All about - Gata de Gorgos

Gata de Gorgos is an old Spanish town situated on the main N332 from Alicante to Valencia. Gata is situated in-between the inland towns of Pedreguer and Teulada. 

Gata de Gorgos takes its name from the Gorgos river, also know as the Jalon river.

Gata de Gorgos is a small, historical town that was occupied by the Moors during the Arab Conquest in the 8th-13th centuries). In around 1220 the town was re-conquered by Jaime I of Aragon. Originally part of Denia, Gata de Gorgos obtained its independence in 1535

It is famous for its basket and cane ware made out of esparto and palm, sold in the local shops.  Gata is also well known for its Moscatel grapes, these are grown and then using traditional methods, dating from Muslin times, made into the famous wine.

Gata de Gorgos is the place to go if you want to go furniture shopping. It is known for its cane furniture, wicker furniture, American style furniture and beautiful Balinese furnishings and accessories can be found in La Cluse.

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Places to visit

Church of Saint Michael (Iglesia de San Miguel Arcangel)

Located just off the main street (Av de la Marina Alta/N332), this church has a square clock tower based on three tiers. In front of the church is a carved drinking fountain. The church dates from the 17th century and was constructed by the Count II of Alcudia. 

This church was built between 1562 and 1582.

Located in Plaza de la Iglesia, in the center of the village, the building is made up of a central nave and two lateral ones like eight chapels (four on each side). The baroque facade faces the square.

The bell tower is one of the highlights of the facade, which has a square shape and is divided into three sections, the first built of rough stone, where the clock is located, the second section has four arches and on them are the bells and finally the third part with steeple head.

 Guitar Factory 

JOAN CASHIMIRAAdreça, Calle Estacio,25, 03740, Tel 965 756 320

Monday to Friday: 9 to 13h. and from15h to 18.30h.

For three generations the manufacture and construction of guitars has held a national and international reputation for care and attention to detail. Here it is possible to see how craftsmen make them by hand.  There is also an exhibition in which appear various guitars made in different styles.

GUITARRAS FRANCISCO BROS Telèfon: 965 75 65 03 Guitarras Brosguitarrasbros.com

Artesan shops   The streets are dominated by antiques and craft shops, often the wares are displayed outside on the street making a picturesque sight and giving the town it's nick name of the 'bazaar' The Avenida de la Marins Alta and adjacent streets, house most of the craft shops.

The Municipal Archaeological Museum

The Municipal Archaeological Museum Penyo 10, 03740 Gata de Gorgos

The Hermitage of El Santisimo Cristo del Calvario

Tossalet del Calvari, 39, Tel 965 756 010

This is a simple church and the location for the celebrations in August. Dating from the 18th century, you can visit on Fridays from 9am and Sundays at 8pm

The hermitage of Calvary is the second most important religious building in Gata de Gorgos

It is dedicated to its patron, the Santísimo Cristo del Calvario. The temple is located on top of a hill on the outskirts of Gata. Small in size, with very simple Baroque details, the hermitage takes on particular importance during the month of August during the celebration of the Santísimo Cristo del Calvario.

Matties Bags - Matías Salva, SL

MATTIES BAGS is a company with a long family tradition founded in 1980, if you love bags, then a visit to Matties is a must.

Plaça Espanya, 21, 03740 Gata de Gorgos, 965 75 60 51

Every Friday there is a market in the village from 08:00 to 14:00. All kinds of products are sold: clothes, shoes, lingerie, fruits, vegetables, flowers and plants etc. The market takes place at the Plaza Nueva, here.

Rastro Market

Sunday-  the Rastro market is held in the poligono part of town which is easily accessed off the N332.

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Walking 

Las Cuevas Rojas, (red caves) 

Here there are three cavities, between 10 and 20 meters high, of an intense red color (hence the name), located in the Canela ravine, next to the valley that forms the Gorgos river.

