Penàguila: Medieval Heritage, Gardens and Trails
Accommodation in Penàguila
The Jardín de Santos in Penàguila was created in 1841 by Joaquín Rico y Soler. The garden complex, surrounded by large trees, includes a three-storey neoclassical pavilion, a large rectangular pond, a forest, an aviary, statues, a viewpoint, a grotto and a hedge maze.
File:Esglèsia de l'Assumpció de Penàguila.jpg
Photo: DIÀNIA TELEVISIÓ via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Penàguila, compare travel dates, room category and cancellation policies on the listing pages. You can align the specific details with your preferred stay period and planned experiences without losing sight of the character of the area.
Culture and History
The medieval quarter of Penàguila was built at the end of the 13th and beginning of the 14th century following the carta puebla granted in 1278 by King Peter III of Aragon. Its rectangular layout reflects the military architecture of the time; the entire perimeter was enclosed by a wall, the remains of which are still visible.
Torre Vernet is the only freestanding tower in Penàguila’s medieval quarter that has been partially preserved and recently consolidated and restored. A preserved section of wall can also be seen next to it. The Portalet is a well-preserved entrance gate to Penàguila’s medieval quarter; it was built at a right angle for reasons of security and control.
Castillo de Penàguila is classified as an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC) and is considered a 12th-century Almohad structure. South of Penàguila, on the mountainside, lies the Ermita de los Santos Médicos Cosme y Damián; it belongs to Valencian Gothic architecture and is a so-called Reconquista hermitage dating from the 13th to the 15th century.
At the Museo Etnológico de Penàguila, the traditional olive-oil production process is presented using historic equipment such as millstones, presses, a stirrer, esparto baskets and settling tanks. The Abric del Port de Penàguila is one of seven local rock shelters and is one of the two gated shelters considered more accessible, depending on the state of maintenance of the paths.
At the Arco de Santa Llúcia in Penàguila, a solar alignment can be observed between 13 and 29 December, when the sun disk passes through the arch for about five minutes.
Landscape and Trails
The phytoclimatic route in the Barranco de Aladrach starts at the avenue of cypress trees just outside Penàguila and passes through the shady side of the ravine. The Penàguila–Arco de Santa Lucía–Castillo de Penáguila–Penàguila circular hike is approximately 7 km long and is rated moderate to challenging.
The Penàguila–Font de L'Arbre–Penàguila circular route is approximately 28 km long and has a moderate difficulty level. Near Penàguila, there is also the short, vertical Barranco del Salt de Penàgüila, which is about 70 metres high and is descended in four abseiling sections. The different lengths and difficulty levels help when comparing the two circular routes.
Cuisine and Festive Traditions
Traditional Penàguila cuisine includes Pericana, Arroz con conejo, Pebreretes Farçides, Olleta and Borreta. The Feria de Santa Lucia is a two-day visitor fair featuring local and craft products, traditional dances, dulzaina music and performances by the Sociedad Musical Cultural de Penàguila.
More Local Pages
More local pages: L'Alguenya, Altea, Alcoy, Benimantell, Montesol, Benejúzar, Senija, La Vall De Gallinera.
To the main travel overview: Alicante.
