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Benissa, guide to all year round enjoyment
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Although there are remains of ancient cultures such the Iberian or Roman it is without doubt the Moslem culture that is most rooted in the town and the town’s name, a derivation of “Banu-Issa”, and the names of some of the farming hamlets that have survived throughout the centuries.
If you want to enjoy one of the region’s best conserved Medieval town centres take a stroll though the Old Town of Benissa, that dates back to the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and relive the epoch of Valencia’s Classic book and author, Tirant el Blanc and Ausias March…
A good starting point is the “Plaza del
Portal”, in olden times the East gate of
the walled town of Benissa. In this squa-
re you will see the building that started
life as the “Hospital Municipal” (Munici-
pal Hospital) and today is the headquar-
ters of the “Ayuntamiento” (Town Hall)
( ), and another old building belonging
to the Fundación Abargues.
Round the corner from the Plaza del Portal, Benissa’s medieval route passes through the peaceful “Placeta de l’Església Vella” (Old Church Square) ( 1). Here you can see a painting on ceramic tiles that depicts the facade of the ancient fortified medieval church ( 1) that served the town for centuries not only as the House of God but also as a fortress that protected the Benissa folk
from the pirate attacks that at the time were common along the coast.
Wandering along the “calle de la Purís-sima” ( 2) and “calle Desamparats” ( 4) streets you can discover what was once a Valencian Renaissance quarter with its wrought iron balconies, cobbled streets and contrasted white-washed and travertine limestone facades.
In the calle Puríssima is Benissa’s oldest public building: The “Sala del Consell” (Council Room) ( 3) that in the past housed the Town Hall, the prison and legal archives.
Benissa has rehabilitated its Heritage for cultural use. An example is the “Sede Universitaria” (Satellite University) (2) that occupies the “Andrés” and “Pere Bigot” ancestral homes or the “Palacio de los Torres-Orduña” ( ), another stately home that has been converted into Centro cultural y Biblioteca (Cul-tural centre and library). If you wish to visit a true 18th Century ancestral home,
history and
“Puríssima Xiqueta” Parish church
Abargues Ancestral Home-Museum
HERITAGE
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complete with period furniture and tiles, you can go into the “Casa-Museo del antiguo linaje de los Abargues” (Abargues Ancestral Home-Museum) ( 6).
Between the calle Desamparats and the Cultural Centre you will find the Casal dels Joves (Youth Centre) ( ) that occupies a 16th Century buil-ding that, in times past, was used as a granary, prison, Town Hall or Court of Justice while its spacious stone columned porch served as a market hall.
At the westernmost point of the route is the “Convento de los Padres Franciscanos” (Fran-ciscan Monastery) ( ) founded in 1613 and a landmark of urban Benissa of the period. During centuries the monastery has been an educatio-nal centre for the inhabitants of the Marina Alta and for the Franciscan Order who had a minor seminary backing onto the monastery.
You can end your walk round the Old Town with a visit to the Iglesia de la Puríssima Xiqueta (Pa-rish church) ( ) that stands out in the Benissa skyline from any angle due to its imposing size and its unusual neo-gothic style. The construc-tion works that lasted from 1902 until 1929 were the result of the efforts of the Benissa townsfolk and the church is known in the area as the “Ca-tedral de la Marina” (Cathedral of the Marina).
Located half way down the calle Puríssima is the “Monumento al Riberero” ( 5) a tribute to the farmhands that years ago had to walk to the “Ribera del Júcar” (The Jucar riverside) to harvest rice. This statue is of a kneeling man since it was customary for these emigrants to say a prayer to the Virgin Mary patroness of Benissa “La Puríssima Xiqueta” as they left to work in the rice paddies.
Very close to the monument is the house known as the “Casa de Juan Vives” ( 7), where the “Puríssima Xiqueta”, consecrated as Patroness in 1864, carried out her first miracle.
Did you know…
Benissa Old Town
?
“Calle Desamparats” street
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Benissa has a 4km long rocky coastline with cliffs and small coves surrounded by pine trees. An eco-trail runs along the coastline and can be enjoyed throughout the year thanks to the mild climate.
The PASEO ECOLÓGICO (Eco-Trail) is the best trip along the coast of Benis-sa. The starting point is the “Tourist Info Benissa Playa – Aula de la Mar” (Tourist Office-Sea Rooms) services that operate in the “Casa dels Cent Vents” (House of the Hundred Winds). The trail consists of two routes: south and north, and runs all along the coast with information panels describing local customs and history, the varied flora and geographical aspects of the coastline, and offers an easy and attractive walk.
