Page 265 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

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i Penyal d’Ifac
Calp, Alicante. £ Calp. @ Calp.
n Avenida de los Ejércitos Españoles,
30, Calp, 965 83 69 20. Limited access
in Jul & Aug.
When viewed from afar, the rocky
outcrop of the Penyal d’Ifac
seems to rise vertically out of the
sea. One of the Costa Blanca’s
most dramatic sights, this 332-m-
(1,089-ft-) tall block of limestone
looks virtually unclimbable.
However, a short tunnel, built in
1918, allows walkers access to the
gentler slopes on its seaward side.
Allow about 2 hours for the
round trip, which starts at the
visitors’ centre above Calp
harbour. It takes you up gentle
slopes covered with juniper
and fan palm, with the waves
crashing below. As you climb,
and at the exposed summit,
there are spectacular views of a The magnificent limestone rock Penyal d’Ifac
large stretch of the Costa Blanca.
On a clear day you can see the ter races and planted them with p Alcoi
hills of Ibiza (see pp514–17). crops. These are still irrigated by Alicante. * 59,600. £ @ n Plaça
The Penyal d’Ifac is also home the original ditches con structed de Espanya, 14, 965 53 71 55. ( Wed
to 300 types of wild plant, includ- by the Moors. & Sat. _ Mercado Medieval (mid-
ing several rare species. Migrating From the castle there are to late Mar), Moors and Christians
birds use it as a landmark, and fine views of the surrounding (23 Apr). ∑ alcoiturisme.com
the salt flats below it are an mountains. Access to the castle
important habitat for them. is through the Casa Orduña. Sited at the confluence of three
The rock was privately owned The intriguing Museo de rivers and surrounded by high
until 1987, when the regional Microminiaturas, displays a mountains, Alcoi is an industrial
government acquired it and micro scopic version of Goya’s city. But it is best known for its
turned it into a nature reserve. Fusil amiento 3 de Mayo painted mock battles between Moors and
Situated below the rock on a grain of rice; his The Naked Christians (see p259) and its pela-
is the Iberian town of Calp, Maja (see p297), paint ed on the dillas – almonds coated in sugar.
re nowned for its beaches. wing of a fly; and a sculpture On the slopes above it is Font
of a camel passing through Roja, a nature reserve offering
the eye of a needle. pleasant walks, and a shrine
o Guadalest marked by a towering statue
E Museo de Microminiaturas of the Virgin Mary.
Alicante. * 226. n Avenida de Plaza San Gregorio 14. Tel 965 88 50 62.
Alicante, 96 588 52 98. _ Fiestas Open 10am–9pm daily (winter: 6pm).
de San Gregorio (1st week of Jun), & ∑ miniaturasguadalest.com Environs
Virgen de la Asunción (14–17 Aug). To the north of Alcoi is the Sierra
∑ guadalest.es de Mariola, a mountain range
famed for its herbs. The best
Despite drawing coach loads point of access is the village of
of day-trippers from Beni dorm, Agres. A scenic route runs from
this pretty mountain village here to the summit of Mont
remains relatively unspoiled. Cabrer at 1,390 m (4,560 ft). It
This is largely because its old er passes two ruined neveras –
part is accessible only on foot pits once used to store ice for
by a single entrance: a sloping preserving fish and meat.
tunnel cut into the rock on The bullring of Bocairent,
which the castle ruins and the 10 km (6 miles) west of Agres,
church’s distinctive belfry are was carved out of rock in 1813.
precariously perched. A nearby cliff is pockmarked
Guadalest was founded by with Les Covetes dels Moros
the Moors, who carved the The belfry of Guadalest, perched on (“The Moors’ Caves”), but their
surrounding hillsides into top of a rock origin remains a mystery.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp567–8 and p591

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