Zafira Spain

Villamartin
The Villamartin development began in 1972 and has evolved into a splendid Mediterranean village of 1500 apartments, townhouses and villas with three excellent 18 hole courses at its heart, including the original Club de Golf Villamartin and the new Las Ramblas de Orihuela and Campoamor.

Villamartin is fast becoming one of the most prestigious golf courses in Spain, with all the amenities you would expect from a development of this standard, yet the properties are very affordable.
Even if you are not into golf, Villamartin has plenty of attractions, primarily the climate and although it is slightly inland it is not far from the coast and many great beaches are close by.
Because there are so many beaches along the coast it is possible to easily find uncrowded white sandy beaches - even in August. Examples of beaches close to Villamartin are La Zenia, cabo Roig, Playa Flamenca and Campoamor, all of them have the European Blue Flag which signifies high standards of water cleanliness, safety and good facilities for the family.
The Villamartin plaza is most certainly worth a mention. This is a square with a black and white chessboard pattern surrounded by shops, bars, cafes, banks and restaurants. In the heat of summer the atmosphere is buzzing with life and noise.

Villajoyosa
Villajoyosa, or La Vila Joiosa (the joyful or happy town), is known as the jewel city and is the historic capital of the Marina Baixa district. Villajoyosa skirts a great sand range fringed with palm trees and has a charming fishing port, here you will find houses painted bright colours, ochres, reds, yellows and blues especially in the old town. The history of the town dates back to pre Roman times and its principal industry was fishing. Although fishing is still carried out, the main economy is now based on tourism and the manufacture of chocolate.
Situated at the mouth of the River Sella it is the main town of the La Marina region and is a much older town than Benidorm (a few kilometres to the north) and the locals say that it is close enough to Benidorm whilst being far enough away. Whilst the area once had a considerable number of vines, these have largely been replaced by tomato plantations.
First impressions are worrying as you enter this grotty looking town with a sign pointing to its Chocolate Museum which is one of its few tourist attractions. This former fishing still has a feel from its days as a thriving fishing port and it’s not unusual to see the idle men folk sitting on their step watching the world go by or washing hanging out to dry on the terraces of the multi-coloured houses built around a church dedicated to the Assumption. Once at the attractive beachfront you will walk down the Doctor Esquerdo boulevard which runs along the broad beach on which the town is built and find a host of restaurants and bars all vying for business selling the locally caught fish.
A visit to the port in the afternoon will provide you with the chance to see the day’s catch being auctioned off at the market. The whole town’s marine vocation is represented in the July fiestas, when the traditional battle between the Moors and Christians is held at sea and on the beach.
The old town itself has been largely renovated and the run down feeling of the streets nearer the coast is absent which accounts for the high property prices.

Torrevieja
Torrevieja as a town dates from the early 18th century when it was a fishing village built around one of the watchtowers that flanks the Costa Blanca coastline.  This watchtower was called the “Old Tower” or la Torre Vieja, because of the bad condition that it was in, and this is where the village took its name from. From the very beginning, the people of Torrevieja have carried out three main professions; sailors, fishermen and salt workers.
The men from Torrevieja were ship builders and great sailors who transported wine, salt and flat roof tiles to America and the Phillipines.  They had a long tradition of exporting salt to Cuba, and that is how the typical songs form La Habana came to us from the sailors of Torrevieja. These men used to do what we call “night fishing,” where an artificial light was used to attract fishes like red mullets to the nets. It grew after 1802 mainly due to its becoming the headquarters for salt production in the area.
Torrevieja is surrounded by salt lakes and as a result the climate is meant to be very healthy especially for people with arthritis. The salt lakes are protected and form the habitat for numerous protected species of bird such as the greater Flamingo and Montagu’s harrier and the salt is also commercially extracted providing one of the Torrevieja’s main industries.
The production of salt along this part of the coast has been significant for centuries, the Romans realised its importance and in fact used the ‘white gold’ as a currency during their occupation of the area. For many centuries the main salt production took place at La Mata and it was actually so valuable and important that it is reputed to have funded the expeditions of Christopher Columbus.
In 1802 Carlos IV ordered the removal of the administration of salt from La Mata to Torrevieja and the town grew from this time as an important town for salt production and export. In 1820 Torrevieja gained its independence from Orihuela which was a significant turning point for the town, a setback however came in 1829 when a huge earthquake devastated the whole region and much of the town was destroyed.