SOUTHERN ROUTE
Tourist Info Benissa Playa – Club Náuti-co Les Bassetes (Yacht Club). 0,6 kms.
In the “Bahía de les Bassetes” bay is the Club Náutico (yacht club) of the same name. In this bay is a micro-reserve with singular botanical species such as Cat’s Head Rockrose or Cone-head Thyme.
NORTHERN ROUTE
1st section: Tourist Info Benissa PlayaCala Pinets. 1 km.
The first stop along the route is the “Playa de la Fustera” an enchanting small family beach with fine sand, crys-tal clear water and a sea bed dominated by Sea grass.
This beach offers various services for bathers and boasts a European Blue Flag.
The trail continues to the Cala dels Pinets, a small wild pebble and rock cove from where you can make a short detour on foot to the “Mar Morta i Roques Negres” a natural rock pool of great geological and scenic interest.
Due to its character this pool is an ideal place for children to paddle and swim.
The route continues to another pebbly cove, the “Cala de la Llobella”, that due to its lack of access by road is very quiet and ideal for sub-aquatic sports.
our seaTHE COAST
Eco-Trail
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2nd section: Platgeta de l’Advocat. 0.5 km
From the Platgeta de l’Advocat beach the trail leads north to the “Parque Biosaludable”, an area equi-pped with gym apparatus and south to the Zona Verde (green zone) that is habitat of various species.
The Platgeta de l’Advocat consists of a mixture of rock and fine sand and alongside it there is a jetty and a small esplanade that serves as a car park. This point marks the end of the northern route of the Eco Trail.
Our trip along the coast finishes at the Cala del Bala-drar, another pebble cove located at the mouth of the “barranc dels Sesters” gully. A natural inlet divides the cove into the two areas: the Cala del Baladrar and la Goleta.
“Cala Baladrar” Cove
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“Cala dels Pinets” Cove. “Mar Morta”
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Water sportsIf you have some spare time during your stay in Benissa you can learn to dive, kayak, sail or windsurf.
There are diving and sailing schools in the “Club Náutico Les Bassetes” Yacht Club that offer classes and courses in various water sports.
Don’t miss…
trailsSUB-AQUATIC The characteristics of the Benissa coastline, with its crystal clear water and shallow coves, makes it an ideal place for snorkelling. This activity is easy, cheap and the best way to get to know the beau-ties of the sea bed and the underwater meadows of Posidonia Sea grass.
To snorkel all you need are goggles, fli-ppers and a snorkel tube.
We have prepared six routes for snorke-lling in our coves and beaches: Les Bas-setes, La Fustera, Els Pinets, La Llobella, L’Advocat & El Baladrar.
The depth of these routes varies between 3 and 8 metres and the time needed to enjoy them goes from 20 minutes in Cala Els Pinets to the 35 minutes that it takes to snorkel round the Platgeta L’Advocat.
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Sub-aquatic flora and faunaThe sea bed is made up of meadows of Posido-nia sea grass, rocky formations and fine sand. Shoals of grey mullet, East Atlantic peacock wrasse, or common two-banded sea bream, and also octopus, starfish and gilthead sea bream are some of the species that make up Benissa’s varied marine wildlife.
Comber (Serranus Scriba)
Octopus (Octopus Vulgaris)Common Two-banded Sea Bream (Diplodus Vulgaris)
Conehead Thyme(Tymbra Capitata)
Grey Mullet (Chelon Labrosus)Cat’s Head Rock Rose (Helianthemun Caput-felis)
Les BassetesLa Fustera
Els PinetsLa Llobella
Advocat
Baladrar
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Walking routes
NATURE
PR-CV7
La Sierra de Bèrnia is the natural frontier between the Marina Alta and Marina Baixa and its crested ridge is the backdrop that we see as we look south over Benissa. This route passes alongside the Font de Bèrnia (spring), and goes through the “Forat”, a natural tunnel that crosses through the ridge to the southern slopes where the route continues as far as the “Fort de Bèrnia” the fortress that was built during the reign of Felipe II to ward off the Moorish attacks.
Length: 3 ½ hours.
Distance: 8km
Walkabiliy: Moderate/challenging
Maximum altitude: 850m
Access: Take the N-332 towards Alicante. After1km turn right along the CV-750 Xaló road and at 300 metres turn left into the CV-749 road fo-llowing the signs to “Pinos-Bèrnia” CV-749. Continue on this road for 16 km until you arrive at Les Cases de Bèrnia where the road ends and you can park your vehicle and start the walk.