The panoramic views here  are extraordinarily beautiful, and up to 34 drawings of rock art have been found inside. They are part of the Rock Art of the Mediterranean Arch. Coat I of Les Coves Roges shows four groupings of engravings from different periods, while Coat II shows two panels, with six and five figures respectively. The engravings were made by making scrapings and incisions in the rock using some sharp stone. They were inhabited by those first human groups and also served as an occasional refuge for wild animals in the area.

This art collection is included in the inventory of rock art in Valencia and is part of the UNESCO world heritage.

Fiestas in Gata de Gorgos

January 17th San Antonio Abad, with the traditional blessing of animals.

February 26th Carnival 

March 5th Burial of the Sardine

June 23-24, San Juan is celebrated with bonfires, in the Font del Riu neighborhood.

August the fiesta is to honour The Christ of the Calvary. Held between July 27 and August 6

At the end of September, the town comes alive during the fiesta of San Miguel, (Saint Michael). It is mainly an artisan fair that draws huge crowds.

Getting to Gata from Benidorm  

By Car -  via the AP- 7 around 40 minutes 38.9 km or 46 minutes via the N332 34.9 km

The main road runs through the middle of Gata de Gorgos and narrow streets lead off each side. Parking is limited and the main road is very busy in summer.

Train -  Line 9,  1 hour 6 minutes, trains every hour. cost between 3 - 5€

Bus - ALSA bus, 1 hour 40 minutes, price 6 - 9€, twice daily

Taxi - Price between 50 - 65€ each way

IDEAS OF OTHER PLACES TO VISIT IN THE SURROUNDING AREA

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All about Benissa

Benissa is the oldest and prettiest of the inland towns of the area. In the late 1980s and 1990s the local authorities started to rescue the historical part of the town from gradual decay. They did a magnificent job restoring the town's splendid 17th and 18th century town houses, so taking a stroll around Benissa's perfectly conserved Historic Centre is a true pleasure. Ironwork balconies and heraldic shields decorate the historic buildings that line the narrow streets of the town.

The parish church which is dedicated to Puríssima Xiqueta, the Town Hall, the old Council rooms, the house of Juan Vines and the Franciscan Monastery are just a few of the historic buildings which are worth a look.

Sala del Consell - Town council hall

The Sala del Consell, located in Calle la Puríssima, in the heart of the old town of Benissa, was built at the end of the 16th century at a time of great economic expansion. The Sala del Consell or Lonja de Contratación (Exchange) housed the sessions of the Council and the archive. However, it also served as “Almudí” (for the storage and sale of wheat and other cereals).

Cases del Batlle - Houses of the Batlle

The Cases del Batlle used to be home to the mayor of Benissa. They are located in front of the Sala del Consell. Currently, they house the Bernat Capó Municipal Library and also the interesting art gallery Espai d'Art Contemporani Salvador Soria, in which you will find the municipal collection of art from the painting competition named after the artist who died in Benissa.

Casa Abargues Museum

The Casa Abargues is a 18th-19th century stately home., located in Calle Desamparats, one of the most beautiful streets in the old town. 

Inside the house you will see the decoration and furniture typical of the noble households of the time: coats of arms, grand stair-cases, private dining rooms, the spectacular Saló Blau (Blue Room), the old kitchen, stables, rooms for storing agricultural products, the family chapel, and the servants' quarters.

Open hours are Monday - Friday 11.00 - 13.30

The Monument for the "Riberer"

This monument represents the Riberer, a character with a long tradition in Benissa. For centuries many “Benisseros” used to walk to the rice fields of the Ribera, in the province of Valencia, for some extra income to cover their needs.

Church of the Puríssima Xiqueta

 "La Catedral de la Marina" this is  one of the largest churches in the region, construction of this church began in 1902 and was completed in 1929. It is 35 metres high and neo-Gothic in style and is just beautiful inside.

