Castalla`s Castle

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In the highlighted spots, you will
find information panels where you can
find out more about each point.
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M. I. Ayuntamiento de Castalla
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Another speciality in our local gastronomy is our varied and
outstanding confectionery. Sweets like sequillos, pastissets de
moniato, tonyes or madalenes de ametla can be bought in different
local bakeries, most of them with their own baker's oven in the
back room.
Within the traditional ice-cream industry in the area, many
homemade ice-creams can be tasted in Castalla. Made with the
same recipe over the years, mantecao is one of the most popular
flavours.
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Not to be forgotten are the excellent homemade sausages
and meats, as the wide range of typical 'tapas': meat, fish and
vegetable snacks available in any bar or restaurant.
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Castalla’s
Castle
C/ PICADORES
Concejalía de Turismo
RACÓ
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PLAÇA
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C/ LA VELA
Casa Rural Primavera d’hivern
C/ Mayor, 33
659 556 574
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Casa Rural La Barsella
Partida El Clot-Charrell s/n
660 406 224
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PLAÇA DE
L’HOSTAL
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Cases de Castalla
Avda. del Oeste, 23
96 556 16 81
Besides Gaspatxo, other typical dishes are borreta de bacallar
– a stew with potatoes and cod, arròs amb conill –a rice stew
with rabbit-, putxero de fassedures –a stew with traditional
meatballs- or arròs de la muntanya –paella with rabbit, snails and
mushrooms.
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Refugio y Cabañas
Silvoturismo
Partida Catí s/n
96 537 62 31
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Campamento de Fontés
Partida La Pará s/n
647 734 728
Tasting good Gaspatxos is just like a ritual and a pleasure for
the taste: firstly, all ingredients are served on a bread base and
grilled on embers. It is served with a good red wine and and all
i oli –a garlic and oil sauce. To finish, a piece of the bread base
with honey and a cup of wild thyme tea.
PLAÇA
EL CARRETER
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A
Hotel Caseta Nova***
Ctra. Vieja Ibi-Castalla km 4,5
666 533 397
600 507 888
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ITA
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Pizzería El Uruguayo
Avda. República Argentina
Hotel Xorret de Catí***
Partida Catí s/n
9655604 00/01
At present it is possible to visit this recently restored fortress.
Various local bars and restaurants specialize in this delicious
dish made of a flat bread cooked without yeast crumbled in
small flakes, copious quantities of meat, mushrooms, snails as
well as lightly fried tomato and onion. And also "pebrella"
(piperela) derived from the thyme family, an aromatic herb that
gives Gaspatxos its characteristic taste.
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Pronto Pizza
C/ Azorín, 17
96 556 09 31
Hotel Don José ***
Avda. de Ibi, 50
96 556 15 05 - 96 556 14 51
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L’ Entrepà
Avda. de Petrer, 41
647 630 408
ACCOMMODATION
Lots of visitors and people who visit Castalla take great delight
in tasting a good Gaspatxo, the typical dish that has made the
capital of La Foia famous in the whole region of Alicante.
The church, dedicated to Nuestra Señora de la Asunción was
built in the XVII Century with a central nave and six chapels on
either side. The main door dates from 1613 and the interior is
in a neo-gothic style. It was deified by the Beatified Juan de
Ribera and rebuilt following the Civil War, when it underwent
significant devastation in the altarpiece and its archives
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A ta casa
C/ Lepanto, 7
96 654 32 30
La Placeta
Plaça l’Hostal, 1
607 436 341
The castle, one of the town's most representative images, is
situated on the highest part of the hill, towering above the town
and all of the Foia of Castalla and is where the town was
originally established. The building was started in 1245, went
through various different reconstructions as measures to reinforce
it as its strategic position, bordering between Aragon and Castilla,
made this imperative.
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Edition: October 2.008
A Ca Maribel
Avda. de Petrer, 35
96 556 01 82
The High Street is the most pompous of the town, marked
out by ancestral homes with façades that illustrate the noble
emblems of their owners. At the end of the street, you will find
the Parish Church.
Helados Pana
C/ República Argentina, 45
96 556 10 38
Castalla produces excellent olive oil and delicious wine sold
under the trademark "Castillo de Castalla". Both can be purchased
in the local agricultural Cooperative.
Design by:
bd-grafic
Photography:
B. Brotóns, R. Fuster,, A.R.S., y Visionart
FOOD TO TAKE AWAY
Helados Pana
Pza. Ntra, Sra. de la Soledad, 2
96 556 01 91
If you walk up through the streets of the old quarter, you will
reach the original Parish Church of Castalla, now the Hermitage
of the Preciosísíma Sangre de Cristo. The Muslim mosque was
located here and with the Reconquest it was dedicated to the
Preciosísima Sangre de Cristo and the Virgen de la Soledad. It is
built in a Conquest Gothic style, and the permanent see to the
image of the town's Patron Saint.