PR-CV 340
The “Sierra de Oltà” mountain is another of the most loved landmarks of Benissa with its characteristic “dit” (finger) and its isolated aspect
Length: 2 hours - Distance: 7km
Walkability: Moderate
Maximum altitude: 587m
Access: Take the N-332 road towards Alicante. After 9km turn right at the “Calpe Sur” junction and follow the signs to Estación F.C. (Station) and then continue following the signs to “Monte Oltà – Zona de Acampada” (camp site) at approximately 2km.
Benissa’s municipal territory is one of the largest of the Marina Alta and its landscape, cultural identity and biodiversity are of great interest. For this reason we have designed a series of trails that help the visitor to discover these features at leisure.
Route of the “Riberers” or “Old Route to Valencia” (Camí Vell de València)
Oltà Route
Bèrnia Route
PR- CV 388
This is the route that was used by the “Ribereros” (Benissa farmhands that walked to Valencia to harvest rice at the Júcar riverside) in their yearly forced emigration. Along the route you can en-joy wonderful views of the Marina Alta, see abandoned farmhouses, walk along the hills known as the Mallà Verda and visit the “Font de la Mata” nature spot.
Length: 4 hours - Distance: 14km
Walkability: Moderate
Maximum altitude: 430m
Access: The route starts from the car park in the Municipal Cemetery (at 2km from the centre of Benissa).
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This isthe trail
Change direction
Wrong direction
Know the symbols used along the routes... ?
This trail offers magnificent views of various villages of the Vall de Pop and also the possibility to see typical farmhouses that are no longer inhabited.
Length: 3 hours - Total distance: 12km
Walkability: Moderate – Maximum altitude: 724m
Access: Take the N-332 towards Alicante and turn right along the Xaló road (CV-750) and then turn left after some 300 metres into the Pinos-Bèrnia road (CV-749). Continue for 2,5 Km and turn right up the dirt track marked by some pillars one topped with a sign for “Rafalet”. This track leads up the mountain leading first to the “campo de tiro” (shoo-ting range). Before you reach this you should park your car opposite the small ruins and four olive trees and start the walk.
Another way to get to know Benissa and its natural surroundings is to visit the “ermitas” (chapels) that are dotted round the rural areas: Santa Anna, Pedramala, Lleus, Benima-rraig, Benimarco and Pinos. Although the Santa Anna chapel dates back to 1613 most of the others were built during the first years of the 19th Century. Even today they are still in use and during the summer months celebrate the feasts of their respec-tive patrons, this being therefore the best season to pay them a visit.
La Solana Route
The Hermitage Route
Lleus hermitage
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Our FLAVOURSOne of the other ways of getting to know Benissa is through its gastronomy, aspect that combines tradition and ingredients extracted from the sea and the countryside. Fish recipes such as “bull amb ceba” (tuna belly with onion) or putxero de polp (octopus stew) and, from the countryside, tra-ditional dishes such as “sang amb ceba” (blood with onion) or “les coques al calfó i amb mullador” (a pizza-like flat bread topped with ratatouille).
The king of Benissa’s gastronomy is without doubt its rice dishes: some of them dry and other creamy and with ingredients provided both by the farmers and the fishermen: “al forn” (oven baked), “amb fèsols i naps” (with white beans and turnips), “amb Fava pelà” (with broad beans), “a banda” or “del senyoret” (gentlemen’s seafood paella).
A speciality that is well known in the Marina Alta area for its high quality is the farmhouse sausage that co-mes in various varieties: “botifarra” (black sausage), “bufa” (black pudding), “blanquet” (white sausage) or “llonganissa” (spicy pork sausage) and can be eaten alone or as an ingredient of traditional recipes.
All these varieties are on sale in the traditional butcher’s shops located in the town.
A long time ago a popular saying affirmed “a Benissa, pilota i missa” (In Benissa, meat balls and mass).
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Life-long recipes...Try out other recipes at www.benissa.es,
in the section titled “our flavors”.
You can enjoy these tasty dishes and many more throughout the year in Benissa’s numerous restaurants or in the events that take place in the month of March within the “Mostra Gastronòmica Benissa” (the towns Gastronomy Fair), or throughout the summer months when many bars serve “tapas” and offer live music as part of the “Benissa: amb sabor, cultura i tapes” (Benissa: with flavour, culture and tapas) route.
