Sometimes one just has to act as a "tourist" to explore the gems in a country where you don't live
Guadalest is one such place - surrounded by the mountain ranges of Aitana, Serrella and Xorta this magical village is one of the most visited in Spain.
The road up into the mountains is very twisty and one suddenly comes upon a red robot (traffic light) on the corner. Being law abiding citizens we stopped not knowing why as no cars came past! It turned out to just a tight bend on the road and a very short section. It is an interesting drive if you enjoy twists and turns and there are viewing places to stop and catch your breath again.
This hilltop village was declared an "Historic-Artistic" site in 1974 and is now one of the most visited villages in Spain.
Looking down from above the blue waters of the Guadalest "Lake" (Reservoir) look most inviting.
There is a hiking path around the lake and water sports happen here. As the lake gets up to 94 m deep care should be taken if swimming.
In order to view the Castle of San Jose one needs to first go thru Orduna House. This was first built in 1644. The family of Ordunas served as guardians of the fortress and were governers of the estate for almost 300 years. The furnishings of the house belong to the Orduna family and one can imaging what a symbol of wealth this was in this tiny village. The third floor offers a gallery of sculptures and paintings - many of these are for sale. The library contains 1265 volumes - an impressive collection of ancient history. Going down the antique staircase you will find the access to the Castle of San Jose situated on top of a rock. At an altitude of 595m it is a climb but well worth the views over the mountains and valley.
"The medieval castle overshadowing the Guadalest valley was originally built in the 11th century, during the Muslim rule over the Iberian Peninsula. It served to control the valley, as infighting between the smaller kingdoms left by the disintegration of the Caliphate of Córdoba was constant".
It is always mind-blowing to walk thru a town that has stood for 1000yrs yet only has approx.200 residents. Forgetting to buy that special something way down the mountain could cause a serious domestic argument!
There are many shops to wander into, selling local crafts, honey, olive oils and much more.
This town is worth a 2 night stop - sadly we were only on a day visit.
There are numerous museums - sadly we did not have enough time to visit these as the trek to the castle took awhile and then lunch beckoned at L'Hort where we enjoy delicious tapas.
As we exited the restaurant the rain came pelting down so we made a dash for the car.
A hilltop town well worth visiting when in the district of Alicante, East Coast, Spain.
Be ready to walk.....climb those steps and enjoy the magnificent views over the valley
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