Easy hikes and walks in Sierra De La Umbría

Anyone who climbs up to the church and the old castle should let their gaze wander into all the side streets

Beautiful castle, with a picnic area and a small path

Hermitage dedicated to San Isidro located in a 60,000 m2 pine forest, recently built after the eviction of the old one that was on a private property. Every year in the month of May a pilgrimage is celebrated coinciding with the festival of San Isidro. From here there are nice views of the small town of Salinas and the currently dry Laguna.

GRAFFITI IN RINCON NEXT TO CHURCH BELLY,

Imposing hilltop castle from the 12th century on a steep cliff. The oldest part of the castle is the eastern tower, built on the steep slope of the cliff, made of tapia masonry. It dates from the Almohad period, i.e. the end of the 12th to the beginning of the 13th century. The second tower of the complex probably dates from the first decades of the 14th century. Originally a Moorish foundation, after the Reconquista the castle was located in the border area between the Kingdom of Murcia, claimed by Castile, and the Kingdom of Valencia, conquered by Aragon. A chain of castles was built in this area, mainly along the Vinalopó river. Around 1240 the castle was taken from the Muslims under Aragonese leadership and with the help of the Templars and the Order of St. John. Under the name "El Cid", Spain's knight Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar became the symbol of the Reconquista. The Castilian nobleman fought against Moorish rulers and Christian competitors in the 11th century. He never lost a single battle, the Moors respectfully called him Alsayyed (Lord of the Leaders), which later became “EL Cid”. The Spaniards, however, always spoke of “El Compeador”. CidCT: Camino del Cid Ciclotourista - Route of the castles in the historically contested border region between the Moors and the kingdoms of Castile, Valencia and Aragon.

The oldest part of the castle is the eastern tower, built of tapia masonry on the steep slope of the cliff. It dates from the Almohad period, i.e., the late 12th to early 13th century. The second tower of the complex probably dates from the first decades of the 14th century. Originally a Moorish foundation, after the Reconquista the castle was located in the border area between the Kingdom of Murcia, claimed by Castile, and the Kingdom of Valencia, conquered by Aragon. A chain of castles was built in this area, mainly along the Vinalopó River. Around 1240, the castle was wrested from the Muslims under Aragonese leadership and with the help of the Templars and the Order of St. John. Located on the CidCT route: Camino del Cid Cyclotourista - Route of Castles in the Historically Contested Border Region between the Moors and the Kingdoms of Castile, Valencia, and Aragon. Camino del Cid - Under the name "El Cid," Spain's knight Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar became a symbol of the Reconquista. The Castilian nobleman fought against Moorish rulers and Christian rivals in the 11th century. He never lost a single battle; the Moors respectfully called him Alsayyed (Lord of the Leaders), which later became "El Cid." The Spanish, however, always referred to him as "El Compeador" (The Warrior).

Monóvar (or in Valencian, Monòver), is a city in Medio Vinalopó, in Alicante. It has more than 12,000 inhabitants and its economy is based mainly on the production of wine. The artisan shoe and leather goods shops also stand out. It is worth visiting the hermitage of Santa Bárbara, located on a hill in the highest part of Monóvar. From here there is a perfect view of all the mountains that surround Medio Vinalopó.

Sax Castle dates from the 12th century and is a construction of Arab origin. It stands on the top of a large rock, dominating the town of Sax and the Vinalopó valley.