Tourist Info Vall de Pop
96 648 10 17
valldepop@touristinfo.net

The valley has 9 small Morisco origin villages, and some that have been abandoned in the area.
A STROLL AROUND ALCALALÍ MUNICIPAL AREA
(Location on the map)
1. Council Square: every Friday there is a fruit and vegetable market.
1.1. Tile mural: fitted on the facade of the "Casa Abadía", rectory, describing Alcalalí's history.
1.2. Town hall: the prominent feature of this emblematic building is its porch, one of the accesses to the village-fortress of Alcalalí.
2. Natividad de Nuestra Señora Parish church: This was built in the late 18th century at the instructions of San Juan de Ribera. Inside it you can visit the Museo Sacro.
3. 15th century medieval tower: This constitutes the last remains of the palace owned by Barons Rois de Liori. It was a watchtower and a refuge. Inside this monument, declared Asset of Cultural Interest, there are graffiti from the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, the Raisin Museum and the Viewpoint over the Vall de Pop.
4. C/ Ruiz de Liori: named in honour of the Barons of Alcalalí, who governed the village from 1600 to 1874.
5. Viewpoint: from Calle Ravalet there is a lovely panoramic view of the mountain known as Coll de Rates.
6. Wrought ironwork: in the neighbouring streets one can stop to look at the craftsman wrought iron in the doors and windows.
7. Parque de la Creu: many interesting cultural events are held here, children's games, food-tasting events, etc.
8. Plaza Nueva square: this has a statue representing the Virgen del Calvario, patron of Alcalalí.
9. Restaurant zone.
10. Ethnology Museum.
A STROLL AROUND BENIGEMBLA MUNICIPAL AREA
(Location on the map)
1. La Protectora Cooperative: sale of Virgin Olive oil
2. The sindicat: a remarkable 19th century building - San Francisco Javier Farmers' Cooperative.
3. San José Parish church: Dating back to the late 18th and early 19th century (around 1832), this was built in the neoclassical style, although the bell tower is baroque and has three bells. The church was restored and decorated in 1994. There is a sun-dial on its outside wall.
4. Fountain-laundry: The way to the laundry is along Camino la Font and as you go down this lane you can enjoy the scenery of the Sierra del Peñón or Cavall Verd, riu-raus (shelters used for grape storage) and the emergences of Keuper stone in the bed of the river Jalón.
5. River wall: Three metres high, built in 1958, as a defence to protect the town centre from the floods from the river Xaló, since there are early 20th century records of at least forty houses disappearing after collapsing and being swept off by the high water.
5.1. Children's recreation zone.
6. Council square.
6.1.Town hall building.
7. B. Vega Sedane square: the street market is held every Tuesday in this square.
8. Camping and swimming pool zone.
STROLL AROUND BENISSA MUNICIPAL AREA
(Location on the map)
1. Town hall: Dates back to 1790. Installed on the former Municipal Hospital which was for long periods of time a hospice for the needy and those suffering from contagious diseases.
2. Placeta de l'Església Vella: This used to be the location of the old San Pedro Church-fortress. It was built in the 14th century and altered in the 16th century for holding Christian worship. It was destroyed in the early 1950s.
3. University facilities. A fusion of two 18th century stately homes and palaces which as an ensemble now form a major education centre.
4. The Lonja de Contratación: This is the oldest monument in Benissa, dating back to the 16th century. It used to be used for trading and was also where the Municipal Council met.
5. Calle Desemparats: This was the nobility's main street. The wealthiest families lived in this area. Along it there are houses with large carved doorways and wrought iron window railings.
6. Monument to the Riberero: A symbolic figure depicting the Benissa peasants who used to emigrate to the Valencian shoreline twice a year to plant and pick the rice.
7. Casa de la Cultura: Torres-Orduña family Palace, which now houses the library, exhibition room, classrooms and assembly room for holding different kinds of events.
8. Casa de Juan Vives: one anecdote has it that the owners gave lodging to two pilgrims who, when they left the house, wished to show their thanks by giving the owners the miraculous image of the Purísima Xiqueta, today the patron saint of the municipality.
9. Casal dels Joves: Dates back to the 16th century. This was a commercial building, on the ground floor of which the market was held.
