in a valley

surrounded by large, attractive mountains; moreover, it

is crossed by the rivers Riquer, Benisaidó and Molinar,

tributaries of the Serpis, for which reason it is

sometimes known as the “city of bridges”. The former

centre of Alcoy has inherited the urban development

that took place during the second half of the 19th

century and the beginning of the 20th. Although its

streets and houses might have been conditioned by

the previous developments, the present appearance is

a direct result of the fact that the city was the precursor

of Spanish industrialisation. The factories, working class

districts and the houses of the Bourgeoisie coexisted in

a reduced space among the valley and rivers. We will be

deeply moved on visiting the city, if we have never

been there before, for it seems impossible that in such

complex mountain geography such a beautiful and

monumental city should have prospered. We make a

tour around Alcoy to take a look at the position of

modernism in the place. The last years of the industrial

expansion left in Alcoy a varied catalogue of

architectural displays of the modernist style. Buildings

that were put up in the wake of what was called here

“stil nouveau” [new style], signature of the local

industrial Bourgeousie, in the same way that it was

developed, although with greater force, in Catalonia.

The Casa del Pavo, the Círculo Industrial, the building

that houses the Monte de Piedad y Caja de Alcoy, the

Conservatoire, the Albors mansion, the Bambú building,

the Cultural Centre, and some façades in San Lorenzo

and Gonzalo Barrachina streets are examples of this

fact. Another route we should do around Alcoy is called

the Volta als Ponts. This is a walk around the bridges in

Alcoy. The first bridge over which we pass is the

Alcoy 38º 41' 86'' N 0º 28' 38'' E

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industrial ruins of El Molinar. Abandoned houses and

factories, half in ruins, in a delightful setting where the

vegetation is gaining ground on human action, creating

beautiful spots full of magic. Investigating around the

ruins we come across an enormous mill, remains of

Alcoy’s industrial might. We have mentioned that Alcoy

is boxed in between various sierras and mountains. So,

before going to the starting point of the “green way”, it

might be interesting to get to know one of these

mountains and sierras at first hand. From the Barranco

del Cint, a ravine with spectacular vertical walls, we find

one of the best gateways into the heart of the Serra

Mariola nature park. An officially marked path leads up

to the summit of Montcabrer, at 1,390 metres above sea

level, from where wide panoramas of the surrounding

regions open up. All the way up we will enjoy the

charm of one of the most amazing mountains in

Valencian lands.

We cannot but admire the harmony of its landscapes

and, in amidst unimaginable silences and airs free of

contaminating smoke, will set about discovering its rich

cultural and ethnographic heritage: caves or pits in

which snow was stored, archaeological deposits,

country house estates, castles and hermitages. We will

also come across spots of captivating beauty like the

Fuentes de Mariola, La Fontfreda, the source of the river

Vinalopó, ancient woodlands like the modest stand of

yews on the shady side of Agres, areas of impressive

Holm oaks and, on all sides, the herbs and bushes of

Mariola that have historically been gathered for their

medicinal properties and the preparation of liqueurs,

which has given Mariola its fame among those studying

ethnobotany.

Now we do indeed make for the start of the Alcoy

green way. We are situated in the Batoi neighbourhood

and, no sooner have we begun the itinerary through

the pretty spot with the name Salt, we go through the

first of the eleven tunnels we will find on this green

way. It is recommended, despite the tunnels having

electric lighting, to carry a powerful torch with you. On

the way out of this tunnel we come across, this time,


The Font Roja 38º 39' 82'' N 0º 32' 34'' W

Cristina, built in 1838. This bridge makes it possible to

cross the river Barxell or Riquer, along whose banks

many factories are preserved from over a hundred years

ago, retaining their manufacturing chimneys still

standing. The next bridge we cross is that of San Roque,

also from the same era and with three semicircular

arches each measuring eight metres. Continuing, we

will enter the tree-lined avenue where we find two

renaissance style mansions and, straight after that we

come to La Pechina bridge which crosses the river

Benisadó describing five semicircular arches with a

maximum height of 28 metres. Very close by, the San

Jorge bridge stretches out, which certainly identifies the

city to a greater extent. The San Jorge bridge was a

whole revolution in town planning for Alcoy, for it

involved the development of the Ensanche [expansion]

area, a new urban area that enabled the city, in the first

third of the 20th century, to grow beyond the

traditional boundaries.