Franciscan Monastery - C/ Pare Zacarías, 27

In 1611 a group of Franciscan monks settled in Benissa where they founded the Convento de la Inmaculada Concepción (Convent of the Immaculate Conception), monastery that opened on the 23rd September 1613. The bell tower and the cloister were renovated in 1992. Inside the church there is an interesting altarpiece and a small museum in which the visitor can see various pieces that originated in the monastery, the old seraphic school, and souvenirs and other objects donated to the order by the monks throughout the long history of the monastery.

Market day in Benissa is  Saturday morning.

Beaches

Although Benissa is located inland, it also has 4 kilometres of beautiful coastline. The Cala de la Fustera is the best to visit as it has the largest car park! The small beach is sandwich between cliffs along which are two great coastal walking paths.

Ideas of places to twin Benissa with day or night

• Visit Benissa on a Saturday morning to enjoy the lively market in the streets beside the impressive parish church. Make the 6 kilometre drive to the coast and take a walk along the stunning coastal paths from Cala de la Fustera.
• Take a stroll around the impressive historic quarter of Benissa and relax with a morning coffee, then head onto Calpe.

One of our top 20 Places to visit in the area.

Getting to Benissa from Benidorm

Coast and Caves Excursion with Round Town Travel   The first stop on this coach trip is a stop at Benissa.

Alsa Bus, Journey time around 1 hour cost approx 6€

Tram - Line 9, to Denia, approx 54 mins

Car, either via the Ap7 (toll road) or the N332  approx 34km 25mins drive

Taxi, Approximate cost - 45 -55€

Gardens to visit - Jardín de l'Albarda

Gardens to visit, Alicante Region, Jardín de l'Albarda - The Garden of l'Albarda, located in the town of Pedreguer, are one of the best kept secrets in the Marina Alta, situated close to the town of  Dénia

The garden of L’Albarda is a wonderful Mediterranean gardens. Created in 1990, it demonstrates the great richness of the flora that thrive in this climate. L’Albarda covers an area of 50,000 m2 and boasts more than 700 species of native plants, as well as an extensive collection of roses and palm trees.

L’Albarda has a formal garden, orchards and wild gardens. These recreate the ancient Renaissance gardens of Valencia which were widely influenced by Arab culture. As in Renaissance gardens, architectural features have a great importance in L’Albarda;

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Visitors will be transported to ancient times as they wander the walkways, pergolas and areas of outstanding natural beauty.

L’Albarda belongs to FUNDEM, foundation for the conservation of Mediterranean flora and fauna. One of the purposes is to publicize FUNDEM an example of sustainable gardening, based on the use of native plants with low consumption of water and chemicals.

History of the Garden of L'Albarda
Enrique Montoliu founded the garden in 1990 in a place where there was nothing in the 80s. After visiting gardens in his travels around the world, Montoliu plant a beautiful Mediterranean garden. The houses that Montoliu saw as a child in towns such as Alzira or Carcaixent inspire the garden house. Initially, his idea was to create a private garden, but as time went on, he continued to expand. Finally, he decided to open this space to the visitors so that everyone could visit this wonderful place.

Opening hours

OPEN EVERY DAY from 10.00 to 14.00

Summer hours:  June 15th to September 15th also afternoons open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Price: Monday - Friday 7€ per person, 9€ weekends and public holidays (children under 7 years free). Weekday Family Ticket: 15€ Mon - Friday, Weekends and holidays 22€ (includes two adults and two children between 7 and 14 years)

Telephone - 96 352 30 or WhatsApp 696 975 290

Delivery of tickets: Directly at the entrance of the garden. (Ring bell or call 638 320 631)

Guided tours:  Groups of at least 10 people at € 6 per person (children under 7 years free). (BOOKING NEEDED)

Possible languages:  Spanish, Valencià, English and German.

Open guided tours:  Last Saturday of each month at 11 a.m

Accessibility:   A large part of the garden can be accessed with wheelchair (see accessible area map below)  Dogs are allowed, always on a lead.

The  l’Albarda gardens are  located in the municipality of Pedreguer, municipality in the province of Alicante and near the town of Denia.  Address -  Urbanisation La Sella, C / Baix Vinalopó, No. 8, Pedruguer.

