Monasteries, Castles and Imposing Bocairent

The first day has several stops. Although Alicante does not suffer too much from traffic congestion, it is not advisable to leave before 9:00. After this time, traffic in the accesses to the city begins to be less.
Bring a sandwich or quick snack for the road because lunch will be around 14:00. At 13:00 we will visit the caves of the Moros in Bocairent, due to its limited opening hours, and then have lunch.

Unlike most religious buildings in Spain, whose construction dates back to the Middle Ages, this monastery was built on top of a hill at the beginning of the 20th century. And all thanks to the money from the commercialisation of goods made by the bourgeoisie.
Its modernist style and its architecture made of local stone are its main distinguishing features. In a certain way, it has a Gaudi style in its construction.
Open Hours: All days: 10:00 - 14:00; 17:00 - 20:00.

The remains of the castle of Sax are located at the highest point of the village, on a hill. Even before entering Sax, the castle can be seen from the road.
Like most of the castles in the interior of Alicante, it was built during the Arab period. Nowadays only some remains of its origin survive, being the keep built during the Middle Ages the one that stands out among its ruins.
It is not possible to enter the interior. But it is worth the short climb up the metal stairs from the hermitage of San Blas to get a close-up view of the walls and contemplate the city from the top.
There is a car park at the base of the castle.

Travel back in time to this castle of Arab origin that forms part of the Route of the Castles of Vinalopó, also located at the top of the hill. Its external structure is preserved in perfect condition, both the walls and the main tower.
Park the car at the base of the castle, and take a short walk to the main gate. The visit is really quick. From the top of the old building, the views of the historic centre of Biar and the hills as a backdrop are worth several photographs.
Open Hours: All days: 10:15 - 13:45.

The area around this Plaza de Toros is an excellent place to park your car and start your tour of Bocairent. Take the opportunity to take a look at it, it was built by sculpting the rock.

If there is one thing Bocairent is known for, it is the caves sculpted by the Berbers between the 10th and 12th centuries.
On the Barranc de la Fos ravine, and only five minutes from the historic centre, you can see numerous windows on the rock, which were the ancient caves used for grain storage.
Open Hours: The interior of the caves can only be visited with a guide, as it is sometimes necessary to bend down to move from cave to cave. Guided tours depart from Tuesday to Sunday at 11:00, 12:00 and 13:00, and on Saturdays and Sundays at 16:00 and 17:00.
Warning: this visit is not suitable for children.

In the historic centre of Bocairent, this restaurant has good prices and quality to make a stop on the way. You can eat both indoors and outdoors.
It has different types of tapas such as parmesan and bacon croquettes or squid in its ink. The desserts are homemade, especially the carrot cake or Ferrero Rocher. Very good service.
Open Hours: Wednesday and Thursday: 9:00 - 16:00, Friday: 9:00 - 17:00, Saturday: 9:00 - 0:00, Sunday: 9:00 - 18:00.

While the outside is not so shiny, the inside is a real marvel. Built on the site of a former Arab mosque, it has different architectural styles ranging from Gothic to Baroque.
Its fantastic frescoes, the visit to the small museum of sacred art and the climb to the bell tower to see the historic centre from above, make it one of the essential places to visit in Bocairent.

The historic centre of Bocairent is a network of narrow streets that wind up and down the hillside, ideal for discovering photo spots.
The Moorish occupation over several centuries has left an important legacy in the architecture of the town, which is still visible in the number of fountains and flower pots that you will find on the façades of the houses. With the Christian era, churches and hermitages flourished, also visible along the way.

Although the hermitage is not open to the public, what is worthwhile is the 1.5 kilometre climb up a steep path for the panoramic views.
From the hermitage you can see all the windows in the Moros caves and the village of Bocairent with the church tower as the main landmark.

Park your car next to the cemetery and walk a few metres along the ravine to reach this small viewpoint.
The panoramic view of the houses perched on the hillside and the church and monastery at the top of the hill is truly perfect.

If you continue walking a few more metres from the previous viewpoint, the views are even better, as you can see the entire bridge that crosses the ravine at the bottom and the terraced houses at the top.
It is the true postcard of Bocairent and the reason why many tourists visit the site.

Located inside the hotel of the same name, you can eat here even if you are not staying. Surrounded by a relaxed atmosphere, the restaurant specializes in stone-grilled meat, although it also offers other quality proposals.
For dinner, from Wednesday to Sunday a menu designed by the restaurant's chef is served, consisting of five courses with fresh seasonal products.
Although dinner plates are served from 20:30 onwards, you can sit down earlier and order an appetizer and tapa as a preliminary step.

This magnificent hotel is located in the old train station of Bocairent, maintaining its architecture and main essence in its decoration. Surrounded by an extensive garden with lots of green, it is ideal for a good rest and relaxation after the first day of route.
In addition to its pleasant design, it has an outdoor swimming pool surrounded by palm trees and an interior patio for the cold months. The rooms enjoy great comfort, highlighting its spaciousness and the mix between modern and classic.