We return to where the Volta als Ponts started out and

we still have time to visit the last of the urban bridges:

the Canelejas viaduct, opened in 1907 to get across the

river Molinar. Specifically following the course of the

Molinar, leaving the city on a road leading downhill and

then taking a narrow footpath, we will come upon the


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there is a good example of Mediterranean mixed forest.

It is a mountainous ridge orientated southwest-

northeast. This determines a clear difference in the

distribution of vegetation on its two sides, the sunny

one and the shady one, giving the area a high

ecological and scenic value. The side lying closest to the

CV-806 is the sunny side. In the more shaded and

humid spots on the north face, higher up than 1,250

metres, there are small deciduous woods, made up of

Portuguese oak, ash, maple, whitebeam and yews.

Being trees that lose their leaves during one part of the

year (deciduous), these spots have a variety of colour

which gives them a singularity and special beauty.

Between altitudes of 600 metres to 1,250 metres the

Holm oak woodlands [for which the park is partly

named, “carrasco” being one of its Spanish names]

abound.

At La Font Roja [red water-source], cultural heritage has

nothing to envy that of nature. Wherever we walk we

come across snow pits [for storing snow in summer],

limekilns, charcoal burners, farmsteads, unirrigated

fields, hermitages, the sanctuary, waterspouts…. As part

of this ethnographic cultural heritage, we will discover

the world of the ‘nevaters’ [as these snow pits are called

in Valencian]. Of all the snow pits we highlight the Cava

Roja or de Simarro, which is the best made and has the

greatest capacity, of 2,700 cubic metres. From the 17th

century until the beginning of the 20th they served to

supply the neighbouring municipalities with

compacted snow for culinary or medicinal purposes.

The snow trade played an important role in the

mountain areas and favoured the birth of the ice cream

industry nearby places like Xixona. We leave our visit to

the Carrascal de la Font Roja nature park and continue

with our route which leads us, through the sub-region

of Foia de Castalla, to the town of Ibi. Today it is the ‘toy

capital’, but until the beginning of the 20th century this

activity, the manufacture of toys, did not exist in this

town. It was as a result of a clever tinsmith, Rafael Payá,

making a little “tartana” [small two-wheeled carriage] for

his children, out of scraps of tin, that the toy-making

Alcoy green way 38º 40' 84'' N 0º 30' 43'' W

the first of the green way’s three viaducts. Having

passed through another tunnel we now come to the

Siete Lunas viaduct over the river Polop, which affords

some impressive views over Alcoy, the Font Roja nature

park and the Serra de Mariola nature park. As a curiosity,

it is worth saying that the viaduct is a common spot for

doing bungee jumping. The poetic name of Siete Lunas

[seven moons] derives from the seven concrete arches

that support the track bed. The green way continues

with a gentle downhill slope through a series of small

tunnels until it reaches the Barranco de la Batalla, a

ravine where we come to the three longest tunnels on

the line, almost joined (two of them are 900 and 1000

metres long respectively).

The first has a surprising opening in the side, which

lights up, almost magically, the darkness of the railway

cavern. When we come out of these tunnels, we now

find ourselves immersed in the Carrascal de la Font Roja

nature park and we pass over the Sant Antoni viaduct,

so named because it stands in the shadow of the Sant

Antoni sierra. The Alcoy green way leaves the

mountains behind and heads for, to end at, the area of

La Sagra, an outlying district of Xixona well known for

the cave drawings that are found in the caves situated

beside what is called Mas de la Cova. Once we have

finished the itinerary along the Alcoy green way, we

head for Ibi along the CV- 806.

