Gata De Gorgos: Textile Art, Mills and Landscapes

Gata De Gorgos brings together textile art and cultural heritage with traces of agricultural use and distinctive landforms. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay here, these themes can shape your trip: Art al Vent offers a seasonal highlight in July; mills, museums, historic drying areas and routes open up further perspectives.

Textile Art and Historic Craftsmanship

Art al Vent is an open-air textile art exhibition held in Gata De Gorgos in July. Contemporary works draw on the local tradition of hanging quilts from balconies. The exhibition attracts hundreds of visitors each year. Concerts, conferences and recitations accompany it; the programme varies with each edition. You should therefore check the specific event dates for your travel period.

The exhibition route runs from Calle Duquesa de Almodóvar via Calle la Bassa to Plaza de España. There you will find shops selling handcrafted items. The route may change between editions. So, if you would like to visit Art al Vent, it is worth checking both the dates and the current route for that edition.

Mills, Buildings and Museums

Els Molins del Tossal comprises two 19th-century grain mills. They were built from Tossal stone, lime mortar and tuff ashlar; one of the mills bears the date 1839. The circular Els Molins route is two kilometres long. Information panels explain how the mills worked along the way and provide further insight into their construction.

The Iglesia Parroquial de San Miguel Arcángel was built by the II Conde de Alcúdia and his wife. Its simple, elegant Baroque façade and three-part bell tower with a clock and bells define the church’s architectural character. The construction history of the Ermita del Santísimo Cristo del Calvario spans 1762 to 1905: it was not until that year that the bell tower and the Stations of the Cross chapels were added. The ermita stands on the hill of Tossalet.

The CM Museu Arqueològic i Etnogràfic de Gata de Gorgos was established through donations from people in the La Marina Alta region who are passionate about history, art and culture. Its collection includes fossils and ethnological materials from different periods and cultures, from the Palaeolithic to the Middle Ages. The Museu Solerbags focuses on a different subject: historic machinery, catalogues and designs offer insight into a family business established in 1880 and into local craftsmanship. An audio guide explains the development of the business and its products. Check local access information for the Museu Solerbags before your visit.

Agricultural Traces and Landscapes

Gata De Gorgos has numerous 19th-century raisin-drying areas, including in Serrillar, at Tossal del Moro and at Font de la Mata. At Assagador del Serrillar, there are drying areas for both unbleached and blanched raisins. The areas for unbleached raisins face south and are built from dry-stone tuff. Thus, alongside the mills, agricultural techniques and their architectural traces are also part of the local cultural heritage.

Font de la Mata is laid out as a recreational area and is used by people from Gata De Gorgos and the surrounding area for Easter outings. The stone fountain dates back to a well dug by the Arabs for agricultural water use. Above it, two monumental mastic trees (Pistacia lentiscus) of exceptional size grow among the rocks.

The PR-CV 412 Font de la Mata route starts in parc del Raval, near the església de sant Miquel. After crossing the river, it follows unpaved paths to mas de les Mallades, near Font de la Mata. As trail conditions can change, it is advisable to check them before setting out. Stage 2 of the GR 330 Costa Blanca Interior offers another perspective on the landscape: it crosses the Serra de Seldetes and provides views of surrounding mountain ranges such as the Montgó.

Les Coves Roges (Cuevas Rojas) are intensely red geological formations beside the Gorgos River, where rock art has been found. Several climbing routes have also been established at this site. These landscape features are distinct from the mills, collections and historic buildings: they range from striking rock formations to routes through the Serra de Seldetes.

Discover more destinations: La Romana, Onil, San Isidro, Montesol, Benilloba, Benifato, El Chaparral, Busot.

For the main travel overview: Alicante.