Surroundings
Guadalest
A village located in the mountains, best known for El Castell de Guadalest, a castle that was an important defence post of the Moors against the Spaniards. Next to the castle you will find an attractive market square, the town hall and the Baroque church. Museum enthusiasts can visit two museums. When you visit Guadalest, you also get a beautiful view of the reservoir, which was built in the last century, and has been supplying a large part of the province of Alicante with drinking water for many years.
Coll de Rates
Coll de Rates/Tossal dels Diners from Parcent is a climb in the Valencia region. It is 9.8 kilometres in length and covers 654 vertical meters with an average gradient of 6.7%. From the car park at the top of the Mirador del Coll de Rates, you can look out over almost the entire Jalón valley or Vall de Pop. It is possible to do the climb by bicycle or car, but there is also a hiking trail to the top. Just past the top is a restaurant, however it is not open all year round.
Sierra de Bernia
The ascent of the Sierra de Bernia starts from the street where Casa Mistela is located. Climb by bike and enjoy the beautiful surroundings along the way. Once at the top you can see Ibiza on a clear day. During the descent you should definitely stop to look out over the Mediterranean Sea, Calpe and Altea. At the end of the street, you will find the start a hiking trail that takes you to the ruins of the Fort of Bernia.
Altea
Altea is a coastal town sandwiched between the fashionable resorts of Calpe and Benidorm. Stroll through Old Altea, with its lovely white houses and countless alleyways and restaurants, located on a hill topped by the Parroquia Nuestra Senora del Consuelo, a beautiful church with its distinctive blue dome. Enjoy the magnificent views over the Mediterranean Sea.
Denia
You can see from the narrow Moorish streets that wind through the centre that Dénia is a city with a special history. The Baix la Mar district next to the harbour is a good example of a traditional fishing district with coloured houses. You can eat delicious food here! The port of Dénia is still particularly important for the area. 'El Castillo' is on the hill next to the harbour. This castle was built between the 11th to 12th century, and it therefore has an Islamic style. Since then, the castle has undergone many modifications, so that it also has influences from the Renaissance, among others. The castle was largely destroyed in 1859, but later restored. The castle's museum also houses the archaeological remains of a Roman settlement called 'Diannium' found in the area.
Xaló/Jalón
Casa Mistela is located in the town of Xaló, also called Jalón. It is best known for the wine cultivation around the village. But the weekly antique market on Saturday: El Rastro de Xaló is particularly famous. Stroll past countless stalls in search of curiosities and breathe in the atmosphere of this village. El Rastro is considered one of the most important markets of the province of Alicante.
Vall de Pop
Casa Mistela is located in the Vall de Pop, nowadays also called Jalón Valley, with a length of about 30km. This beautiful green valley is an area with vineyards, olive, citrus and almond trees and it is sandwiched between several mountain ranges. The river Rio Jalón, the lifeline of the valley, meanders past the villages. The Moors lived in this valley for centuries. That can be clearly seen in almost all villages. Traditionally, the villages of Parcent, Murla, Benichembla and Alcalí formed the valley. Since 1991, the valley has included nine villages and the villages of Jalón, LLiber, Senija and Castell de Castells have been added. In the valley, each village has its own culture and festivals. The almond trees bloom in January/February and transform the valley into a white/pink floral extravaganza. In autumn, the leaves of the vineyards turn a beautiful orange/red. The valley is also known for its wine. Here, they mainly produce sweet wines that taste good as dessert wine. The famous Moscatel and Mistella come from here. A visit to one of the bodegas should not be missed during a visit to the valley. In recent years, wine tourism has increased enormously. In the valley, you can enjoy excellent walking, cycling mountain hiking and mountain climbing. The trails are well marked. Many professional and amateur cycling clubs hold their training here in winter.
https://valldepop.es
Calpe Ifach