10. Franciscan Fathers' convent: dating back to 1645. Its marked defensive character can be seen from its façade. The cloister and church with a single nave are the outstanding features.
11. Franciscan seminary: This was of great importance for training young people from all over the country. At present it is the centre for the Creama and Afic offices.
12. Purísima Xiqueta church: Neogothic style. It is also known as the "Catedral de la Marina", due to its sheer scale. Its building was completed in 1929 and all the people of Benissa contributed to it with their contributions and endeavours.
A STROLL AROUND CASTELL DE CASTELLS MUNICIPAL AREA
(Location on the map)
1. Fuente de la Bota: near this lovely spot there is a camping zone from which a hiking route sets out, leading to the ruins of the castle.
2. Town hall: a former palace house that once belonged to a prominent village family.
3. Ethnology and Macro-schematic Museum: This museum has an ethnographic collection which has items connected with the traditional lifestyle and rural world. The Macro-schematic museum has a reproduction of the cave paintings from the Santuario del Plà de Petracos caves, in a zone declared Humanity's Heritage.
4. C/ San Vicente and San Roque: Among its narrow alleys and whitewashed facades one prominent feature are the plants so pampered by the women from the village to decorate the streets.
5. Social centre.
6. Oldest house in the village: the oldest house in the village, dating back to 1667, is in C/ San Antonio nº17.
7. Plaza de la Iglesia: a street market is held in this square on Saturday mornings.
8. Santa Ana Parish church: dates back to the 17th century, its outstanding feature being the image of the Saint in the village square.
A STROLL AROUND THE VILLAGE OF MURLA
(Location on the map)
1. San Sebastián Chapel: Its origins probably date back to the 14th century. On 20th January all the village people of Murla go on a procession to San Sebastián chapel where a day's festivities are enjoyed.
2. Fountain-public laundry.
3. San Miguel castle-church: This originally had a bell tower 25 metres high built on an old steeple dating back to 1861- designed by Martín de Martín- and demolished in 1990. It has now been restored as a tower. There is another tower from the ancient fortress adjoined to the church.
4. Plaza del Nel.
4.1. Bust of Fr. Pedro Vives (1688-1743): The author of the catechism on Christian doctrine.
4.2. Square devoted to the great sportsman "El Nel" (1867-1954) from Murla. who introduced the rope splitting the court into the trinquete ball game.
5. La Sangre chapel: A 17th century church, the former municipal hospital. Its facade contains the altarpiece of the Divina Aurora, patron saint of Murla.
6. Plaza Mayor: the weekly market is held here on Saturdays.
6.1. Murla town hall.
7. Tower and public laundry.
8. The replaceta (little square).
9. C/ La Cruz: From this point one can gain access to the recreation zone, the trinquete court, sports centre and the way up to the Chapel.
A STROLL AROUND LLÍBER MUNICIPAL AREA
(Location on the map)
1. C/ Escuelas: leave the car on this street and set off on foot from here.
2. El Calvario: an illustration of good conservation and embellishment.
3. Viewpoint: at the end of the stroll you will see some impressive views of the farming landscape with fields of muscatel grapevines, the Plà de Llíber and Monte de Pop, amongst others.
4. C/ Sant Vicent: in both this street and in the adjoining thoroughfares you can admire the painstaking restoration of the old houses, still keeping the traditional facades of natural stone.
5. Corner of Calle San Pedro and Calle la Luna: we should not forget one of the most emblematic spots in the village, with some interesting local plant species.
6. Plaza Diputación square.
6.1. Casa de la Cultura: A culture centre for holding itinerant cultural and crafts exhibitions such as bobbin lace, gastronomy etc...
7. Butcher's and baker's: these are in Calle San Joan and have typical products on sale such as cold meats, "les Coques" etc... One of the special products made in true craftsman style in the village are the raisins.
8. Plaza Mayor (main square).
9. San Cosme y San Damián Parish church: This is located close to the lovely walk to the Calvario. It was built in the neoclassical style in 1700. We should point out the carvings of San José and San Damián. Special attention is also deserved by the concerts which are given by the local choir in the church, with pieces of sacred or popular music.
A STROLL AROUND PARCENT MUNICIPAL AREA
(Location on the map)
1. Cooperative: An early 19th century building which was originally used as a farm building and later on for packing raisins. There is an oil press inside. Today it is used as a social room where there are performances and cultural events.