For lots more places to visit check out this section of the website 

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All About El Campello

El Campello is only about 30km from Benidorm and well worth a visit if you fancy a quieter day on the beach.

El Campello has quite a few historic buildings and remains almost unchanged by tourism and has a lovely relaxed atmosphere of a traditional seaside town.

One of the most impressive building is the watch tower, Torre de la Vigía Illeta, which dominates the harbour. this was built in the 16th Century to protect  the coast against  pirates attacks.

Below the watch tower, on a small peninsula,  are the ruins of Illeta which are among the most important archaeological sites in the Mediterranean. It is a 5,000 year old settlement, founded by the Iberians and later inhabited by the Romans.  From the Iberian period unique circular buildings, in which crockery, arms, and even graves have been found.

Opening hours of the Archaeological Site of La Illeta dels Banyets -  Closed Mondays, Tuesday to Saturday: from 10:00. to 14:00 and  15:30 to 7:30. Sunday and holidays: from 10:00 to 14:00.

There are two areas to the port: the marina, where is the "Club Nautico Campello" with more than 400 berths, and the nearby fishing port with its market, where you can watch the fish auctions during the week-days.

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Fish Market - The fish auction takes place every evening from Monday to Friday, between 6.00pm and 8.00pm. The market is closed on local or national fiesta days. The El Campello fish market is in the Lonja del Puerto (which means Harbour Fish Market) in a large white building.

Unlike a lot of wholesale fish markets, El Campello actively encourages visitors to come and visit.Wholesale buyers from all the big restaurants and supermarkets come here to buy their fish. Individuals can also just buy a tray of fresh fish to take home. Sometimes the fish is so fresh, they are actually still flapping about in the market!  Check out the Gamba Roja (Red Prawns). The Gamba Roja from this part of Spain are considered the finest in the whole country. Considered an absolute delicacy in this region, they are also very expensive in the markets and supermarkets you find in town.

Local Market day is every Wednesday from 8.00 until 14.00  You can find this market in the village centre near the town hall. On the Plaza del Ayuntamiento it has about 180 stalls. They offer lots of fresh food articles and general products.

During October each year, the town holds its moros i cristians (Moors and Christians) festival. The festival includes daily "battles" through the town.  There are numerous parades and late night fireworks displays. The evening parades through the centre of the town are a must see with very extravagant costumes being worn.

The Beach

16th June 2020 - The town hall of El Campello has decreed that smoking is forbidden on their 23km of beaches .  The beaches are to be part of a regional initiative called "Playas sin humo" (Beaches without smoke).

The promenade "Voramar de les Escultures", which is named after the artist Vicente Ferrero, which starts at the watch tower and which leads up to the beach Playa de la Almadraba. Along the beach promenade, there are colorful fishermen's houses, and lots of bars, cafes and restaurants.

The best beach to visit in El Campello is the Muchavista Beach. Playa Mucahvista is seven kilometres long and has maintained its blue flag status for many years.  The adjacent beach promenade leads to the Playa de San Juan in Alicante.

La Illeta dels Banyets   The swimming area at La Illeta dels Banyets comprises a rocky platform and a pebbly cove that connects the archaeological site with the mainland. It’s the perfect spot to do some snorkelling and diving.

There are numerous beaches and coves nearby, including the rocky Coveta Fuma, bays with sandy beaches such as Cala Venta and La Nuza.

Getting to El Campello

The easiest way of course is by car, via the N332, distance 32km time around 34 minutes, there is plenty of parking.

Tram - Every 30 minutes, the journey takes 46 min for up to date times and prices check HERE

ALSA operates a bus from Benidorm to El Campello 4 times a day. Tickets cost 4€ - 7€ and the journey takes 40 min. Alternatively,

Taxi as a rough guide a taxi will cost in the region of 55€ - 75€ from Benidorm

Why not combine a trip to  Villa Joyosa on the same day.

For more places to visit in the area, check out this section of the website

If you have any questions, comment below.