Before we get to this town, it would be a good idea, to

make a round trip detour to get to know the Carrascal

de la Font Roja nature park, which is on our right as we

go along this road. The protected natural space covers

some 2,298 hectares and is situated between the towns

of Ibi and Alcoy. The Cumbre de Menejador at 1,356

metres, is the highest point in the park. On this sierra


gully set boxed-in between almost vertical sheer sides,

factors which, along with the humidity, enabled elm

groves, black willows and poplars to grow here, their

colouring standing out among the pinewood on the

sides of the gully. It is a natural spot of great

environmental value with a recreational area and an

interesting climbing school.

We leave the town of Ibi to go along the CV-806 to

Castalla, accompanied by fields of almond trees and

terraces of cereals still painstakingly worked today.

Among almond groves, from themediaeval airs of Castalla to theTibi reservoir, over the Maigmópass

We reach Castalla, historic capital of the sub-region of

Foia de Castalla and cradle of the writer Enric Valor. Its

urban centre stretches out at the foot of the hill on

which we find its famous and clearly visible Arab origin

castle and the Ermita de la Sang de Crist, a 13th century

hermitage in early Gothic style. The castle is catalogued

as a Place of Cultural Interest and was remodelled by

the Spaniards between the 14th and 16th centuries. It

is, even today, a magnificent defensive fortress,

powerful and well put together in stone. We will visit

Castalla’s old quarter and we can begin looking around

from the Carrer de Tronotes, which is beside the church

and is one of the most typical streets in the town with

its white houses and cobbles. The old quarter retains its

mediaeval feel, with steep narrow streets. Between the

Castalla and the Maigmó pass our route makes use of

the former main road CV-815. The motorised traffic now

goes along a splendid dual carriageway, which was

built largely over the line traced by the track bed of the

unused railway. The old road has now been marked as a

cycle route and will take us, without missing out on

anything, to the Maigmó pass itself, between pleasant

fields of olive and almond trees. Before reaching the

Maigmó pass, a sign indicates the access to the

tradition of the municipality began. Shortly afterwards,

the first toy factory appeared in Ibi: Payá Hermanos

[Payá Brothers]. Today there is a plaza in Ibi named La

Tartana, and the development of the toy industry has

been such that we now come across the Toy Museum.

This museum is made up of collections which the Payá

brothers’ company made over to the town council after

it became a co-operative in 1990. The Payá brothers

had travelled all over the world purchasing toys (two

per model, one was dismantled, the other remained

intact) to get to know the trends in this industry. Also in

Ibi, we can find the Toy Technological Institute and the

only monument known in the world dedicated to the

figure of the Three Wise Men [known in Spanish as the

Magic Kings of the Orient, and traditionally it is they

who secretly leave the Christmas presents for the

children on 12th night (6th of January - Epiphany),

rather than Father Christmas], inaugurated in 1975.

Walking around Ibi, we realise that, as well as toys,

another of the economic sectors that have driven this

town is that of ice cream. We have already commented

on the traditional ice-cream industry in the area and

the town of Ibi is no exception. And we said we would

realise this fact as we walked around because, amongst

other things, we will come across the monument to the

‘Gelaters’ [ice-men], situated in the park of the same

name. This is a monument in honour of the Ibi ice-men,

which depicts the trails and tribulations of a family of

ice-men, an example of so many others who moved on

all over Spain and even abroad as precursors of this

important industry of today.

Within the municipal boundary of Ibi it would also be

very interesting to have a look around the Barranco de

los Molinos [gully of the mills], so named because in it

there were (the occasional one still remains, although

not functioning) flour and paper mills. It is a narrow


Maigmó mountain pass


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Maigmó sierra, for those wishing to get to its most