Did you know...?
PUTXERO DE POLP (OCTOPUS STEW)
INGREDIENTS - For 4 people:
- 2 small octopus 1 kg. Each - 1 head of garlic
- 6 large pencas - 1 small cup of oil
- 1 sweet potato - A little red pepper
- 8 almonds - 1 turnip
- ½ kg. rice - 1 tomato
- Saffron, salt and parsley - 2 potatoes
- oil - 1 onion
- 500 grs. of chickpeas or white French beans
PREPARATION
Pour oil into cauldron. Before heating oil add octopus, diced
tomato, chopped onion, almonds and garlic.
Heat ingredients in step (1) together, and when octopus be-
comes firm, remove almonds and garlic and add remaining
vegetables.
Blend garlic, almonds and parsley in food processor and put
back to cauldron.
Remove stew to prepare rice in separate cauldron.
Serve rice first and layer over with octopus and vegetables.
COCAS OF BENISSA COLDCUTSINGREDIENTS - For 4 people:- 1 drinking glass of sunflower oil- 2 drinking glasses of water- Baking powder
- Salt
- Flour
PREPARATION
Put all ingredients into a bowl and mix for 5 minutes.The mix should be smooth and stir/lift up easily (the mix should be soft)
Make into 25 gr. pieces, flatten and top with Benissa coldcuts: longaniza (sausage), blood sausage, chorizo, etc.Put cocas in oven at minimum heat. Baking time determined by sight.
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Plan your stay in
BENISSA
Benissa offers all sorts of leisure options. Shopping in the Old Town with its Medieval style shops selling local farmhouse products, such as the renowned embutidos (sausages) and also the “Coca María” (sponge cake), “Els Caspellets” and the “Cocas” (savoury pastries and breads) that are sold in any of the town’s baker’s shops. The mercadi-llo (street market) on Saturday mornings, where you will be surroun-ded by the colours and perfumes of the fresh fruit and vegetables.
Enjoy customs such as the “pelota valenciana” matches held on Sun-day afternoons at the municipal “trinquete” (ball court), or the “Volta en Carro” (mule and cart rally) that takes place mid August and shows us the traditional form of transport used by our ancestors to get to work or in the moments of leisure.
Take a walk through our old town or along the coastline and stop off at any of the street cafés, bar or restaurants to savour the tasty local food or try innovative international cuisine. Treat yourself to a drink at one of the terraces, many of which offer live music, or enjoy the night life in the bars and pubs. On the other hand during the summer season you can relax and enjoy the sea breeze at one of the “Chiringuitos” (beach bars) located alongside the sea-shore.
SPRING
SUMMER
WINTER
AUTUMN
This experience can be enjoyed all year since we have ways of making sure that your stay with us will be an experience for all of your senses.
Moors & Christians
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(20th March to 20th June)SPRING
Visit Benissa’s nature spots such as the Serra de Bèrnia or the Serra d’Oltà with its interesting summit walk, the Solana and the rural hamlets with their chapels that invite the visitor to take tranquil rest.
Take part in adventure sports such as mountain bike, horse riding, golf or fell-walking and enjoy the beauty of the wild flowers and trees in blossom and other aspects of nature.
Visit the Saturday Street Market in the Old Town and children’s theatre on Sunday mornings. Take part in Holy Week activities and enjoy the “Fiestas” held in honour of Benissa’s patroness, the Puríssima Xiqueta, that take place on the 4th Sunday of April and consist in parades, traditional dances, night-time concerts and evening sessions of bull-running in the square.
Try the exquisite local gastronomy and the innovative international cuisine at restaurants located in the Old Town and scattered around the villa estates located close to the coast. Amongst the typical dishes of this season of the year are the “Putxero de Polp” (octopus stew), “Borreta de Melva” (salted tuna with tomato, peppers and onion) or “Mona de Pascua” (Easter bun).
Visit the Old Town with its well-known “Catedral de la Marina”, church of neo-gothic style, and its streets, coats of arms and balconies that perfectly conserve its medieval character. Benissa’s most important buildings house interesting itinerant exhibitions of great artistic and cultural value.
At the same time Benissa offers various tapas bars and pubs.
FIESTAS PATRONALES EN HO-NOR A LA PURÍSSIMA XIQUETA (LOCAL FEAST-DAY) (4th Sunday of April): Activities of interest: the procession, the Coronation of the Fiesta Queen, bull-running, live concerts, fire-work displays and special days dedicated to the “Ribereros” or the “Fadrins” (bachelors).