Due to the trade in salt Torrevieja formed many alliances with foreign countries especially those of South America, Cuba in particular and this is reflected in its world famous Habaneras Choral Song Competition held every August, reminding us of the days when travelling sailors brought back new songs and dances from a far away Cuba.
Salt is still important for Torrevieja, although nowadays even more important is tourism and property development. The town has grown rapidly over the last 20 years or so, and this is due mostly to the modern phenomenon of North Europeans wishing to own their own home in the sun. The former single storey houses of Torrevieja have now mostly been torn down and replaced by blocks of apartments, with a high percentage being owned by non-Spanish residents. This has also resulted in major development along the surrounding coastline and new resorts have appeared where there was formerly nothing ie at Playa Flamenca.
Any visitor to Torrevieja is bound to visit the promenade, from the marina up to Playa del Cura along which there is a wide variety of bars, restaurants and ice-cream parlours, together with a daily ‘craft market’ and an excellent funfair. Torrevieja has many attractive parks, gardens and squares where you can sit down and just relax under the shade and an indoor market offers fish, meat and fresh vegetables. The new Habaneras shopping centre is very popular with visitors and the water park Aquopolis is popular with the children but is only open during the Spanish school holidays (June to September). Torrevieja is also a great place for fiestas and celebrations and there always seems to be an excuse to dress up and parade through the streets
Torrevieja is almost becoming a city it is expanding so rapidly and as a result facilities are very good with three excellent hospitals. There are also private and national health clinics with many doctors and dentists of all nationalities.

Santa Pola
Santa Pola is located on the coast, approximately 17 kms south of Alicante city. Santa Pola is a small fishing port of on the Costa Blanca and is famous for its variety of landscapes, from mountain ranges to sand dunes, but, above all, it is known for its salt works.
Santa Pola has managed to remain relatively untouched by mass tourism, no package tour holiday operators come anywhere near here. However the town’s population does increase considerably during the summer months, largely due to an influx of people arriving for their holidays. Visitors to the town tend to be native Spaniards from the countries interior; often they are owners of holiday homes in the area, or are renting properties from those who do.
Like many Spanish towns the centrepiece is its square; the one at Santa Pola is known as the Plaza de la Glorieta. A 20th century creation the square is nothing amazing in itself, but many families congregate here in the evening to have a drink or an ice cream (well into the early hours), giving it a vibrant feel. On one side of the square is a magnificent 16th century castle, still used today to host events, and the focal point of various fiestas throughout the town’s calendar.
Santa Pola is less busy than Torrevieja but still has all the facilities you would expect from a small prosperous Spanish costal town. The town has several wonderful beaches, including over 4km of fine sand and crystalline water. At the Playa Lisa beach you can walk out to sea for kilometres and the water only reaches knee-height!

Santa Polas fishing harbour has the largest number of fishing boats in the Mediterranean Sea, and nearby lies the island of Tabarca, which belongs to the province of Alicante. This island was once used as a headquarters by the Berber pirates, but nowadays it is used as a Marine Reserve, due to the abundance of flora and fauna that is in the sea that surrounds the island.

Las Salinas , a marshland area that is protected as a Natural Park and declared an area of especial importance for wild birds including Flamingos and Stilt birds.

Thanks to its mild climate and the layout of its landscape, Santa Pola is ideal for most nautical sports and air based pursuits and it is common to see wind surfing, sailing, swimming, fishing, jet skiing being practiced in the along the coast.

San Pedro del Pinatar
San Pedro del Pinatar (meaning St. Peter of the Pine Woods) is situated in an ideal spot on the Mediterranean coast and just a few minutes from the Northern shores of the Mar Menor. With a resident population of 15,200 numbers can swell to almost 60,000 during the summer months. This is mostly as a result of 2nd home owners flocking to the area (Spanish and ex-pat). The popular suburb of Lo Pagan has seen some development in recent years; here you will find a lengthy beachfront, marina and promenade. Although there has been increased interest in the town in recent years, it has retained much of its culture and atmosphere.
Tradtionally a seafaring and agricultural centre, San Pedro del Pinatar has become one of the principal tourist towns on Murcia’s Costa Cálida.
The main attractions of San Pedro are concentrated around the beach and shore. Here you will find Lo Pagán, a lively tourist centre which has all kinds of holiday facilities, such as hotels, bars, restaurants and shops. Next to the long promenade facing the Mar Menor are extensive beaches such as La Puntica or Villananitos. This watery setting, combined with the facilities at its marina, means you can do a great many sports, such as sailing, scuba diving or windsurfing.
As well as one of the town’s architectural symbols, the Quintín mill, the surrounding area contains the Salinas de San Pedro del Pinatar Regional Park, a space where a great many species of migratory birds come to nest. You can also benefit from the therapeutic properties of its mud, especially suitable for treating bone and skin ailments.