intimate environmental and cultural secrets. It has a

maximum altitude of 1,296 metres at the peak of the

same name. Few summits cast their shade in the area

where this colossus stands. In all the sierra the only

centre of habitation is the one formed by the

installations of the Xorret del Catí mountain hotel,

situated on a level area or valley, at over nine hundred

metres above sea level, which is the nerve centre of

tourism in the area. From the Xorret del Catí various

different paths set out enabling us to get to know the

sierra in depth. Wandering around the Maigmó sierra is

to wander among the leafy vegetation encouraged by

innumerable Aleppo pines and the occasional patch of

Holm oaks. In the more humid spots on the shady side

of the sierra, we can come across strawberry trees. The

steepest, most inaccessible peaks of this sierra are an

invaluable refuge for birds of prey, like falcons, both

peregrine and Eleanor’s, kestrel, golden eagle, goshawk,

little owl and eagle-owl. Regarding the mammals, the

surprising presence of the hedgehog, weasel, fox, hare,

rabbit, wild boar, field mouse, genet [cat-like, on the

endangered list in Spain] and wild cat.

At the foot of the Maigmó humans used the land, in

bygone days, for crops, but nowadays nature has

reclaimed the land and there is hardly any arable space

left. We might indeed come across roads and drovers’

tracks from those days and the remains of the

occasional farmstead or animal pen. We highlight

among the remains of these humanised areas the Casa

Planises, owned by the writer Enric Valor’s family and

today practically in ruins, where he undoubtedly

sketched more than one of his famous “rondallas” [a

traditional folktale form in Valencia, in poetic form like a

troubadour’s ballad]. It might also be interesting to visit

another farmstead, the Caserio Sarganella. In the

Maigmó sierra the same geographic-climatic

phenomenon occurs as in the Carrascal de la Font Roja

nature park, which is why these mountains were also

used for gathering snow. Nowadays we also find at

Planises the Pozo de Carrascales snow pit and, in other

parts of the sierra, the Pozo de Briga and Pozo del

Maigmó. One of the most spectacular places in the

sierra is, without a doubt, the Balcón de Alicante,

situated not far from the Miagmó peak.

From here, where there is a well-appointed recreational

area, we can observe the entire Alicante ‘huerta’, the

market gardens and orchards of the plains, and on a

clear day we will have no problem recognising the city

of Benidorm, Alicante and the Mediterranean meeting

the sky along the line of the horizon. Amongst all this

vegetation and fauna that will accompany us on any of

the trips around this sierra, the culminating peaks

emerge with great force, displaying spectacular cliffs

and sheer rock faces like those of the Maigmó peak

itself, where the most inaccessible screes and rocky

places dominate.

From the summit it is possible to see, as well as

spectacular panoramic views, the true magnitude of the

topographic wall that is this pre-coastal sierra, standing

in opposition to a nearby marine area. Returning to our

route, some four kilometres further on lies the village of

Tibi, a way surrounded by unirrigated lands where

nevertheless olive groves and almond trees are grown,

the almonds being used for making the turrón [nougat]

of the neighbouring Xixona. Tibi shows itself to us today

as a town of white houses nestled on the slopes of

Penya Roja sierra. Among the cultural and historic

heritage is the 10th century Arabic castle, declared a

Place of Cultural Interest. At present it is found in a state

Tibi reservoir

136


of ruins, although it still retains various outstanding

remains, noteworthy among them being various

stretches of wall with masonry work. The castle is

situated on a mound a kilometre from the village itself.

From Tibi we can make a nice excursion to the reservoir.

Following the course of the river Verde, we will reach

the tail end of the reservoir on a trip that will allow us

to discover different curious geological formations and

former agricultural constructions.

Having reached the Tibi reservoir, we will be amazed to

find out that it was built 400 years ago and is the oldest

reservoir in Europe. It was ordered to be built by Felipe

II in the 16th century to guarantee the water supply to

Alicante’s fertile plain or ‘huerta’. It continues to give

service nowadays, included in the "Confederación

Hidrográphica de Júcar" as part of the river Júcar water

management system. It suffered serious structural

damage in 1667 although it came back into service in

1738. Given its relevance, it has been declared a Place of

Cultural Interest. As well as the contributions from the

river Verde, the reservoir also receives water from the

springs of the Onil marsh. We can, on the visit to the

reservoir, climb a spiral flight of steps leading to the top

of the dam. Cavanillas climbed these same steps,

sketchbook in hand, making notes on our lands as he

journeyed through Valencia. The skill of the architects of

that era is surprising, as the ingenious arrangement of

the steps means that vertigo is practically non-existent.

