El Verger: Serra de Segària, Trails and Cultural Heritage

El Verger occupies part of the Girona River delta. The nutrient-rich, water-rich soils favour the cultivation of citrus fruits and vegetables. At the same time, options for a stay range from hiking trails in the Serra de Segària to historic buildings and routes through agricultural landscapes. This means you can choose a hotel in El Verger based on the interests that matter most for your trip.

Serra de Segària and nature

The Serra de Segària stretches for six kilometres. From there, you can enjoy views of the Girona River, Vall de Gallinera and the Marjal de Pego-Oliva Natural Park. The Serra is home to protected, endemic, rare or threatened plant species; the area is covered by the LIC Valls de la Marina and ZEPA Montañas de la Marina designations. The mountain landscape is therefore a defining part of the natural attractions around El Verger.

Parc Públic L’Ombria de la Segària has several picnic areas and a play area for children. It also serves as a starting point for hiking trails in the Serra. Those interested in climbing will find the area at Penya Roja, in the La Cara de l’Indi sector, where there are twelve routes. An information board lists their locations, names, grades and average heights. Two more boards point the way to the climbing area from the public park and the car park.

Walking and cycling routes

A local circular route starts at Parc Públic L’Ombria de la Segària, passes through Penya Roja and runs close to the Iberian settlement of Penya Roja. It also provides access to the La Cara de l’Indi climbing area. The PR-CV 415 hiking trail crosses the Serra. Together with the local trails SL-CV 109 and SL-CV 161, it connects the Serra’s natural areas. Visitors use these trails for hiking and to access caves, shafts, peaks and settlement sites. Check the local route conditions before setting out.

The Camino de Santiago also passes through El Verger and continues to Almansa. The route is signposted; places to get pilgrim passport stamps include the town hall, tourist information office, church and some businesses. This gives pilgrims a practical reference point when planning their stages.

The Vía Verde de Dénia is an approximately 6.5-kilometre route along a former railway line. It connects Dénia and El Verger and can be used on foot or by bicycle. There are rest areas and viewpoints along the route. As rehabilitation works may affect individual sections, check access before travelling. The Camino Natural Vía Verde de Dénia follows the disused Carcaixent–Dénia railway line through an agricultural landscape dominated by citrus cultivation.

History and architecture

Cova Fosca is at the eastern end of the Serra de Segària. The cave chamber is about four metres wide and seven metres high, and comprises two chambers, a long, wide gallery and other side passages. Its use dates from the Neolithic, when it served as a dwelling, through its use as a burial cave in the Eneolithic, to its later role as a sanctuary in Iberian times and into the Roman period.

Casa del Trapig was a 16th-century sugar mill. Sugar cane grown locally was processed there into molasses; later, the building served as an olive oil mill. Finds in the area relating to sugar cane processing include clay containers and three millstones. One of these has a diameter of more than 1.70 metres. Torre del Palau dels Medinaceli is the only surviving remnant of the vanished palace of the Duke of Medinaceli. Mur àrab, in turn, consists of the surviving remains of a rectangular structure dating from the 14th to 16th centuries, beside the Girona River.

The architectural history of Església Neoclàssica can also be traced through specific features: it dates from the early 18th century, its façade is dated 1732, and its single-nave layout has five interconnected side chapels. Torre del Blanch de Morell, also known as Torre de la Cremadella, probably dates from the late 13th or 14th century. It was designed more as a residence than as a defensive tower. Casa de la Senyoreta de la Bassa dates from the early 20th century and has a ground floor, two upper floors and a courtyard adjoining the church of Mare de Déu del Rosari. Fàbrica de Sabó is now used as a cultural centre where various activities are organised.

Agricultural heritage

El Verger is part of the Ruta dels Riuraus in Marina Alta. The local route includes about ten riuraus in a variety of architectural forms. As a rural, cultural and gastronomic route, it showcases the heritage of raisin production in the province of Alicante. Along with the routes through citrus-growing landscapes, it offers another way to explore the area’s agricultural history, alongside the natural and cultural attractions found in the Serra and the town itself.

Discover more destinations: La Vila Joiosa, Benimantell, Callosa De Segura, L'Alguenya, El Tosalet, Bigastro, Aigües, Catral

For the broader travel overview: Alicante.