Rojales
The beautiful town of Rojales, just inland from Guardamar del Segura and is traditionally a farming village. Lying as it does on the banks of the Segura River, water has played an important part in its past and present history. Present day Rojales has been able to combine its tradition and culture with a more modern lifestyle and is now a popular location for both holiday homes and for people settling permanently in the area with the population at around 30.000 during peak season.

The history of Rojales can be traced back to the Neolithic Era and the Bronze Age when small groups of huts were gathered close to the River Segura. The town itself appears to have been founded by the Moors during the Arab conquest (8th - 13th Centuries) and they were responsible for a complex irrigation system, traces of which still remain today.

One major feature of the town is the Azud, a 40m x 10m stone dam, built during the 16th Century, and still working today, which was built to raise the level of the river to direct the water to the irrigation ditches and to the Water Wheel. The Water Wheel, built at the end of the 19th Century, is guarded by massive stonework which protects it from damage when the river Segura floods.

Also worth seeing are the Gasparito Wells, two huge subterranean wells built during the 1920’s in mountain sandstone and designed to collect and store rainwater to supply the surrounding villages. Water merchants from neighbouring villages came here with their skin bags, collected the water and returned to their villages where they sold it to the local residents. The West Well has now been converted into an exhibition gallery, whilst the East Well is still operational and still used for its original purpose of storing fresh water.

One of the main surviving symbols of Rojales is the Carlos III (Charles III) Bridge over the Segura River. Built during the 18th Century, with its three wide arches and characterized by its fine stonework.

Also of great interest to visitors are the series of cave houses (El Rodeo), dug into hills south of the town during the 19th Century. These are now mostly used by artists and craftsmen to display their wares to tourists. A guide map is available with all the houses set out and numbered, there is also a café and a picnic area. Whilst you are visiting the cave houses you must also visit the amazing Shell House - a testimony to one man’s patience. Decorated over many years by Manuel Fulleda Alcaraz the house (still lived in ) is covered in patterns in shells, mirrors and tiles. The Shell House can be found close to the cave dwellings and is shown on the guide map.

Lying south of Rojales and well worth a visit are the natural parks of La Mata and Torrevieja. With an area of 3,700 hectares much of it water (salt lakes) it is a haven for over 200 species of birds including flamingos, avocets, grebe, stilts and black-necked zampullines. There is a small tourist office just off the N332 at La Mata where you can see some of the history of the park and the salt lakes and also pick up a guide with two marked out routes for walking and cycling. There are magnificent views of the salt lakes and of the Mediterranean sea. The park consists of three distinct areas - the lagoons and salt marshes, the reed beds and the undergrowth. There is also a very nice picnic area in the shade of the pine trees where visitors can enjoy an hour or two out of the burning sun. There are wooden tables and benches for the comfort of visitors.
Rojales holds a number of fiestas and festivals the most important being on 29th June in honour of its patron saint Pedro (Peter). Other important festivals are the Romeria de San Isidro during May and the Virgin of the Rosary during October.

Pilar de la Horadada
The lovely village of Pilar De La Horadada is often referred to as The Drilled One which can be somewhat confusing until you discover that it is named after the Watchtower which has a hollow middle hence the similarity of something which has been drilled.
Like many watchtowers along the coast it was built as a defence to warn against pirates who would land on the shore and carry out their looting in the town. Men on duty in the watchtowers would send signals along the coast if pirate ships were spotted, by starting bonfires, thus warning other towns and villages to be prepared for invasion.
Pilar de La Horadada is the last village in the Alicante area just on the border with Murcia and it is the furthest village to the south in the Vega Baja area. In common with the 26 other villages of the Vega Baja, Pilar has also been under the domination of many different conquerors including Iberian, Roman and Arab and traces of their occupation can still be found together with artefacts which are now housed in the museum. However, after the Re-conquest it marked the border between the kingdoms of Castile and Aragon. The village’s greatest victory however, took place as recently as July 30th 1986 when it gained its independence from Orihuela.
The town has a coastline of fine sand and clear water interspersed by attractive inlets and beaches with a full range of services between small residential districts and extensive green areas. From the north to the south, the popular, urban beach Mil Palmeras, ideal for sailing enthusiasts, links up with the Rincón and Puerto inlets, the latter with a well-cared for promenade that comes alive on hot summer nights. Las Villas, the beach behind Torre Horadada marina, is the longest beach followed by small beach at La Mojón which constitutes a natural boundary with Murcia.