We return now to the Maigmó pass, where the green

way reappears, where the train never ran.

Maigmó green way

From the Maigmó pass, beside the service area of the A-

7, we will find a clear dirt track and a rest area. We start

our itinerary to the RENFE station at Agost on a gentle

downward slope. The route, after flanking a terrain of

gentle profiles on a plateau half way up the slopes of

the Maigmó sierra, is faced with passing over the Ventós

sierra, a mountainous ridge placed at right angles to the

Maigmó sierra. The way traces its first tunnel under the

Horna pass, on the watershed of the Ventós sierra. This

first tunnel is the longest of the of six that we will pass

through on this stretch, at 525 metres. After passing

through the bowels of the Horna pass, to the left of the

way we find, in a large pinewood, a rest area. The line

runs through a very broken terrain on the southern

slopes of the Maigmó. Great embankments and deep

cuttings accompany us through one of the prettiest

parts of the route. We pass through three more tunnels

and the vegetation becomes more dispersed. Next, we

come to two impressive viaducts, that of the Fontanar

ravine, which is 190 metres long and has a maximum

height of 30 metres, and the viaduct over the Forn del

Vidre ravine, which is 167 metres long and a maximum

height of 40 metres.

Having crossed the Forn del Vidre viaduct the line

begins to run across terrain of a gentler orography, the

Tarraig hills. In this section, the way now describes a

large bend to gradually lose height and position itself on

the flat lands of the Agost fertile plain or “huerta”. On

both sides of the way large ponds are positioned where

water is accumulated to supply the important irrigated

crops of this market gardening and orchard region. After

the great double curve of the Tarraig, the line

approaches the urban centre of this town, skirting round

different ceramics factories and market garden plots,


Crops in Alcoy


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until it reaches the building of the Agost halt, belonging

to the RENFE Madrid-Alicante railway line, although

before reaching this point it would be convenient to

make a visit to the town of Agost. As we have

mentioned, on the final stretch of the Maigmó green

way we come across various ceramics factories. In Agost,

the white-ish clay soils of the Ventós and Castellar sierras

have been the traditional source of its wealth, centred

on the handcrafted production of its ceramics, amongst

which bricks, household ceramic ware and, above all,

“botijos” [earthenware pitchers for keeping water cool]

of a typical marble white colour. This town’s tradition in

this industry means that in the town, we can find the

Ceramic Museum where a former pottery used to be. In

it the process of creating handmade pottery can be

watched, with a spectacular Arab kiln, and we can find

pieces of great interest, especially the ceramics

collection. It would also be very interesting in Agost to

visit the ruins of what was once a powerful castle,

declared a Place of Cultural Interest. And before leaving

the town, we pass through the Ermita de las Santas

Justa y Rufina, the patron saints of pottery, built in 1821.

From Agost station and passing along rural roads and

the CV-834, we reach Sant Vicent del Raspeig. What is

seen today in Sant Vicente del Raspeig is an emerging

city very close to becoming a conurbation with Alicante,

a prosperous city for its new residential areas, its

industries, services and leisure and shopping centres.

Known as a university town since Alicante University was

opened there in 1979, the 19th century church of Sant

Vicent Ferrer attracts our attention, built over a former

15th century hermitage. The hermitage had been built

for the visit of San Vicente Ferrer to the hamlet Raspeig

in the 15th century. In fact, this visit was the origin of the

town’s name. A wide avenue now joins Alicante with

Sant Vicent del Raspeig. Alicante has its best claim in its

coastal location, its beaches and a privileged climate for

beach tourism, with a great number of hours of sun.

