Penella: Penella Castle, Festivals and Hiking Trails
Accommodation in Penella
Penella Castle is legally protected as an Asset of Cultural Interest in the Monument category. It rises on a limestone crag with sheer walls on its northern side and offers views of Alcoy and Cocentaina. Its listed status, rocky setting and panoramic views define the striking features of this structure in Penella.
File:Castell de Penella - 01.JPG
Photo: Albertvillanovadelmoral via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 es
Culture and History
Penella Castle dates from the late 13th century. The Ermita de Sant Tomàs de Villanueva de Penella dates from the 15th century. Penella is associated with two named structures from different historical periods: the castle and the hermitage.
Festivals and Traditions
At Penella’s patron saint festivals, “A ballar les danses” brings together numerous participants and spectators year after year. Penella’s patron saint festivals are celebrated in honour of Sant Tomàs de Villanueva.
Penella’s patron saint festival includes a procession through the hamlet, a shared breakfast and games for children afterwards. The sequence runs from the procession through Penella to the shared breakfast and then the children’s games, giving the festival a clearly recognisable structure.
Hiking in the Serra Mariola
Stage Cocentaina 4 of the Route of the Mariola Hermitages connects Poble Nou, the Ermita St Tomàs and Penella Castle. The Route of the Mariola Hermitages connects the various hermitages of the municipalities in the Serra Mariola over more than 250 kilometres and can be completed in stages. Alongside one individually named section, there is an extensive connection through the municipalities of the Serra Mariola.
A circular hike from Cocentaina passes the Ermita de Sant Tomàs de Vilanova de Penella and Penella Castle. The “Circular al Castell de Penella desde Cocentaina” circular route is 13.98 kilometres long and rated moderate. After a short paved section, the circular route reaches the hamlet of Penella. The route connects the two named structures with the hamlet and also includes the short paved section.
The two hiking formats have different focuses: the 13.98-kilometre circular route combines several named points in a single trail, while the more than 250-kilometre Route of the Mariola Hermitages is organised into stages. A clearly defined tour and a framework divided into stages exist side by side. The different route lengths and the stage structure provide a concrete way to compare the two hiking formats.
For your stay in Penella, travel dates, accommodation type and cancellation conditions may be just as important when choosing a holiday apartment as your preferred daily activities. When choosing a holiday apartment in Penella, you can weigh these three topics separately: culture, festival traditions or hiking trails. Travel dates, accommodation type and cancellation conditions provide a practical basis for comparison without prescribing a particular order for your daily activities in advance.
Other places: Xinorlet, Benidoleig, Torrevieja, El Ràfol d'Almúnia, Benitachell, Trencall, Tormos, El Mojón
For the overarching travel overview: Alicante.