PHILATELY FAIR & STAMP AUC-TION. 1st Sunday of the month at 10 a.m. onwards in C/ Francisco Sendra.
CINEMA. Film show on Thursday nights in the Sede Universitaria de la Marina (Satellite Universi-ty). Free entrance.
ART EXHIBITIONS (once a month)
CHILDREN’S THEATRE. One Sunday a month (October to May)
MONA DE PASCUA. Activities for children during the Easter holidays.
“25 D’ABRIL” VILA DE BENISSA LITERARY COMPETITION. Prizes awarded in the categories: short story, poetry and investigation. (April)
S. SORIA VILA DE BENISSA PAINTING COMPETITION. Exhi-bition and prize-giving. (May)
PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION. “Fiestas de Moros y Cristianos” (Moors and Christians) (June-September).
BUSINESS & COMMERCE PRIZES. “Benissa és Qualitat” (Benissa means Quality) (June)
FIESTA DEL CORPUS DEL CONVENTO (CORPUS CHRISTI) (mid June)
PELOTA VALENCIANA MAT-CHES. (January-December) With professional “pelota valenciana” players in Benissa’s “trinquete” ball court on Sunday afternoon.
MARAPRMAYJUN
Don’t miss...
“Fiestas” held in honour of Benissa’s patroness, the Puríssima Xiqueta
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(21st June to 23rd September)SUMMER
This is the moment for nautical adventures, for water sports in the Club Náutico Les Bassetes Yacht Club such as windsurf, snorkel, catama-ran, rides in launch, etc. and let yourself get carried away by the nights of Full Moon with a moonlight kayak trip along the coast.
Savour our gastronomy, a fusion of traditional cookery and modern cuisine, in any of the res-taurants of the Old Town or in the coast’s villa estates. Try traditional dishes such “Coques de mullador” (pizza topped with ratatouille) or “Arrós de Senyoret” (gentlemen’s seafood paella).
Experience the Fiestas de Moros y Cristianos (Moors & Christians) that take place at the end of June with parades and pageants and the fiestas held in the rural hamlets during the weekends of July and August.
Discover the day to day life of the inhabitants of Benissa who at the end of August and beginning of September pick the grapes that they cultivate
on terraced farming land. In olden days the gra-pes were crushed by trampling them barefoot and the resulting juice transferred to barrels, traditional method that even today is put into practice in some local homes.
August is also the month for picking almonds. Canes are used to hit the branches so that the almonds fall onto the nets spread on the ground under the tree. Once the almonds have been collected the outer skin is removed with the help of a machine in a procedure known as “descorfà”.
Another of the typical agricultural products of the area is the carob bean that is used in the elaboration of desserts.
The warm nights of July and August are ideal for taking a stroll round the Old Town and follow the route “Benissa amb sabor: Cultura i Tapes” (Benissa: with flavour, culture and tapas) along which you can savour typical “tapas” and enjoy live music.
JUN JULAUGSEP
PHILATELY FAIR & STAMP AUCTION. 1st Sunday of the month from 10 a.m. onwards in C/ Francisco Sendra.
PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION. “Fiestas de Moros y Cristianos (June-September).
PELOTA VALENCIANA MATCHES. (January-December) With professional “pelota valen-ciana” players in Benissa’s “trinquete” ball court on Sunday afternoon.
CURSA VILA DE BENISSA (RUNNING RACE)(second half of June). Athletics event that takes place in the streets of the town.
FIESTA IN PLA DELS MOLINS (end of June)
MOORS & CHRISTIANS FIESTAS IN HONOR OF “SAN PEDRO” (weekend closest to 29th June). Spectacular parades with lavish cos-tumes and ambassadors that venerate the battles are some of the activities that can be enjoyed at the end of the month.
FORUM EUROPA. Summer school for uni-versity students and post grads (July).
SPECIAL SUMMER PHILATELY FAIR. (15th August). With the participation of stamp dealers from the Lonja de Valencia and other towns of the area.
CINEMA AL CARRER. Open air cinema. (July, August & 1st week of September).
LA MAR DE CINE. CINEMA ON THE BEACH (July, August & 1st week of September).
PHILATELY WORKSHOP. Activities for youngsters that are starting stamp collec-ting. (July/August).
ENVIRONMENTAL PHOTOGRAPHY COMPE-TITION. (July) Competition open to amateur and professional photographers.