The river Seco is a ravine network that receives water filtrating from off of the fields. This peculiar environment is worthy of an excursion and is one on which visitors can enjoy fragrant plants such as rosemary, thyme or “lentiscos”, while white steppes and “palmettoes” border rushes and carrizales. The trail begins at El Pinar de Campoverde, a natural area that has lodgings, a camping area, a play area and informative panels explaining the flora and fauna of the region, as well as facilities for barbecues.
Another attractive tour is the water architecture route, on which it is possible to find cisterns and old wells.
Agriculture together with tourism supports the local economy but agriculture led the way in 1970 when the first greenhouses were erected and the village became one of the most developed agricultural areas in south-east Spain. The produce includes Little Gem lettuces, celery and broccoli. However, more specific to the village is the cultivation of flowers such as roses, chrysanthemums and gladiolas.
Pilar de la Horadadad is a pretty village and for anyone who enjoys walking there is a walk along the riverbed of the Rio Seco (Dry River) which is about 9 kilometres from the town centre. During the course of this walk there is the opportunity to see wonderful species of the local flora. Reeds and rushes set in pools of water provide ideal nesting places for the water-birds. Wild orchids, endangered dwarf palms and poppies grow together with the sloe tree, blackthorn, wild olive trees and the herbs rosemary and thyme.

The walk is also a treat for the birdwatcher and animal lover as amongst the fauna to be seen are rabbits, turtledoves, pigeons, squirrels and sometimes snakes or lizards. The Nature Reserve at the end of the round trip is home to bigger birds of prey like Bonelli’s eagles, booted eagles and eagle owls as well as wild cats, foxes genets and badgers. However, it is the naturally formed nesting places which provide the real interest for the serious twitcher. As you travel along the route it is fascinating to see how the effects of water erosion have created beautiful formations on a substratum of compacted sand. A visit to the Tourist Office will provide anyone wishing to make this walk with all the information necessary, the staff is extremely helpful with many speaking English.

Possibly the oldest building is the 14th century watchtower whilst the church has a 19th century bell tower and a sundial set on the tower which gives and provides an accurate record of the passing of time. To fully appreciate the history of the village then a visit to the local museum is not to be missed. The museum was funded by private donations and first opened in 1994 and the current collections come under the headings of: environment, fossils, archaeology, ethnology and numismatic whilst there is also the opportunity to see the office of Mr Gratiniano Baches who was the first person to begin archaeological studies in Pilar de La Horadada in the early 20th century.

