Benidoleig: Cave, Local History and Hiking Trails
Accommodation in Benidoleig
In Benidoleig, the PR-CV 445 Sender del Seguili is designated with a length of 11,693 metres, an estimated duration of 4 hours and 5 minutes, a low difficulty level and a starting point at the town hall.
File:Cueva de las Calaveras, Benidoleig, Alicante, España, 2022-08-14, DD 42-44 HDR.jpg
Photo: Diego Delso via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Hiking and Trails
The Sender del Seguili includes the Lloma de la Cova viewpoint, offering views of the valley of the neighbouring towns, Dénia Castle and the Mediterranean Sea. The PR-CV 445 Sender del Seguili hiking trail passes close to the Fonteta del Marqués and then continues towards the Senda de Les Voltes. In the town centre, the Ruta del Centre urbà leads to the Església de la Santíssima Sang and the Escoles Velles. For planning the day, the trails and circular routes of different lengths can be considered separately.
Nature and Cave
The Cova de les Calaveres was used as a refuge by Palaeolithic people more than 100,000 years ago. The dry section of the Cova de les Calaveres is more than 400 metres long and open to the public. The tourist route through the Cova de les Calaveres is more than 300 metres long; its final section leads to the Toll Blau lake. The different route lengths therefore provide their own timeframes for planning the day.
The entrance to the Cueva de las Calaveres is located on the paved road from Benidoleig to Pedreguer, before the centre of Benidoleig; there is a car park for passenger vehicles there. Benidoleig can be reached via Pedreguer, with access to the AP-7 E-15 motorway, via Ondara, with access to the N-332, and via Orba and the road between Pego and Callosa de Ensarriá.
Further destinations: Orihuela, Quatretondeta, Bigastro, La Florida, Calpe, Torrevieja, Tàrbena, Beniarbeig
Culture and History
The Església de la Santíssima Sang is a 19th-century neoclassical church built on the site of a former 17th-century chapel. Ca'l Durà (Casa de Durà) is a traditional 19th-century stone building that is now in ruins and still features the remains of a wine press, stone tables and a lime kiln.
The Escoles Velles are currently used for various events and have a large auditorium. Following several renovations, the Escoles Velles are well-preserved as a historic school building and have a large rear courtyard. In the past, pupils were accommodated in separate classrooms for boys and girls. During a walk through Benidoleig town centre, the Casa Señorial del Barón de Finestrat is recommended as a worthwhile stop.
Traditions
The festivities in honour of Sant Vicent Ferrer take place on the Monday after Easter Monday and include the traditional Fireta i Porrat de Sant Vicent.
To the main travel overview: Alicante.
