Rodriguillo: Nature, Festivals and Wine

In the southwest of the municipal area of Pinoso lies the Humedal y saladar del Rodriguillo-Faldar. This endorheic cryptic wetland is of great ecological and landscape importance and includes protected habitats of Community interest, including priority habitats. Its exceptional flora and fauna, adapted to this ecosystem, include many endemic species.

Nature

El Rodriguillo lies at an altitude of around 450 metres on the southwestern slope of Cabeço de la Sal. The El Rodriguillo wetland is located along the CV-840 and features typical vegetation of reeds and rushes. The municipal environmental programme includes an excursion to the Humedal y saladar del Rodriguillo-Faldar, presenting characteristic plants such as species of the Limonium genus and tamarisks, the associated fauna, and measures to restore the area.

The municipal programme “El Fartet y su hábitat” combines talks about the species, its observation in aquariums and its captive breeding with an excursion to the El Prado wetland. There, the focus is on the species in its natural habitat, as well as measures to restore and renaturalise its habitat; El Prado is one of the designated Parajes of El Rodriguillo.

Routes

Route 8, “La montaña de sal”, is 42.6 km long, starts in Villena and ends at Cabezo de la Sal in Pinoso; its course passes by El Rodriguillo and runs along the wetland there. On Route 8, the route leads from Pinoso via the CV-836 and then via the CV-840.

History

The fiestas in honour of the patron saint of El Rodriguillo, San Pascual Baylón, are celebrated on the weekend following his feast day in the calendar, 17 May. One celebration in honour of the patron saint of El Rodriguillo included a procession through the settlement’s main streets.

The hermitage of El Rodriguillo is a later building and replaces an older hermitage dating from 1961. The hermitage built in 1691 was demolished in 1991 and replaced in 1993 by a more modern shrine with a bell tower. According to local tradition, the older hermitage stood at a place where San Pascual stopped to rest on his journeys between the Franciscan monasteries of Orito in Monforte del Cid and Jumilla.

Agriculture and Wine

The acequias of El Prado and El Rodriguillo are traditional irrigation systems and form part of the agricultural and rural heritage of Pinoso. The vineyards around El Rodriguillo supply wine to bodegas within the town centre and in nearby Parajes; some of these bodegas preserve older winemaking methods.

At the fiestas of El Rodriguillo, traditional gachamigas, both soft and “ruleras”, were prepared over wood fires and eaten at a popular communal breakfast. Bodegas Volver in El Rodriguillo offers daily guided tours of the vineyards and winemaking facilities. In 2026, five wines and regional products can be tasted there; visits require advance booking and are available in Spanish or English, with prices stated approximately.

Accommodation

Casa Rodriguillo has welcomed guests as rural accommodation since June 2023.

To the higher-level travel overview: Pinoso.