FIESTAS IN THE BARRIO DE SAN ANTONIO (July)
FIESTAS IN PEDRAMALA. In honour of Saint Vicente Ferrer (July)
FIESTAS IN BENIMARCO. Last week of July. In honour of Saint James (San Jaime) (July)
FIESTAS IN SANTA ANNA (26th July).
MUSIC IN THE CHAPELS. Concerts in the chapels of the rural hamlets. (July, August & 1st two weeks of September).
ESCOLA D’ESTIU (SUMMER SCHOOL). Activities for children from 3 to 12 years old. (July-1st two weeks of August).
“BENISSA AMB SABOR: CULTURA I TAPES” ROUTE. Tapa tasting (tapa+drink=2 €) during months of July & August with live music.
FIESTAS IN LLEUS. In honour of the “San-tos de la Piedra”, Saints Abdón & Senén (August)
FIESTAS IN PINOS. In honour of Saint Bar-bara (August)
FIESTAS IN CALLE SANTO DOMINGO (August)
FIESTAS IN PLAYA DE LA FUSTERA (Au-gust)
FIESTAS IN BERDICA. In honour of Saint Joaquín (August)
FIESTAS IN BENIMARRAIG. In honour of “Santa Teresita del Niño Jesús” (August)
FIESTAS IN PLAYA ADVOCAT-BALADRAR (August)
FIESTAS IN LA COSTA-CAMARROCHA-COLLAO (August)
FIESTAS IN BENIMALLUNT (August)
UNDERWATER CLEAN-UP. (1st weekend in September) Projection of documentaries, children’s workshops, talks and underwater and shore rubbish collection.
ELECTION OF THE FIESTA QUEEN (Sept-ember)
PHOTOGRAPHIC RALLY. During a weekend participants photograph different places of interest (September).
PUBLICATION OF RULES FOR THE FIESTA POSTERS DESIGN COMPETITION (Septem-ber).
CAMINAR ES SÀ (WALKING FOR HEALTH) (September) Week of night time walks round the town centre.
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Bassetes Cove
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(23rd Sept. to 21st Dec.)AUTUMN SEP
OCTNOVDEC
With the fall of the leaves, Benissa takes on a romantic air that makes the visitor want to explore in depth the Medieval Old Town and venture into the narrow cobbles streets full of history and tranquillity.
Take note of the different cultu-res that live in harmony and break through frontiers at the Festival Multicultural (every 2nd year).
Walk or cycle through the town and its surrounding and enjoy the lands-capes full of life, contrasts and colour depending on the time of year.
Visit the Saturday morning market, take your stamps to the Sunday mor-ning Philately Fair or experience the excitement of a “pelota valenciana” match on Sunday afternoon.
As far as food is concerned the best dishes of the autumn season are “Clafolls de ceba amb anxova” (onion boats with anchovy) or “coques de dacsa amb bacallà” (maiz flat breads with cod). As winter arrives we recommend a tasty rice stew made from locally grown produce.
PHILATELY FAIR & STAMP AUCTION. 1st Sunday of the month from 10 a.m. onwards in C/ Francisco Sendra.
CINEMA. Every Thursday night film in the “Sede Universitaria de la Marina” (Satelli-te University). Free entrance.
PELOTA VALENCIANA MATCHES (January-December) With professional “pelota valenciana” players in Benissa’s “trinquete” ball court on Sunday after-noon.
ART EXHIBITIONS (once a month)
ALTERNATIVE FAIR. (3rd weekend of Sep-tember) Biennial (on odd years) Exhibition and sale of eco, organic and craft products in the Glorieta Dolores Piera.
MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL (1st weekend of October). Biennial (even years) Parades, shows, exhibitions, national dances, crafts, live music and gastronomy in the Glorieta Dolores Piera
“9 D´OCTUBRE” EVENTS. Celebration of Valencia Community Day with leisure activities for all ages (October).
PUBLICATION OF THE RULES FOR “S. SORIA VILA DE BENISSA” PAINTING COMPETITION AND “25 D’ABRIL” VILA DE BENISSA LITERARY PRIZES (October).
CHILDREN’S THEATRE. One Sunday a month (October to May)
THEATRE. One Friday a month (October to March)
L´EXFILNUM. Benissa Philately and Nu-mismatics Exhibition. (October/November)
SANTA CECILIA FEAST DAY. Musical activities. (November)
CHRISTMAS CARD AND SHORT STORY COMPETITION (November).
