The Costa Blanca area is famous for its healthy and sunny climate making it a great all year around destination. A destination that not many people know about is a town called Bocairent which is around an hour inland from the Costa Blanca coast.
Bocairent is a little undiscovered gem that is nestled in the Sierra Mariola Mountains just an hour away from several award winning beaches such as Gandia and Valencia. It is a small town of around 5000 inhabitants that is packed with history.
Green and lush, Bocairent enjoys the best of all worlds - pure mountain air and spring water from the font, the best Valencian traditional cooking, several busy bustling bars and of course tranquility away from all the madding crowds. You can walk through the old town with its narrow cobbled streets, small squares and fountains and get a feel for what it was like hundreds of years ago.
Bocairent is a very laid back town where the locals take siestas in the afternoon. Most shops in the village close Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday so remember to get you’re shopping in before around 1pm Saturday. On the weekends Bocairent is a pretty lively place with the locals eating out in the main square and then partying hard till the early hours of the morning. There is a disco which is worth checking out on a Saturday night.
Spain is obviously in the EU so euros are the main currency. There are plenty of banks where you can change money. Prices are generally reasonable and you visit Bocairent on a budget depending on where you eat and drink. There are a couple of places where you can get internet facilities - The town hall library (you can ask in the tourist info office & they speak English) Or there is a cyber café near Casa Montana a casa rural house situated at 13 Sor piedad de La Cruz.
Language: It is a good idea to learn some basic Spanish before you come or invest in a phrase book and dictionary as a lot of people don’t speak English. The main language of Bocairent is Valenciano although people do speak Castellano Spanish. Castellano Spanish is the Spanish that is spoken all over the world. It’s definitely worth having a go at speaking Spanish to the locals as they really appreciate you making the effort and you’re Spanish experience will be so much more rewarding.
The nearest airports are Alicante and Valencia. Alicante is around a 1 hours drive and Valencia is around 1 hour 15 minutes. Car hire is readily available at both airports and the drive to Bocairent is pretty straight forward. Come with a good map and you’ll be ok. Once you get to Bocairent there’s loads of free parking.
By Train takes a little bit longer as you’ve got a couple of stops to make.
Valencia – Gandia – Ontinyent - Then take a bus from Ontinyent up the spectacular mountain road up to Bocairent
Alicante airport – Alicante train station – Gandia – Ontinyent - Then take a bus from Ontinyent again up the spectacular mountain road up to Bocairent.
Accommodation
Casa Montana
Rent direct from the owners this large stunning Spanish townhouse in Bocairent. (click here to view some pictures)
Discover the real Spain!
Special offers maybe available-Email Casamontana@yahoo.co.uk for details
Visit our website for further information on booking www.holidaylettings.co.uk
Type in 54076 in the show home number box
Or
Call Carl Taylor 07956387345
If you love the countryside, Bocairent has got it all here for you - many fantastic walks, cycling (road and mountain biking) and rock climbing can be found in abundance here. Horse riding enthusiasts are well catered for as are the tranquility-seekers. For those a bit more adventurous you can enjoy hot air ballooning and microlighting both of which are fantastic ways to see the beautiful countryside.
If you enjoy a swim, Bocairent has its own pool (open June-September), or you can swim at Pou Clar, a local beauty spot with natural rock pools only 10 minutes away.
There are celebrations almost every month in Bocairent but the main fiestas are -
* January 'The Coming of the Three Kings',
* February the 'Moors and Christians' (renowned for being one of the best in the region)
* August is the 'Dances'.
Bocairents famous Bullring - The unique bullring carved into the rock is the oldest in Valencia, dating back to 1843.
Museums - There are two museums, the Archaeological Museum which has pieces from the Sarsa Cave, one of the most important Neolithic sites in the Mediterranean and the Moors and Christians Museum which gives you an insight into their history.
Covetes Dels Moros - is a fantastic way to spend an afternoon. This is a group of caves made up of around 50 rooms with holes like windows. It is thought these caves would have been formed around the 10th or 11th century. The original use of the caves is uncertain though there are various interpretations from granary stores to funeral chambers.
Hot air Ballooning – A fantastic way to see the beautiful Spanish countryside
Microlighting – There is an airfield around 30 minutes drive away where you can experience the thrill of Microlighting.
Visit Valencia - For those wanting a bit of pizzazz, fear not! Bocairent is only 60 minutes away from Valencia the third largest city in Spain. The Fallas celebrations in March, with their large paper mache floats and fireworks shows, are among the most spectacular in Spain, while the City of Arts and Science offers museums and architecture by Santiago Calatrava. Valencia is famous for it’s paella so if you take a trip there make sure you sample the local food.
Valencia City was the first European host of the Americas Cup - sailings premier world event. Valencia is hosting the 2008 European Grand Prix.
For more information on Valencia Visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valencia,_Spain#History
There are around 30 bars in total in Bocairent that offer something different for everyone. Several of these bars also offer “Menu del Dia at lunchtime where you can have a taste of real Spain with a three course meal including wine for about 8 euros! Absolute bargain!!! Some bars that stand out for me are –
Bar Sifor - Serves a great selection of Tapas
Bar Aljup - Another great bar that serves fantastic tapas. This is a great young person’s hang out in the evening.
There are also several excellent restaurants in and around Bocairent - The ones I have visited during my time in Bocairent are –
Riberet – A beautiful restaurant that does fine fining at it’s best
Cal’Elegre - This restaurant is owned by Raffi who speaks some English. Fantastic food and a great selection of wines available.
Estacion Hotel - This charming hotel which used to be the old train station serves some wonderful food. Great for a “Menu del Dia” which is a three course lunch including wine for about €10. In the evening one of my favourite’s dishes is the steak which is served to your table on 3 hot bricks. Eat it rare or give it a little bit more cooking yourself. Really nice touch!! English spoken is spoken in the Estacion.
Info kindly compiled by Carl Taylor of Casa Montana
