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What to visit
This area consists of five municipalities linked by mountains, valleys and historical ties. Located in the heart of the Marina Alta district, they preserve traditions of times past that come as naturally to the inhabitants as working the land.
Your plans could include some hiking or cycling, as the landscapes of these towns and villages are an open book for nature enthusiasts.
Pego i les Valls is a charming place with a rich culinary tradition and a variety of accommodation options to suit all tastes. Don't miss the opportunity to explore this beautiful area and immerse yourself in the local culture - it will be an unforgettable experience!
For the intrepid explorer who wishes to discover new sights, we suggest getting to know the area with a 50-kilometre circular route by car.
In PEGO we will start with a stroll through the streets of the old town, which still follow the original medieval layout. We start from the Baroque-style chapel dedicated to the Ecce-Homo, the local patron saint, and continue on to the Town Hall Square where we will come to the parish church of l'Assumpció (the Assumption of Mary) and the Town Hall itself, housed in an historic stately building. Another point of interest is the Casa de Cultura culture centre, which features the Museum of Modern Art and the Ethnological Museum (dedicated to rice farming and traditional crafts), and the Juan Torres-Sala entomology collection. Religion and spiritual worship have bequeathed us hermitages devoted to Sant Miquel (Archangel Michael), Sant Josep (Saint Joseph) and Sant Antoni (Saint Anthony). And finally we will stop by the Franciscan convent and Sagrada Familia church, followed by a trip to the ruins of Ambra castle.
Don’t miss the Parc Natural de la Marjal de Pego-Oliva (Pego-Oliva Marshes Nature Park), a wetland area where rice is grown. It is one of the largest extensions of biodiversity in the Mediterranean, and is home to many different species of flora and fauna.
We then take the turn-off towards the CV-712 road and after travelling 12 kilometres we arrive in LA VALL D'EBO. This town is alive with centuries of history; from rock art and the ruins of Moorish settlements that can still be admired today to the local Ethnological Museum, La Vall d’Ebo boasts a great natural beauty thanks to its spectacular sights such as the tolls (natural mountain lagoons) or the Barranc de l’Infern (Hell’s Ravine), which is considered the epicentre of hiking in the Marina Alta. And speaking of natural beauty, we cannot leave without visiting the treasure that is the Cova del Rull cave, where we can admire the spectacular formations of stalactites and stalagmites.
The next stop on our journey along this circular route is LA VALL D’ALCALÀ, an ancient stronghold of the Moorish military commander Al-Azraq (who fought King James I The Conqueror). This municipality features two villages, namely Alcalà de la Jovada and Beniaia. The most significant point of interest are the remains of the Moorish settlement of L’Atzuvieta, the best preserved site of its kind in the Region of Valencia. Also worth a visit are the neveras or snow ‘fridges’ that date back to the 18th century, known as the Nevera de Baix, and the Nevera de Dalt, which used to produce the ice that supplied Dénia port.
Further along the route and turning right along the CV-700 road we will spot the Penya Foradà, (Holey Rock) that dominates the skyline of LA VALL DE GALLINERA. And once there we can follow the ‘Ruta de los 8 Pueblos’ (8 Village Walk), covering Benirrama, Benialí, Benissivà, Benitaia, La Carroja, Alpatró, Llombai and Benissili, stopping to admire some of the rock art that has been declared World Heritage by the UNESCO.
And finally we come to L’ATZÚBIA, a gateway between the mountains and the sea. Here we will find the Canelobres Cave cave and the pleasant Tossal del Llop recreational area. The village of Forna is magnificently preserved and retains the charm of a Moorish farming settlement, presided by its Forna Castle.