Itinerary - Jávea U3A

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Spanish Culture & Cuisine Trip
“Archena, Cehegín & El Valle Regional Park”
Tuesday 13th to Friday 16th June 2017
A leisurely 4-day trip during which we will experience some culture, nature, health &
well-being, with accommodation in two lovely 4* hotels.
Tuesday 13th June
09.00 hrs: Departure from Interiors (opposite side of the road), Jávea port.
10.00 hrs: Visit to Finca La Cuta at Benissa/Jalón. “The Lavender Garden” is an amazing
Mediterranean garden with thousands of aromatic lavender plants along with other flora
and fauna, including beautiful roses. You can walk along the pathways to enjoy nature at
its very best (entrance included); refreshments available to purchase.
11.15 hrs: Re-board our coach and travel on to Molina de Segura for lunch (not included)
at one of the bars/restaurants near the Parque de la Compañía.
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13.15-15.30 hrs: Free time in Molina de Segura, then continue our journey to Archena.
16.00 hrs: Check in to the Hotel Levante in the Balneario de Archena Thermalium, one
of the most important in Spain, which offers free access to two minero-medicinal water
swimming pools with waterfalls, hot tub and jets.
Free time: take a stroll along the river bank, visit some of the sights of Archena, or
simply relax and enjoy the facilities in the Balneario de Archena Thermalium.
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River walk and the Puente de Hierro
Chimenea de Basilio
Fachada Casa Grande (Town Hall)
Monument al Nazareno
Iglesia Parroquial de San Juan Bautista
Museo del Esparto, Palacete de Villarias
Or spend some time in the Museo de Archena,
built in the natural area of the Segura River
meadows. Opening hours: Tues thru Sat 10 am2pm and 4-9 pm
20.00 hrs: Dinner at hotel.
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Wednesday 14th June
08.00 hrs: Breakfast:
09.00 hrs: Departure to Cehegín for a special guided tour which has been organised for
our group by the Cehegín Inland Association in collaboration with Cehegín Tourism to
promote, in their words, “The wonderful cultural heritage and rich gastronomy of
Cehegín”.
10.00 hrs: First we will visit the City of Begastri on the outskirts of Cehegín, once
occupied by Iberians, Romans and Visigoths and an episcopal see up until the Moorish
invasion (c. 45 mins).
Prior to the visit there will be a 10-minute video
(English sub-titles) explaining the history of this
archaeological site, one of the most important
places of the late-Roman period in Spain.
We will then re-board our coach and travel the short distance to the old centre of
Cehegín, which was declared to be of Historical Cultural Interest in 1982 as it has
preserved its Moorish origin and is packed with manor houses, palaces and churches
among its twisting, narrow streets. Our guided tour will include:
Jaspe House (18c.) Hermitage of the Conception (16c.) Main street & castle square
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Saint Mary of Magdalene church
(16th c.)
Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de las
Maravillas or the Plaza de Toros.
13.30 hrs: Lunch is included at a local restaurant with a 3 course menu, wine, beer,
refreshments, water and coffee.
During our visit there will be an opportunity for wine tasting in the Escuela de Vino (Wine
school) accompanied by local sausages (all entry fees included).
17.00 hrs (approx.): Re-join the coach for our return to the Hotel Levante.
20.00 hrs: Dinner
Thursday 15th June
08.00 hrs. Breakfast.
08.45 hrs: Check out and load cases onto the coach.
09.00 hrs: Departure for our visit to El Valle Regional Park which is nick-named the
‘green lung’ of Murcia - wide areas of the park have been declared a Special Area of
Protected Birds. There is an abundance of fauna and flora, such as the natterjack toad,
red squirrels, sparrow hawks, striped necked terrapin, wild boar and golden eagles.
There are more than 600 species of plants, including the aleppo pine, esparto grass,
evergreen oak, rosemary, thyme, and oleanders among others; whilst the mountains of
this area have been inhabited by hermits since the 5th century.
10.15 hrs: Arrival at the El Valle Regional Park Centro de la Naturaleza Visitors
Centre.
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El Valle Regional Park Centro de
la Naturaleza Visitors Centre:
interactive exhibitions about the
fauna
and flora
and the
importance
of
the
natural
environment of the park.
Arboretum: Close to the centre
we can find the Arboretum, an old
forest nursery turned into a
botanic garden. It shows the
different plants existing in all the
climatic regions of the planet.
Walk along the paved paths and
discover all there is to know about
the trees which grow in this
regional park.
We will then follow the El Valle
Cultural Trail that starts at the
side of the Visitor Centre and goes
through the park and its history.
