Benilloba: Waterfall, Church and Festival Culture
Accommodation in Benilloba
An approximately 6.5 km route to El Salt de Benilloba begins in Benilloba and leads via the Senda Dels Molins to the Molí del Salt, also known as Fábrica de la Llum. There, a small waterfall forms in the Frainos River, known as Salt de Benilloba. Benilloba lies on the Frainós River, combining a waterscape, paths and historical sites within a compact thematic area.
File:03810 Benilloba, Alicante, Spain - panoramio.jpg
Photo: chisloup via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Benilloba, compare the travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions side by side on the respective offer pages. These three details provide a concise basis for checking the period, room type and terms of your stay.
Hiking
The Molí del Salt is freely accessible and can be visited at any time. The descent to it is equipped with a masonry staircase, making it accessible to everyone. The Molí del Salt was built in the decade from 1760 to 1770.
Another walking route leads to Cerro del Calvario. It includes a grove of centuries-old cypress trees and offers panoramic views of Benilloba and the comarca. Route length, accessibility and views are different criteria that you can consider side by side when planning your day.
Culture
At the municipal boundary between Benilloba and Penáguila, near the Molí harinero de Raimundo, which is located in the municipality of Penáguila, stands a two-arched aqueduct called La Canal. One of the arches is small, while the other is large and curved. Built in 1794, the structure carried the acequia d’Ombria over the ravine to irrigate the orchards of Benilloba.
The Iglesia Parroquial de Benilloba is a neoclassical church with a Latin-cross floor plan, a nave with three bays and side chapels. In the deep presbytery, the barrel vault is decorated with rosettes and frescoes depicting four biblical heroines and Saint Juan de Ribera.
In the historic town centre, there is a tradition of ceramic street altarpieces. They usually depict the saint to whom the respective street is dedicated. The Torre Árabe de Benilloba is now the bell tower of Benilloba's parish church and corresponds to the minaret tower of the former mosque. The Señorío de Benilloba passed into the possession of the Revillagigedo comital family in 1757.
Other places: Daya Nueva, Tormos, Elche, La Nucia, Rojales, Orihuela, Ibi and La Murada.
Festivals and Markets
The traditional dances in honour of the Virgin Mary take place on the first weekend in September. From Thursday to Sunday, the “Dansà de Benilloba” is danced in traditional dress on the Plaza del Omet; anyone who would like to take part can join in.
The festivities in honour of Sant Xotxim are represented in Benilloba by the three filàs “Moros del Castillo”, “Filà Cristianos de La Palmera” and “Moros del Arrabal”. The Moros i Cristians tradition in honour of Sant Xotxim takes place every year in August and includes the humorous Nit de l’Olla.
The traditional Good Friday market in Benilloba features demonstrations and the sale of regional products such as cured meats, typical dishes, cheese, wine, olive oil and the traditional Mona de Pascua. The traditional Good Friday market also included an exhibition of working antique and miniature looms.
For the higher-level travel overview: Alicante.
