Orxeta: Hiking Trails, Rock Art and Local History
Accommodation in Orxeta
Orxeta lies in a fertile valley on the Sella River, close to striking mountains. Its landscape and local history offer distinct points of interest: a gorge, reservoir and hiking trails sit alongside rock art, religious buildings and a historic mule track. The area thus ranges from natural sites to traces of widely separated periods. You can get to know Orxeta with a focus on either its landscape or its cultural history.
Valley, Nature and Hiking Trails
The L'Estret Gorge is considered a habitat for large birds of prey and numerous endemic plant species. The Amadorio Reservoir is one of the scenic destinations accessible from Orxeta on hikes along old livestock trails. This brings together views of nature and routes leading to a specific excursion destination.
The PR-CV 353 hiking trail can be reached via the CV-770 road between Villajoyosa and Sella. There is public parking at the entrance to Orxeta, next to Restaurante Paco. If you plan to hike the trail, check local parking options before your arrival.
The Rutas Verdes project envisages a network of routes for pedestrians and cyclists, intended to run entirely along traditional paths and livestock trails. Its status as a project sets it apart from the specific access information for the PR-CV 353: Rutas Verdes describes a planned network of routes, while the PR-CV 353 is a single hiking trail with a named road access point.
Rock Art and Historic Buildings
Two rock art shelters in Orxeta feature post-Palaeolithic depictions tentatively dated to the 4th to 3rd millennium BC. They belong to the styles known as schematic and Levantine art. The two sites add to the collection of rock art sites in the Mediterranean Arc of the Iberian Peninsula; the art of this wider region was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998.
The Iglesia Parroquial de San Jaime Apóstol was built between 1759 and 1761, is dedicated to the Apostle James, and has a neoclassical floor plan. The Ermita de Santo Tomás was built in 1665 and marks the end of Orxeta's traditional Calvario route. The hermitage was therefore built just under a century before the parish church. Orxeta's Cruz de Término consists of circular steps, a shaft and a wrought-iron cross.
The historic mule track Camà del Peix also places Orxeta in a wider context. It passed through eight municipalities: Alcoi, Benifallim, Orxeta, Penà guila, Relleu, Sella, La Torre de les Maçanes and La Vila Joiosa. The route is therefore a historical link between localities and is not limited to Orxeta.
Festivals and Gastronomy
The Fiestas Patronales en Honor a Santo Tomás y San Nazario take place each year in the penultimate week of September. They begin on Thursday afternoon and end on the night leading into the following Monday. The programme includes, among other things, a Correfoc, a large communal barbecue, Masses, processions and the ascent of Santo Tomás to the hermitage. As the programme may vary, check the dates and the programme for your travel dates.
At various editions of Orxeta's Fira Gastronòmica, gastronomy and tastings have been combined with family activities, hiking excursions, competitions, music and theatre. The programme therefore extends beyond food to include activities and stage performances. Specific events may vary from one edition to another.
Discover more destinations: Bolulla, Portichol, AigĂĽes, Alcoy, Sax, Alicante, Benidorm, La Nucia
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