CHRISTMAS MARKET (December, 1st fort-night) Weekend of exhibitions, workshops and children’s attractions, living itinerant Nativity play, dances and live music.
LIVING CRIB SCENE (December)
CHRISTMAS CONCERT BY THE CORAL BENISSENCA CHOIR & THE SOCIETAT LÍRICA I MUSICAL DE BENISSA BAND (December).
EXHIBITION OF CRIB SCENES. (Novem-ber-December).
CRISTMAS AUDITION OF THE MUSIC SCHOOL. (December).
“PASTÍS DE MONIATO”. Activities for children during the Christmas holidays (December & January).
Don’t miss...
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(21st Dec. to 20th March)WINTER
DEC JANFEBMAR
Benissa’s Mediterranean Microclimate makes it an ideal place to stay and gives the landscape extraordinary beauty. In Benissa Christmas is celebrated in style with a programme of activities for all the family: golf or horse riding, mountain sports such as fell-walking or climbing. There are sign posted walks on the Bèrnia, Oltà and the Solana mountains that offer the opportunity to enjoy spectacular views of the Alican-te coastline and the orchards full of almond trees in blossom during the month of February.
On the other hand the town offers a programme of Cultural and Leisure activities such as concerts, the Living Crib, the exhibition of crib scenes, the Christmas Market and for the children workshops and the arrival of the Three Kings on the night of January 5th.
We invite those that wish to end the year with good intentions and healthy resolutions to take part in the tradi-tional “San Silvestre” running race,
another way to get to know Benissa.
The second fortnight of January, Benis-sa celebrates the annual “Fira i Porrat de Sant Antoni” fair in honour of the Patron Saint of Animals. Take your pet to be blessed or simply participate as a spectator in the blessing of animals and enjoy the colourful medieval market.
The Carnaval night fills Benissa’s streets with colour and fun where ever-yone can enjoy the party atmosphere and the live music.
In winter it’s traditional to eat “Putxero amb pilotes” (stew with meat stuffed ca-bbage leaves), “Pastissets de moniato” (pastries filled with sweet potato) and “buñuelos de calabaza” (pumpkin buns). All these can be tasted at the “Mostra Gastronòmica” (Gastronomy Show) that takes place during the fortnight of March with the Food Fair and its stands with tapas and local dishes and the Gas-tronomy Week in the restaurants that participate in the show.
EXIBITION OF CRIB SCENES. (November-December).
SAN SILVESTRE RUNNING RACE. (end of December). Popular race that takes place in the streets of the town centre.
PASTÍS DE MONIATO. Activities for children during the Christmas holi-days. (December & January).
GREAT CHRISTMAS PARTY. Works-hops for children and the reception of the Ambassador of the Three Kings who collects the letters sent to the Three Kings from Orient (3rd January)
VISIT OF THE THREE KINGS. Parade through the streets. (5th January).
“FIRA I PORRAT DE SANT ANTONI” (2nd fortnight of January). A fort-night of activities with fun fair, bles-sing of animals, livestock market, medieval market and a great variety of cultural and sport events.
PHILATELY MARKET AND STAMP AUCTION. 1st. Sunday of each month from 10 a.m. onwards in C/ Francisco Sendra.
CINEMA. Every Thursday night, film show in the Sede Universitaria de la Marina Satellite University. Free entrance.
ART EXHIBITION. Once a month
CHILDREN’S THEATRE. One Sunday a month (October to May)
THEATRE. One Friday a month (October to March)
PELOTA VALENCIANA MATCHES (January-December) With profes-sional “pelota valenciana” players in Benissa’s “trinquete” ball court on Sunday afternoon.
CARNAVAL. Fancy-dress parade, bonfire of the “Ninot de Carnes-toltes”, dance with live music and prize giving to the best costumes. (February-March)
GASTRONOMY FAIR. Food tasting in Taller Ivars. Gastronomy week with special menus in restaurants and bars of Benissa (March).
Don’t miss...
Council Room
Wash-house
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Town Hall - OAC (Citizens services de-partment): 8.30 a.m. - 4.30 p.m.
Banks & Savings Banks: 8.30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Post office: Mondays to Fridays 8.30 a.m. – 2.30 p.m. Saturdays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Shops: 10 a.m. - 1.30 p.m. & 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Market: Saturday 8 a.m. - 1.30 p.m. In calles Sant Josep, Sant Nicolau & Hort de Bordes
Super and hyper markets are usually open from Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and some open mornings on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
Road access is easy and quick. The AP-7 motorway exit 63 leads onto the N-332 main road on the outs-kirts of town.