Pedreguer
Pedreguer is close to the beaches of Javea and Denia yet it is away from the maddening crowds and so it makes for a good holiday location if you want to enjoy the northern Costa Blanca. Pedreguer is surrounded by orange groves and vineyards and a trip inland to the Jalon Valley or Orba Valley is highly recommended.
Pedreguer also benefits from being just off the A-7 motorway (autoroute) so Alicante airport to the south or Valencia airport to the north are both just about an hour’s drive.
Pedreguer is the gateway to the beautiful Orba Valley famous for its orange groves. Pedreguer has a sports centre and a culture centre that stages many exhibitions and acts. In the summer month of July Pedreguer holds fiestas dedicated to Sant Bonaventura with bull-running throughout the town. Pedreguer also hosts the fiestas of Sant Blai and Sant Antoni.
Pedreguer is a typical Spanish market town located at the foot of the Muntanya Gran, the village is surrounded by abundant agricultural farming land on which fruits and vegetables are grown. The village also specializes in the manufacturing of bags, hats and leather goods. This is an original village - many of the façades of the houses are painted in vivid colours, which give the village a lively appearance.
Around the main square we can see some of the most beautiful 19th Century facades as well as “els Porxes”: the market square is covered with Arabic tiles and constructed with cast-iron pillars and wooden beams.
Pedregeur offers visitors the chance to take a walk through the town centre and discover beautiful ancient buildings such as the parish church of Santa Cruz (16th century), inside is the Grenzig organ, made recently by the German master Gerhard Grenzig.
Outside the town centre there is the Sant Blai chapel, from which we can see the Segaria mountain range, the Montgo Nature Park and La Sella with the five star Marriott Hotel with golf course designed by Jose Olazabal.
Driving up to Monte Pedreguer there are many beautiful views. Look out for the ” Mirador” signs wherever you go as there is sure to be a spectacular view with great photo opportunities.
From the Mirabarques observation point we can enjoy panoramic views of Pedreguer town, Denia and Javea.
Part of the Spanish way of life are the fiestas or festivals which everybody looks forward to. Pedreguer is no slouch in the fiesta stakes when it comes to what their town can offer at various times of the year.
Every New Year the festival season begins with Reyes Magos, Cavalcade of the Three Kings. This festival starts on the 5th of January. It is the day that the Spanish traditionally celebrate their Christmas.
On the 17th of January the people of Pedreguer celebrate the Fiestas of San Antonio Abad, with pilgrimage, blessing of animals and popular celebrations.
On the 3rd of February there is a religious festival - the Festival of Sant Blai, with sales of the traditional “porrat”, sport events and concerts.
Pedreguer’s festivities wouldn’t be complete without the annual Carnival which lasts from February 20 - 27 . It includes many Fancy Dress Parades and street dancing, with the burial and “Cremá” (burning) of the Sardine.
During the month of July In honour of San Buenaventura, 10 days as from 15-16 July is the festival of the Moors and Christians with spectacular costumes and music.
For those of you who like to shop Pedreguer has something to offer everyone. Those who like a bargain can make their way to the Rastro market and car boot held every Sunday. As mentioned before Pedreguer is famous for its leather goods, bags and hats.
Since 2006 there have been two new additional shops that are dear to British hearts. Trotter Brothers which have a fantastic warehouse filled with all the groceries that we all so miss from home as well as Louise’s Lingerie and JML products. For those of you who love Next fashion there is a small scale warehouse called the N2N, the N2N has Next clothing, furniture and household bric a brac.

Orihuela
With over 50.000 inhabitants Orihuela is a major resort in the area and is located 22 km from Murcia and 59 Km from Alicante, at the Spanish Mediterranean sea. It is the capital of the vastest region in all Alicante and its 338 square metres of municipal area goes from inland, far away from the coast, to the beach, and it covers, apart from downtown, an important palm grove, three golf courses, two marinas, built-up beaches like La Zenia or Dehesa de Campoamor, orchard areas and more.

Its rich cultural and historical past has left a vast monumental heritage of remarkable artistic value including Romanesque, gothic and renaissance style churches, convents and palaces, five of which have been declared national monuments.

Orihuela was the Episcopal seat of the province of Alicante for almost four centuries and its civic traditions and artistic heritage are stamped by this major religious influence. Orihuela possesses five national monuments: Saint Domingo Nunnery, Saint Salvador Cathedral, Church of Saint Jusa and Rufina, Bishop’s Palace and the Church of Santiago. It was home to the famous Spanish poet Miguel Hernandez and reached its peak of importance in the 8th  century as it was the main headquarters of the Dukedom of Teodomiro. This nobleman converted Orihuela into the capital of the Christian kingdom. Later on, during the Muslim conquest, the city was able to conserve its independence until the 9th century. It was re-conquered by Jaime I in 1265 and given to Castilla although it was repopulated by people from Catalunya and Aragon.
The Cathedral and the Palace of Rubalcalva are monuments you must visit, the Cathedral was built on grounds where a mosque had once been in the 12th century and shows a Gothic style. Through the entrance called Door of Loreto added on in the 15th century you will see a beautiful Baroque organ. Through another entrance, the Renaissance style is evident. The Palace of Rubalcava was inhabited by members of this family up until 1933 and in 1976 it became property of the town. It has a sweeping marble staircase that takes you up to the noble main salons – the red salon with family portraits, the yellow salon used nowadays for weddings, the dance hall or hall of mirrors with a French air.

