Gata de Gorgos between mills, museums and hiking trails

At the Font de la Mata, Gata de Gorgos features an area designed as a recreational zone, used by people from Gata de Gorgos and the surrounding area for Easter outings.

Nature

The stone fountain at the Font de la Mata dates back to a well built by the Arabs to use the water for agriculture. Above it, two monumental mastic trees (Pistacia lentiscus) of enormous size grow among the rocks. Along the Gorgos River lie the intensely red geological formations of Les Coves Roges (Red Caves), where rock art has been found. Several climbing routes have been established at Les Coves Roges.

Trails

The PR-CV 412 Font de la Mata route begins in parc del Raval near the església de sant Miquel and, after crossing the river, follows unpaved paths to mas de les Mallades near the font de la mata. Stage 2 of the GR 330 Costa Blanca Interior crosses the Serra de Seldetes and offers views of surrounding mountain ranges such as the Montgó. For planning purposes, the two-kilometre circular route and the paths through the river and mountain landscapes can be compared as different types of trails.

Culture

In July, Gata de Gorgos hosts Art al Vent, an open-air exhibition of textile art that combines contemporary textile art with the local tradition of hanging quilts from balconies. The exhibition route runs from Calle Duquesa de Almodóvar via Calle la Bassa to Plaza de España, where shops selling handmade items are located. Art al Vent attracts hundreds of visitors every year and is accompanied by concerts, conferences and recitations during the exhibition.

The Iglesia Parroquial de San Miguel Arcángel has a simple and elegant Baroque façade as well as a three-part bell tower with a clock and bells. It was built by the II Conde de Alcúdia and his wife.

History

Els Molins del Tossal consists of two 19th-century grain mills built from stone from the Tossal, lime mortar and ashlar blocks made of tuff; one of the mills bears the year 1839. The circular Els Molins route is two kilometres long and features information panels explaining how the mills worked. Construction of the Ermita del Santísimo Cristo del Calvario began in 1762 and was not completed until 1905; that year, the bell tower and the chapels of the Stations of the Cross were added. The Ermita del Santísimo Cristo del Calvario stands on the hill of Tossalet.

Museums and crafts

The CM Museu Arqueològic i Etnogràfic de Gata de Gorgos displays fossils and ethnological materials from different periods and cultures, from the Palaeolithic to the Middle Ages. It was created through donations from people in the La Marina Alta region who are passionate about history, art and culture.

The Museu Solerbags provides a historical overview of local crafts in Gata de Gorgos through a family business that has existed since 1880. It displays historical machines, catalogues and designs; an audio guide explains the development of the family business and its products.

Gata de Gorgos has numerous 19th-century raisin-drying sites, including those in Serrillar, at Tossal del Moro and at the Font de la Mata. At Assagador del Serrillar, there are numerous drying sites for unbleached raisins and for raisins that have already been blanched; the sites for unbleached raisins face south and are made of dry-laid tuff stone.

More places to discover: Petrer, El Campello, Javea, Muntanya de la Sella, Crevillente, Benissa, Salinas, Benigembla

For the higher-level travel overview: Alicante.