However, if the travellers wish to get closer to its cultural,

historic and artistic heritage, Alicante will not let them

down either. In this sense, we must have a wander

round the old quarter, with its steep narrow streets

where our attention will be attracted by the traditional

white buildings. Passing through these streets we will

discover the cathedral church of San Nicolás de Bari,

raised up over the remains of a mosque in the Herreran

Renaissance style [after its most notable practitioner,

Juan de Herrera (1530-1593)]. Sober in its exterior

appearance, its construction was carried out between

1616 and 1662. The old quarter is scattered around

Mount Benacantil, which intrudes into the city and onto

the beach. A rocky formation, it has pines and shrubs on

its north face while the south side facing the

Mediterranean sea is bare. In the transition areas there

are thickets, scrub and grasses typical vegetation of the

dry Mediterranean climate.

On top of the mountain sits Alicante’s mediaeval fortress,

Santa Bárbara castle. Until 1963, when it was opened to

the public, it had been in an abandoned state. It was in

that year that two lifts were opened running up 142,70

metres It is precisely this spot, the Postiguet beach,

which is another of the charismatic places we should

visit in Alicante, an icon of the city and named in a

popular Valencian song called ‘La Manta al Coll’. Close to

it, on the maritime façade, we find the Canalejas Park

and the Lonja del Pescado [Fish Exchange or market], a

building of an industrial nature in a historicist style

integrating neo-Arabic ornamental details and which,

since 1992, has been an exhibition hall. Also an

obligatory visit is the former Provincial Hospital, which

currently houses the Provincial Archaeological museum

(MARQ), with over 3,000 exhibits from the sites in the

area. And, before finishing our route that has taken us to

Alicante from Alcoy along a railway line that never

existed, we must visit the Tossal de Manises-Lucentum

archaeological site, from the Iberian and Roman era,

Maigmó green way 38º 28' 69'' N 0º 38' 64'' W

138


Santa Bárbara castle, Alicante 38º 20' 91'' N 0º 28' 78'' E

with its Zeus Roman colony, located in the Albufereta

district and declared a Place of Cultural Interest.

Practical Information

Fiestas, food and craftsThe cuisine of these inland l’Alcoyà regions offers dishes