An agricultural area, offering a varied landscape, in which a succession of sierras, orchards and palm groves lead the way to 16 km of coast and some of the cleanest beaches in Europe, bearing the Blue Flag Award of the European Union.
Despite its name, the Orihuela Costa is some distance from the city of Orihuela, in fact some 20 kilometres away. It comprises around 16 km of fine sandy beaches, rocky coves and clear sparkling waters stretching from Punta Prima (just south of Torrevieja) to Mil Palmeras. It is now one of the most popular destinations in the region for a summer holiday, attracting visitors from all over Europe.

The Orihuela Costa boasts some well known and popular resorts including Cabo Roig, La Zenia, Campoamor and Playa Flamenca.  All these resorts can be reached by the N332 coastal road.

Orihuela sports offer is pretty varied, as it has two marinas: Dehesa de Campoamor and Cabo Roig, and the three golf courses of Villamartín, Las Ramblas and Campoamor. Horse riding can also be practiced, as well as tennis and hiking, having the most extensive rural paths in all the region.

Its excellent tourist facilities, its good communication network and more than 300 days of sunshine with an average temperature of 20ºC make this area the ideal travel destination for sports and leisure throughout the year.

Ontinyent
Ontinyent is 360m above sea level, in the southwest of the valley surrounded by mountains, in the province of Valencia. This area forms the Val d’albaida, of which Ontinyent is the capital. At the moment 32,000 people live in the 126m2 municipality.
Ontinyent is a medieval town built around the cliff like banks of the river Clariano. It has two distinct areas, the old (formerly walled) town and the modern industrial suburbs where the old town ‘La Vila’ still retains much of its old world charm, with narrow winding streets lined with ancient houses and the church of Santa Maria which was erected over the older Moorish mosque, and there are numerous examples of the ancient heritage.
The new section of town boasts every modern amenity and because of the abundance of clean fast flowing water, the town is affluent and sophisticated without the crowds and fast food outlets found in tourist areas of Spain.
There are still some remains of the ancient ramparts which surrounded the town in the 13th century, at a time when Moors and Christians battled for mastery of the region and the gothic church of Santa Maria, which also dates from the 13th century, witnessed the arrival of Jaime I of Aragon who entered to hear mass after his forces had regained control of the town from the Arab invaders in 1244, the imposing tower of the church is the highest in Valencia at 71 metres. The towns history however goes back much further as there have been archaeological finds dating from Roman times and a Roman cemetery was found just 2 kilometres south of the old town, remains from the Visigothic occupation have also been found. Ontinyent was granted the title of ‘City’ in 1904.

Ontinyent grew around the textile industry, which has been its main source of income since the Middle Ages, the industry developed due to the abundance of water which propelled the numerous water mills still found in the area. Other industries in Ontinyent include furniture, earthenware, paper, brandy and wine, there has been a rapid increase in population over the last 50 years and almost half of it is employed in the various textiles industries.
There is excellent communication with Valencia (airport), 45 minutes along the A7 interior motorway. Alicante (airport), 60 minutes along the new A36, and Gandia on the coast, 30minutes along the new CV60. There are numerous attractions, still mainly free from mass tourism, and most of the towns around have a Mercadona or Carrefour supermarket.
In Ontinyent there are at least five decent local schools, several English/Spanish academies, a substantial hospital, four local medical centres, many pharmacies and every other necessity of daily life. If specialised help of any kind is required, the large coastal cities of Valencia and Alicante will be able to accommodate.
There are around 6,000 country houses of all types, in the immediate vicinity or within 10minutes drive of the town centre. The countryside is a short walk from the centre and this makes living here simple and stress free.
Like many towns and cities throughout Spain, Ontinyent and its people take great pride in its celebration of Moors and Christians. Towards the end of August the festivities take place, lasting a just over a week. The “morenet” as it is popularly known, is brought from the chapel of Santa Ana to the church of San Carlos, in the most significant and authentic ceremonies, La Baixa or the lowering.
Many parades are held throughout the week with the whole town in party spirit, a definate tourist attraction. One of the final events of the celebrations is the ceremony of the Ambassadors which signifies the dramatisation of the history of the town with a mock battle at the foot of the castle, a symbol of Ontinyent.

The gastronomy of Ontinyent offers principle products of the Mediterranean diet. The most distinguished dishes from the municipality are intimately linked to religious celebrations. The local sausages are famous, specially the morcillas de cebolla (onion black pudding) which are made in a traditional manner. Many traditional products date back to Arabic times.