This time we are going to spend three days in the Vinalopó Valley, visiting various castles in the area and hiking in the imposing Sierra del Cid. On the second day we will also visit the finest tea house in Valencian Community.
| Friday, 24th of February | Meet in Valencia (Mestalla staidum) at 9:30 |
| Drive to Petrer (about 2 hours) | |
| Coffee and a visit to Petrer castle | |
| Hike Silla del Cid (medium/hard, 10.5km, 600m+) | |
| Dinner and night in our guesthouse in Onil | |
| Saturday, 25th of February | Visit the Biar castle |
| Drive to Crevillent (30 minutes) | |
| Hike Sierra de Crevillent (medium, 12.3km, 400m+) | |
| Evening drinking tea in Carmen del Campillo | |
| Night in our guesthouse in Onil | |
| Sunday, 26th of February | Drive to Sax and visit Sax castle |
| Hike the Xocolate (medium, 11.2km, 400m+) | |
| Return to Valencia (about 1.5 hours) |
The Castles
Castillo de Biar
This frontier castle is Arab in origin and was reinforced and extended by the Christians from the time of its conquest. It contains a unique element in Hispanic Arab architecture.
It was built in the 12th century by the Almohads, and reinforced from the mid-13th century onwards due to its location on the frontier between the kingdoms of Aragon and Castile.It is today in a good state of conservation, and comprises a double enclosure. The exterior, which follows the shape of the hill overlooking the village of Biar, has four semi-cylindrical towers at the corners, all with battlements and arrow slits. The interior also has three semi-cylindrical towers, although its most outstanding feature is the shell keep.
Castillo de Petrer
With more than 1,000 years of history, it was the home of Muslim and Christian feudal lords, such as the Loaysa family, the counts of Cocentaina, or the Coloma, counts of Elda. Abandoned the fortress in the 17th century, the passage of time and the anthropic action of man, were making a dent in its topped walls.
Castillo de Sax
Defining the skyline of the village, Sax castle is an imposing fortress perched atop a mountain offering stunning views over Alto Vinalopó. The village of Sax is defined by a stone castle of the same name. Perched 500 metres above sea level, this great bastion makes a visual impact with its imposing silhouette visible from miles away. Thanks to its elevated position, you can enjoy spectacular views over Alto Vinalopó during your visit.
Extending along the rugged summit, Sax castle can be divided into two distinct parts. To the north sits a square mudwall tower, just one floor high, dating to the Almohad period, while to the south-east dominates Homenaje tower, built in the early 14th century. During its most recent restoration (1998-1999), part of the main castle gate was reconstructed.
Sax Castle – Comunitat Valenciana
La Silla del Cid
The majestic limestone block of La Silla del Cid is the great mountain of the Vinalopó Valley, a individualized abruptly carved rock face by profiles that identify its silhouette with a wheelchair ride and that popular tradition has established with the name of “La silla del Cid”, evocative memory place names in the landscape of the rides of the legendary Castilian hero for these lands southern. Legend says that El Cid, harassed dangerously by the Saracens, superior in number to his hosts, implored the divine help that arrived with Santiago, a knight armed with a luminous sword that put the Moors to flight. Santiago, jumping from a mountain range to the field of battle, he left an imprint on the stone, “the kick of the Santiago’s horse. The Sierra del Cid is where he had place the battle and the place of the fabulous jump, the sierra del Caballo, mountains separated by the riverbed of the Vinolopó.
The mountain raised in the landscape like an anvil rocky, stands out above its surroundings between rough earrings lying at the foot of the reliefs emerging and descending until converging on the bottoms of the boulevards and the valley. His presence in the landscape is a symbol for the people who have in their prominent and colorful mass a referent of territoriality and belonging to a place. From its peaks a wide sector of the Valle del Vinalopó, the historic corridor of communication of the Plateau with the Mediterranean, a landscape of rugged lines, mountains and ravines, ochre and reddish lands where grays emerge limestone banks.
La silla del Cid – Comunitat Valenciana
Sierra de Crevillent
Cliffs, paths, caves, huts, ravines, natural parks and viewpoints are some of the uncountable aspects that make Sierra de Crevillent range so special. It is considered a Conservation Special Area and it’s part of the ambitious european net Red Natura 2000 which, since 1997, pretends to contribute to the habitat and species preservation. The vegetation is really interesting since depending on the part of the mountain where you walk, you can find very different places and corners.
This range has been, also, an important natural resource for all the cultures that have passed over here. Numerous galleries and pipings still exist. You can see stretches of aqueducts and canals, called qanats, ingenierie works brought from the Middle East. The most famous is Els Pontets, whose canal features two arcade levels; the lower one is made with masonry and comes from the Andalusian period while the upper one, made with stone blocks, is from the XVIIIth century. “Els Pontets” is the starting, passing and arriving point of most of the routes and paths the range has.
Crevillent Mountain Range – Visita Crevillent
Carmen del Campillo
As if it were a corner from One Thousand and One Nights tale, there is a spectacular place in the province of Alicante, that’s well worth visiting, a space located in the middle of the mountains between the municipality of Crevillent and Albatera – Carmen de el Campillo, a traditional teahouse, surrounded by a beautiful natural environment, with an impressive Mozarabic-style decoration with amphoras and gardens with fountains.
In Carmen del Campillo, located in the so-called Barranco de San Cayetano, everything is taken care of down to the smallest detail to enjoy a unique experience, something that we will appreciate for being away from the noise and the city, as you can see in the photos of the place.
There they serve teas (Andalusian, flower, fruit, milk…), Arab pastries, hookahs and fruit juices, all accompanied by a unique decoration full of tents, terraces and an infinity of details such as lanterns, cushions, rugs. and other elements capable of transporting you to an inappropriate corner of the area, without forgetting the Arabic background music and a pleasant smell of plants and incense.
Galeria – Carmen del Campillo, Casa Morisca
Accommodation – La Casa de La Menora
Boasting city views, La Casa de La Menora offers accommodation with a terrace and a balcony, around 46 km from Alicante Train Station. It has mountain views and free WiFi throughout the property.
The air-conditioned holiday home consists of 5 bedrooms, a living room, a fully equipped kitchen with a fridge and a coffee machine, and 4 bathrooms with a shower and a hairdryer. Towels and bed linen are offered in the holiday home.
Sign Up
The price of the trip is 195 Euros per person (375 for a couple). 50 euros paid in advance to reserve the spot; balance due by 13th of February (free cancellation till 10th of February). The price includes transportation, two nights of accommodation with breakfast, insurance and a professional guide.
Members get a 10-euro discount.
The price is for a person sharing a twin room. You can reserve a single room for additional 30 euros.
It is possible to sign up till 10th of February. Payments by Bizum or bank transfer are accepted.
You can use the button below to reserve your spot / get more info about the trip or contact us by e-mail to info@valenciamountainenthusiasts.com