like: pericana [cod and dried peppers], olleta [stew],

bajoques farcidas [stuffed peppers], pastel de carne [meat

loaf ], arròs caldós amb conill [rice in rabbit stock], giraboix

[cod, white bean and potato stew]. It is traditional

cooking in which other dishes stand out: gazpachos

manchegos with pieces of game [varieties of the

manchego gazpacho, rabbit and chicken pieces cooked

with tomatoes], les fraseures [meatballs made with flour,

bacon and other ingredients], rice with rabbit, gazpacho

tibero [gazpacho from Tibi, like the manchego, with rabbit

and partridge stewed with tomatoes and mushrooms],

llegum amb penques [pulses and vegetables], caragols

[snails], minchos [unleavened bread with wheat and corn

flour], coca de sardina and coca de cebolla [sardine and

onion tarts]. Without forgetting the putxero amb

tarongetes [stew and dumplings], and potaje [vegetable

stew with pulses]. On the coast we have all kinds of rice

dishes, especially with fish, like the caldero [rice stew] and

arròs a banda [rice cooked in a fish broth], along with the

excellent fish and seafood. Among the sweets to

highlight: torrat ensucrat [sugared pulses], brazo gitano

[like a very fat Swiss roll] and dulces sequillos [dry almond

biscuit]. In Alcoy they have a spirit drink with a specific

official denomination [like the D.O for wines]: the café-licor

[coffee liqueur], while in Alicante you can enjoy, amongst

others, the spirit drink Salvia de Mariola [sage liqueur]. As

far as the fiestas is concerned, the splendour of the Moros

y Cristianos (Moors and Christians) makes it a reference

point not to be missed on the festival calendar of the

l’Alcoyà area. The fiestas of the Moors and Christians in

Alcoy in honour of Sant Jordi have been declared of

International Tourist Interest. But watch out also for the

festivities of San Antón in January; the countless romerías

[local pilgrimages and religious processions] to

sanctuaries and hermitages in the area, of which the

Romería a Santa Faz stands out in Alicante, celebrated on

the second Thursday after Easter; carnivals in February

[marking the beginning of Lent]; the feast days of the

patron saints of every town and city; Semana Santa [Holy

Week]; Fogueres [bonfires] for Sant Joan [St John] in June,

which are the best known fiestas in Alicante and have

been declared of International Tourist Interest. With

regard to craftwork, bags and shopping baskets are made

of dried palm leaves, as well as the typical rope soled

shoes and shopping bags and various others made from

esparto or needle-grass. At Agost Pottery Museum, we

find a permanent exhibition and a good display of

pottery making, which still retains the pottery wheels and

kiln of Arab origin. We can also find other craft activities

like the barrels from Monòver and the toys from Ibi and

Castalla.

Recommended time of yearAny time of year is good, although preferably in spring

and autumn. In summer the hours around midday must

be avoided. Watch out for the fields of vineyards with

the colours of autumn, as well as the almond blossom

between January and February.



Public transportRegional trains stop at Alcoy and Alicante stations for

the start of the route. On the return Alicante also has a

stop for the regional trains. Bicycles are transported free

of charge on the trains.

Recommendations In case you want to travel the route just as it is

proposed, by bike or on foot, a word of warning: a

mountain bike is better, or as a minimum, the hybrid

type. We do not come across many water spouts to

quench thirst and refresh ourselves away from the

urban centres, so you must always replenish supplies

whenever you get the opportunity. The early hours of

the morning and at dusk are the best times of the day

to travel as the temperature is agreeable and the light is

especially good. If anyone wishes to go by car, it is not

possible to drive along the green way from Maigmó

between Alcoy and the start of the Foia de Castalla

before reaching Ibi. Neither is it allowed along the

green way on the stretch between Maigmó pass and

Agost railway station. On the country tracks where it is

possible to drive with motor vehicles, the main track

should never be left, since it is much better and more

respectful of the environment. In order to get to know

in more detail each area of nature that we propose,

leave the car parked somewhere safe and secure and

undertake trips on foot.

- 141140

RECOMMENDED MAPS TO FOLLOW THE ROUTE CORRECTLY:

National Geographic Institute: Scale 1:25,000, sheet numbers: 821-III; 846-II and IV; 847-I; 871-II and IV; and 872-III.Further information: www.comunitatvalenciana.comInformation on regional and local trains: Renfe 902 24 02 02. www.renfe.es

TOURIST INFO OFFICES ON THE ROUTE:

Tourist Info AlcoyC/ Sant Llorenç, 2. 03801AlcoyTel. 965 53 71 55 Fax 965 53 71 [email protected]

Tourist Info AlicanteAv. Rambla de MéndezNúñez, 23. 03002 AlicanteTel. 965 20 00 00Fax 965 20 02 [email protected]

Tourist Info Alicante-CentroC/ Portugal, 17. Coach station 03003 AlicanteTel. 965 92 98 02Fax 965 92 01 [email protected]

Tourist Info Alicante- ExplanadaAv. Explanada de España, 103002 AlicanteTel. 965 14 70 38Fax 965 21 56 [email protected]

Tourist Info Alicante-Playa San JuanAv. de Niza, s/n (Next to Red cross)03540 AlicanteTel. 609 36 40 99

Tourist Info Alicante-RENFEAv. Salamanca (RENFE railway station)03540 AlicanteTel. 965 12 56 [email protected]

Tourist Info Alicante-UniversidadSoc. Relaciones Intern -Campus San Vte. Raspeig 03080 AlicanteTel. 965 90 34 00 [email protected]

Tourist Info CastallaPl. Mayor, 3 03420 CastallaTel. 966 56 10 18 Fax 966 56 10 [email protected]

Tourist Info IbiC/ Doctor Waksman, 503440 IbiTel. 965 55 12 [email protected]


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