Penella: Castle, Patronal Festival and Hiking Routes
Accommodation in Penella
In Penella, visitors will find several reasons to plan a trip: the history of Castillo de Penella, the patronal festival, and routes that take in the castle and the Ermita. If you are looking for a hotel, these themes can help you decide what to focus on during your stay—whether historic buildings, a recurring festival tradition, or a hike with clearly specified route details.
The castle and the Ermita: two historical periods
Castillo de Penella dates from the late 13th century. It rises on a limestone crag, with sheer walls on its north side. The castle offers views of Alcoy and Cocentaina. Its legal status is also noteworthy: Castillo is legally protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural in the Monumento category. This allows the building’s historical date, rock formation, and protected monument status to be considered together.
Another historical landmark is the Ermita de Sant Tomàs de Villanueva de Penella, which dates from the 15th century. The castle and the Ermita therefore belong to different centuries. If you are interested in the area’s history, you can keep these two dates in mind as separate points of reference, without treating the buildings as being from the same period.
Patronal festival and “A ballar les danses”
Penella’s patronal festivals are held in honour of Sant Tomàs de Villanueva. Every year, “A ballar les danses” brings together numerous participants and spectators. This recurring dance tradition offers a reason to discover Penella beyond its architectural history, with a focus on dancing together and bringing participants and spectators together.
The festival programme includes a procession through the hamlet, a communal breakfast, and then games for children. The activities follow a sequence from the procession to the shared meal and then the games. The programme may vary from year to year; if you are planning your trip around the festival, it is best to check the dates and the programme for that year.
Routes around Penella
The Route of the Mariola Hermitages covers more than 250 kilometres and connects various hermitages in the municipalities of the Serra Mariola. It can be completed in stages. Stage Cocentaina 4 connects Poble Nou, the Ermita St TomĂ s, and Castell de Penella. This provides both a longer route divided into sections and a specifically named stage as points of reference.
Another option is a circular hike starting in Cocentaina that passes the Ermita de Sant TomĂ s de Vilanova de Penella and Castell de Penella. It is 13.98 kilometres long and rated moderate. After a short paved section, the circular route reaches the hamlet of Penella. The distance and rating describe this specific hike; they should not be confused with the length of the entire Route of the Mariola Hermitages. Before setting out, it is advisable to check the current route and trail conditions.
This distinction helps with planning: the circular hike is a single tour with a stated distance and difficulty, while the Route of the Mariola Hermitages describes a network of trails covering more than 250 kilometres, with possible stages. The places and route details mentioned here can help you decide what to focus on during your stay: would you like to explore the castle and the Ermita, take the patronal festival into account, or focus on one of the routes described?
Discover more destinations: Finestrat, Beniarrés, Trencall, Castell De Castells, El Tossal, Alcoy, Polop, La Torre de les Maçanes.
For the broader travel overview: Alicante.
