Mogente, the Hills of Mariola and the Tasty Turron of Jijona

One of the historical remains preserved in Mogente is the Moorish tower, of Arab origin.
To get there, you have to climb several steps up the hill, so it is advisable to wear comfortable shoes. From the tower you can see the village below with the hills as a backdrop.
The car can be parked at the side of the road on Bosquet street. The walk-up to the tower takes about 10 minutes.
After the panoramic view, you have to descend, take the car and park in the streets of the town centre.

The museum draws on archaeological discoveries made in the area, including the Iberian site of Bastida de les Alcusses, the necropolis of Corral de Saus and the Mora tower.
In this way it covers numerous historical periods ranging from the Neolithic, the Romans, the Arabs, and the Middle Ages.
It is a free guided tour that takes about 30 to 40 minutes.
Open Hours: Saturdays: 10:00 - 13:30, 16:30 - 18:30. Sundays and public holidays: 10:00 - 13:30. From Wednesday to Friday, please arrange the visit in advance by sending an email to [email protected].
After visiting the museum, pick up the car (five minutes) and head for the hill Mariola.

Parking at the intersection of roads CV-81 and CV-655. A five-minute walk will take you to the pools.

At its source, the Clariano river flows through a small canyon over wells formed naturally over pools formed naturally by the wear of the water on the rock.
These natural pools form pools of spring water, ideal for bathing in summer or for walking along a path at any time of year. There are several pools with different names.
During most of the year, you can leave your car in the parking near the pools. In July and August, this parking is closed, and you have to park at the Ontiyent sports centre and walk two kilometres to the pools or take the shuttle bus.
Furthermore, in July and August you must book in advance to access the pools due to the large number of people. You must book in advance through this official website of the Pou Clar pools.

Surrounded by an idyllic landscape in the vicinity of the Pou Clar pools, the restaurant serves a closed menu including several dishes to taste and unlimited drinks.
More than 10 different meals are offered to the guests, and you choose whether you want to serve yourself or wait for the next one. There are paellas, meats, fish, sausages and more. Buffet style, but without leaving the table.
Open Hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 13:30 - 18:00.
There is parking next to the restaurant where you can leave your car.

Next to the hermitage is the place to park the car and start the hiking route to the caves carved into the rock.

It is a two-kilometre walk along a path of low difficulty to reach these caves excavated by man on the rock.
They are very similar to the Dels Moros caves in Bocairent, perhaps the best known. Their purpose for which they were dug is not yet known, but it all leads to storage of seeds and food.
From the outside, they look like small windows on the rocky wall. Only the interior of one cave can be accessed by ladder.
After visiting the caves (about half an hour), there are fifteen minutes to retrace your steps and return to the place where parked your car.

When we talk about Jijona, we refer to turrón (nougat). With a long tradition in the production of this product and with a stamp of denomination of origin.
In the city you will see several companies that make handmade nougat. The best thing to do is to visit the nougat museum, a private enterprise. Through a guided tour, you will learn about the history that links the city with this sweet, old machinery and tasting of the turron El Lobo and 1880.
If you feel like tasting more, there is a shop at the end of the visit to buy some more.
Open Hours: From 1 January to 15 July, Monday to Saturday at 10:00, 10:45, 11:30, 12:15, 13:00, 16:00, 16:45, 17:30. From 16 July to 31 December, every day at 10:00, 10:45, 11:30, 12:15, 13:00, 15:30, 16:15, 17:00, 17:45, 18:30.
Parking is available next to the Nougat Museum.

The return to Alicante can wait. Before returning to the city, a stop to taste seafood and seafood dishes.
A variety of tapas and croquettes with a taste of the sea, rice dishes and paellas with seafood are some dishes on offer. If you only want to eat seafood, you must try the scallops and octopus; they make them a delicacy.
Open Hours: Tuesday to Thursday: 7:00 - 23:00. Friday: 7:00 - 0:00. Saturday: 8:00 - 0:00. Sunday: 10:00 - 17:00.
In the streets around the restaurant, you can park your car without any problems.