Both Alicante and Valencia have well connected international airports (Alicante’s “El Altet” at 80 Km and Valencia’s “Manises” at 110 Km.)
These two cities are also connected by train and bus to Madrid and Barcelona, cities that have exce-llent communications. The narrow gauge railway that runs between Alicante and Dénia has a halt in Benissa and the Alicante-Valencia bus service has three stops in the town.
TOURIST INFO BENISSAAvda. País Valencià, 97Tel: 96 573 22 25 / Fax: 96 573 25 37Email: [email protected]: www.benissa.es
TOURIST INFO BENISSA PLAYA Avda. La Marina, 307Tel: 96 649 83 61 / Fax: 96 649 99 37Email: [email protected]
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How to get to Benissa
Addresses of interest
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Benissa is close to a number of towns and villages that are worth a visit.
INLAND…
Take a drive through the Vall de Pop and visit the small welcoming villages. Enjoy the almond blossom in February and March, Llíber, Xaló with its antiques markets every Saturday and the wine and muscatel cooperatives, enchanting Alcalalí and its friendly inhabitants, towns loca-ted at 6, 8 and 12km respectively from Benissa.
TO THE NORTH OF BENISSA…
Visit the Medieval Old Town of Teulada and stop and buy wine in the Cooperative, go down to Moraira with its castle and see for yourself how the fish is auctioned at the harbour (at 4 & 14 km. respectively).
In Gata de Gorgos (12km) you can buy typical basket work products made from wicker, hemp and esparto grass (at 12 km).
Go further a field to Xàbia and discover its harbour and the magnificent viewpoints of the Cabo de la Nao and San Antonio headlands (at 20 km).
Climb up to Dénia Castle and visit the town (at 29 km). Explore the Montgó Nature Reserve.
Take a boat trip on the waters of the Marjal de Pego – Oliva Nature Reserve and discover one of the largest biodiversity spaces of the Mediterranean (at 32 km.)
The surrounding AREAS
Region of ValenciaMarjal de Pego – Oliva Nature Reserve
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On the other hand… take a longer drive to Valencia and visit the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (City of Arts & Sciences) and the “Bioparc” zoo. Don’t forget to stop off at Albufera and see the rice paddies and the typical houses, construction known as the “barraca” (at 112 km.)
TO THE SOUTH OF BENISSA...
Walk up to the Penyal d’Ifach Nature Reserve, in Calp (at 9 km).
Visit white houses and cobbled streets of Altea (at 20 Km.)
Take a drive to Callosa d’en Sarrià, the Fuentes del Algar springs and the Guadalest castle (at 31 km & 42 km respectively).
Enjoy yourself in Benidorm with its numerous attrac-tions, the Terra Mítica, Terra Natura, and Mundomar Theme Parks and the Aqualandia water park (at 20 km).
MARKETS: MONDAY: Dénia, Parcent.
TUESDAY: Xaló, els Poblets, Beniarbeig,
Benigembla.
WEDNESDAY: Teulada, Benitatxell, Ondara, Orba
THURSDAY: Xàbia, Pego, La Vall de Laguar,
Benidoleig.
FRIDAY: Moraira, Senija, Alcalalí, Gata, El Verger.
SATURDAY: Benissa, Calp, Castells de Castells,
Pedreguer, Gandía.
SUNDAY: Benidorm, Gandía Playa, Albir.
FLEA MARKETS:
WEDNESDAY:
Calp (Avda, País Valencià).
FRIDAY:
Dénia (Torrecremada).
SATURDAY :
Xaló-Antiques, El Verger (Safari Park),
Els Poblets (Parque Miraflor).
SUNDAY:
La Nucía-Antiques, Vergel, Teulada, Pedreguer.
> OPENING HOURS: 8 A.M. TO 1.30 P.M.
The STREET and FLEA MARKETS that take place everyday of the week in one or other of the neighbouring towns and villages. Fruit, vegetables and antiques fill the streets with their colour and perfume.
Don’t miss...
Valencia, The City of the Arts & Sciences
Penyal d’Ifach Nature
Reserve, CalpTerra Mítica, Benidorm
Guadalest CastlePhoto ceded by the Town Hall of
Castell de Guadalest
DéniaPhoto ceded by Dénia Tourism.
Altea Photo ceded by Millifer.
Algar Waterfalls, Callosa
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