2. Calle de Dalt: This is a street where "Pilota Valenciana" handball game is played.
3. Plaza Gabriel Miró.
3.1. A house in which Gabriel Miró lived, and where he wrote part of his book "Del Vivir".
4. Viewpoint: There is a exceptional view of the Parcent farming landscape and the bell tower.
4.1. Lane to the fountain-public laundry: take this lane if you want to have a look at Parcent fountain-public laundry.
5. Village square: the fruit and greens market is held in this square on Mondays.
6. Purísima Concepción Parish church: its main features are its outstanding bell tower dating back to 1929 and restored in 1949.
7. Council building: the building dates back to 1912.
8. Calle de San Llorenç, Calle de Baix and Calle del Embut: The Arab structure can clearly be seen in these steep narrow streets.
9. Maria Teresa Valls Culture Centre.
10. Gutiérrez de la Vega wineries.
11. Plaza de Colón.
12. Recreation area: There is a panel indicating the Parcent P.R.V. 158 track which is fifteen kilometres long. One interesting feature is the ascent of the "Coll de Rates", from which you can enjoy some spectacular views of the Vall de Pop and its nearby valleys.
13. Bodegas Parcent.
A STROLL AROUND SENIJA MUNICIPAL AREA
(Location on the map)
1. Parque Ctra. Constitución: Park your car here and set off from this point.
2. Social centre: Here you will see one of the ancient village fountains and successive series of cultural and sports events are held here. One particular facet of this social life is on Sunday mornings when large numbers of bikers come here to have elevenses in local bars!
3. C/ Desamparados.
3.1. La Roca de la Salve: This is located on the public school premises and is the original rock where the village peasants were accustomed to pray before leaving for the Ribera Valenciana to plant and pick rice.
3.2. Altarpiece of the Virgen de los Desamparados, Village patron saint (house nº 28).
3.3. La Capella children's park: you will see an Arab arch at the back of the church.
3.4. La Creu Alta: You can see this from afar and get to it by different paths.
4. Calle San José and Calle Calvari: Narrow old whitewashed streets, a clear example of Arab building techniques.
4.1. Sun dial: Telling the time by the sun.
5. Plaza del Ayuntamiento: Here in Town Hall square there is a street market for fresh greens and fruit on Fridays and you can enjoy such typical tasty dishes as "pilotes", "coques" and "mullador amb bull" in any of the nearby restaurants.
6. Santa Catalina Parish church: built in the 18th century on an ancient mosque, this houses the image of the Patron saint, the Virgen de los Desamparados, a polychrome wood sculpture which was acclaimed after its miraculous intercession in ending the cholera epidemic of 1885. In 1873 a new chapel was opened next to the left-hand side of the church, originally used as stables for horses.
A STROLL AROUND XALÓ MUNICIPAL AREA
(Location on the map)
1. Virgen Pobre Cooperative: The winery was founded in 1961 and today represents the main business done by the Cooperative.
2. Vall de Pop Tourist Info.
3. Passeig dels Agermanaments.
3.1 The river Xaló, which starts in Fageca and runs for fifty-five kilometres until it comes out into the sea in Xàbia.
3.2 Flea market: On Saturday mornings there is a well-known street market- antique market in the river promenade.
3.3. Children's area.
4. Sant Doménech de Guzmán chapel: Built from 1691 to 1697. In later years the Chapel underwent some years of splendour and some of decay, but it was in 1978 that this was finally rebuilt thanks to Mrs. Georgette Bosch Pont.
5. Ethnology Museum: in the centre there is a yard with climbing vines which distributes the exhibition and divides this into two. One part of the museum gives historical information about the municipality, going from the first Iberian settlers up to the 19th century; the other, the ethnological side, covers the recent past of Xaló's history: its traditional work, its crafts, crops and everyday life in that time.
6. Old Rector's garden, 17th century.
7. Giner's Mill, 14th century.
8. Library. Social centre.
9. Municipal sports centre.
10. Stately homes.
11. Santa María Parish church: This was built in the early 20th century at the expense of the Duchess of Almodóvar. It contains the image of the Patron Saint of Xaló, the "Virgen Pobre".
12. Town hall.