Bocairent

Bocairent enjoys an extensive historical and natural heritage that makes it a fascinating inland destination to visit

Declared a national historical site of interest, its old town is made up of a huddle of houses perched on a rocky outcrop full of steep winding streets, inviting the visitor to explore its delightful hidden corners. The Parish Church, the three chapels, the panoramic viewing points, tunnels, tower, and entrance portals… to name just a few of these unforgettable corners.

The legacy left by the Arabs and Berbers in Bocairent is especially noteworthy both in the old town as well as in monuments such as the Moorish Caves or the Colomer Caves, which were excavated by hand out of the rocky escarpment for defensive use or storage purposes.

entradas.bocairent.org

Another curiosity about this inland town is its climate, which once permitted the construction of ice-storage caves, such as the Saint Blaise Ice Cave. In this and similar structures, the snow was converted into ice before being hauled off on the back of mules and transported down to the neighbouring towns where it was sold for medicinal or gastronomic uses.

A tour around Bocairent wouldn’t be complete if it didn’t include a visit to the Bullring, which is the oldest in the Valencian region. It also has the peculiarity of being entirely chiselled out of the rock, a technique which has been widely used in other places around the town, such as the Rock Monastery, and the caves under the streets, squares and houses of the old town.

www.serramariola.org

Without leaving Bocairent, it’s well worth making the effort to climb up to the Sierra of Mariola, famed for its flora, in order to visit some of its most emblematic attractions, such as the source of the Vinalopó River, the heights of Saint James, the ice caves, and the recreational area at the Fonts of Mariola. There are numerous sign-posted pathways that will take you to these and other sites of interest, without forgetting that the best of all is enjoyed during the journey itself.