There is a stop at the San Antonio
el Pobre Visitor Centre en-route,
and the trail ends at the Centro de
la Luz Visitors Centre. Distance:
2.2 kms. Difficulty: Easy. Slope:
100m. See maps at the end of this
flyer.
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Follow the trail from El Valle Centre, passing
the 3 metal pilgrims, and continue on to the
Santa Catalina and the Chapel of San
Antonio el Pobre.
The Visitors Centre San Antonio El Pobre is
located within the chapel of the same name.
The building dates from the 18th century, with
rooms for the accommodation of hermits and
a cave dug out of the mountain: a 10-minute
video in English will explain about the life of
hermits in these mountains.
After leaving the chapel, the trail continues
up the steps next to the waterfall and on past
the ruins of the Castillo de la Luz - the
remains of the Arab Castle of La luz, from the
12th century which covered almost all the hill.
Continue on the trail around the castle, going
through the ravine which leads to the Luz
Visitor
Centre
Settlement.
and
the
Iberian
Luz
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El Valle Regional Park Centro de la Luz
Visitors Centre: Exhibitions about the area
including its history and a scale model of the
El Valle Park.
There is a large restaurant
above the centre and a viewing balcony which
allows you to walk all the way around, offering
some stunning views of the surrounding
countryside.
The visitor centre is built next to the archaeological remains of a former Iberian
settlement and temple dedicated to the goddess Demeter,
The walk can then be continued for a further
2 kms to the Sanctuary of the Virgin of La
Fuensanta: in order to light up the really
impressive dome you’ll need to put a 1€ coin
into the slot machine to the right of the door
in
the
church
foyer.
There
is
café/restaurant nearby with stunning views
over the city of Murcia.
The Monastery-Church of Nuestra Señora De La
Luz. A short walk from the Sanctuary (1.7 kms).
Chocolate, honey and other produce can be purchased
from the monks during the opening hours (10.00 hrs to
13.30 hrs and 15.00 hrs – 20.00 hrs).
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Free time for lunch (not included).
16.00 hrs: Re-join our coach at the Sanctuary of the Virgin of La Fuensanta and travel
to the 4* Hotel Golf Campoamor.
17.30 hrs: Check in and free time.
20.00 hrs: Dinner
Friday 16th June
08.00 hrs: Breakfast
09.00 hrs: Checkout and load cases onto the coach.
09.15 hrs: Departure for a scenic drive around the man-made reservoir known as the
Embalse de la Pedrera; mirador and photographic opportunity.
10.30 hrs: We will stop for coffee at the Casa La Pedrera; run by Jenni & Derek Ray,
the house was featured on the Grand Designs Abroad TV programme and is in a lovely
lakeside setting, surrounded by a natural parkland with views across the blue waters of
the lake. The house has a tea room which offers refreshments as well as selling crafts
and gifts
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11.30 hrs: Re-board our coach and travel to Rojales, a pretty rural town beside the
Segura River, which is famous for the beautiful cave houses which are located in the
hills to the south of the town.
Cuevas del Rodeo is a district of authentic cave
houses which were carved out of the sandstone
mountain by miners in the 18th/19th century. Many
of the dwellings have been beautifully renovated
and the area has become popular with artists and
craftsmen, who organise art exhibitions and
cultural events throughout the year.
A popular tourist attraction is the near-by Casa de Las Conchas (House of Shells).
Over many years the owner, Manuel Fulleda Alcaraz, has decorated the inside and
outside of his house with patterns of shells, tiles and mirrors. He sells small shellcovered souvenirs to visiting tourists!
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After visiting the caves, there will be
free time for lunch (not included) in one
of the restaurants, tapas bars, cafes,
and pubs, including an English and Irish
bar, located around the town centre.
15.30 hrs: Re-join our coach for the return journey to Jávea, with a comfort stop (if
required) en-route.
17.45 hrs: Approximate time of arrival at Interiors, Jávea port.
Price: €245 pp, single supplement €55 pp.
which includes coach transport, 3 nights’ half-board accommodation in 4* hotels, a
special guided tour of Cehegín with lunch & drinks, and wine-tasting, entry fees (as per
itinerary), and gratuities. Comfortable walking shoes are suggested and this trip is not
recommended for anyone who experiences walking difficulties.
Booking is now open via email. Deposit: €100 pp payable at the general meeting in the
Parador on Wednesday 26th October, or before by bank transfer. Please note that
deposits have to be paid in advance to the hotels to reserve the accommodation so
refunds can only be made if a cancelled place is sold on. Final Balance: due at the
meeting in the Parador on Wednesday 29th March, or before by bank transfer.
Group Leaders: Angela Chantry & Tony Dearie
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MAPS FOR THE EL VALLE REGIONAL PARK