HINTLAND COSTA BLANCA: VALL DE GALLINERA

A sea of blossom

The valley is located about 40 km in the hinterland of the coast near Denia. Via Pego you drive via the CV700 to this beautiful valley, which is surrounded by the Sierra de les Solanes, Almirante and Penya Foradá. After Pego the road gets steeper and the bends get sharper, the mountains rougher and higher and suddenly terraces loom with almond, olive and above all cherry trees. Between February and April, the mountain slopes turn into a sea of white blossoms. From the harvest in May until the summer you can enjoy the delicious cherries that are offered for sale or are processed in the many restaurants in mouth-watering dishes.

Walk along Moorish villages

But it's not just for cherries and the local gastronomy of the villages in the valley that you venture here along the steep, winding route. For walkers, there is the beautiful 'ruta dels 8 pobles': route of 8 villages, a linear walk of 14 km along the eight white villages of the Vall de Gallinera. You can also take a trip through the villages by car or bicycle, or, as we did, do part of the walk.

The names of the villages are reminiscent of times when the Moors ruled here; Benirrama, Benailí, Benissiva, Benitaia, La Carroja, Alpatró, Llobai and Benissili. Surrounded by mountains and cherry trees, we walk in complete silence from Benirrama to Benailí and Benissivà, which are only separated by a road. We pass ruins of a fortress, white and colorful houses and stop for a moment at old washhouses with photos from earlier times. We marvel at the overwhelming environment and the tranquility. Our eye suddenly falls on a round hole in the mountains. On certain dates in March and October, the sun shines in a straight line through that round hole in the Penya Forradá, a special natural phenomenon. It is also very worthwhile for real hikers to climb the Penya Forradá.

Uninhabited village and caves

In Benirrama a small carnival parade arrives when we have settled at one of the small bars. In other villages time seems to have stood still, but there are small restaurants everywhere. The village of Llobai is completely uninhabited. In the vicinity of Benirrama and Benailí there are also caves to visit with almost 400 drawings from different periods between 7000 AC and 1000 AC.

If you go further inland, you will arrive in one of the roughest areas of the northern part of the Costa Blanca, the Vall de Alcalà and Vall d'Ebo. Various cycling and walking routes have also been set out here. The Gallinera valley really surprised me, and is highly recommended for anyone who likes rugged nature, mountains, tranquility, hiking and cycling.

source: espanje.nl