UN
Published by:
M. I. Ayto. de Castalla
Concejalía de Turismo
Panadería Roque
C/ Cervantes, 83
96 556 09 63
C/ Juan XXII, 50
96 556 08 56
Helados Mira
C/ Santísima Trinidad, 6
965 561 066
C/
Bollería Mercedes
C/ Mayor, 23
96 556 02 32
Ca Camarasa
C/ Bovians, 3
96 556 02 18
Chuscos Capot
C/ Horno Amorosas, 12
96 556 00 67
C/ Convento, 4
96 556 00 67
Panadería Batiste
Travessera Quatre Camins
The convent building is of a Neo-classical style with the austere
features in its adornment that are typical of the order that had
it built. Beyond this first milestone, you continue on through
the commercial centre of Castalla to the Town Hall Square. The
Town Hall dates from the XVII century, built in a civil Renaissance
architecture. Close to this is a noble building which belongs to
the Soler family, built in the XIX century in a decorative baroque
style, commonly known as 'The Red House'.
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Plaça Bous
C/ Ramón y Cajal, 1
96 556 11 84
BAKERIES
Luis Seva Pérez
C/ Mig, 60
661 835 002
C/ Chapí, 1
96 556 02 63
Avda. Petrer s/n
96 556 00 74
Heladeria Capriccio
C/ Blasco Ibáñez, 13
96 556 03 19
Castalla conserves its Old Quarter very well, full of winding
streets and a never-ending climb towards the castle. Tronetes
Street next to the church and one of the most typical streets in
Castalla with its white houses and cobbled street, is an ideal
starting point for the second route through the old quarter of
Castalla.
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Cafetería Mediterraneo
C/ Juan XXIII, 20
96 656 10 75
Cafetería Trébol
C/ Constitución, 22
96 556 19 71
Casa Paqui
C/ Les Eres, 35
96 556 05 28
Pizzería Casa Claudia
C/ Joan Beneyto, 4
96 656 08 90
Cassana Restaurant
Ctra. de Alicante, 6
96 654 30 55
Restaurante Izaskun
Rotonda Castalla-Onil (vía de
servicio)
96 656 08 08
Restaurante Bar Stop
Avda. de Onil, 101
96 656 05 53
Restaurante Polideportivo
Ciudad deportiva
96 556 11 47
Restaurante Nou Trinquet
C/ Les Eres, 86
96 556 07 82
Restaurante Asador Castalla
Avda. de Ibi, 31
965 560 611
Forn de pa Seva
Avda. del Oeste, 43
96 656 09 17
C/ Azorín, 9
96 656 10 60
The square where the Convent of the Minimal Franciscan
Priests is to be found is a good point to set off from on this first
route through the town.
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Cafetería Las Cañas
C/ Azorín, 26
96 556 07 46
Casa El Roch
C, Les Eres, 47
96 556 01 95
Fidel Salvador
C/ Convento, 26
96 656 08 36
ROUTE 2
C/
Cafetería La Torre
C/ Ramón y Cajal, 1
96 556 08 65
Casa Alfonso
C/ Reyes Católicos, 37
96 656 11 99
Emilio Bernabeu
C/ Azorín, 29
96 556 05 82
Passeig de la Trinitat, 8
687 747 158
ROUTE 1
Grahepal
C/ Lope de Vega, 11 - bajo
610 523 476
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Cafetería La Basseta
C/ Rep. El Salvador, 6
RESTAURANTS
Emiliano Mira S.L
C/ Senieta l’Auelet, 10
96 556 02 65
Mercado de Abastos
96 556 08 24
HELADERÍAS
C/ BIA
Café 80’s
Avda. Petrer, 37
659 360 807
Café L’Hostal
C/ Juan XXIII, 1
96 656 10 21
Café-Pub Gea
C/ Blasco Ibañez, 3 - local 1
627 958 781
Café-Pub El Cau
C/Doctor Sapena, 15
96 656 04 91
Café- Bar Titania
C/ Trav. Quatre camins, 2
661 635 144
Cafetería Boris
C/ Rep. El Salvador, 2
96 556 01 46
Dulces Rico S.L.
C/ Azorín, 35
96 556 07 99
AS
CAFES
Mesón El Jardín
Avda. Onil, 39
966 560 181
Mesón El Vizcayo
Camí La Bola, s/n
96 556 01 96
Mesón L’Ai, ai, ai
C/ Azorín, 22
96 556 17 14
Mesón El Polígono
C/ EL Campello, 9
96 556 18 01
La Cuina del Pirata
Avda. Petrer, 36-40
658 898 204
Restaurante Hotel Don José
Avda. de Ibi, 50
96 556 15 05
Restaurante Kike y Cuca
Ctra Castalla-Xorret de Catí km.5
636 873 128
Restaurante Hotel Xorret
Partida de Catí s/n
96 556 15 05
Restaurante Hotel Caseta Nova
Ctra. Vieja Ibi-Castalla km. 4,5
666 533 397
Restaurante Hong Kong
Avda. de Ibi, 91
96 656 03 42
Restaurante Jardín de Loto II
Avda. de Onil, 61
96 656 04 81
Restaurante La Senia
Avda. de Alcoy, 2
670 777 105
Restaurante Castalla Fryer
C/ Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, 9
637 134 324
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Tasca el Pechu
Avda. de Ibi, 26
96 556 18 16
Café-Pub Vaca Loca
Avda. de Onil, 67
607 149 970
Café-Pub L’ Escarabat d’Or
C/ Blasco Ibáñez, 51
Café-Pub Seven Club
C/ Médico Trinidad Rivera
Cafetería Ca Abraham
C/ Horta la Vila s/n
667 751 319
Café El Raconet
Plaza Mayor, 5
Café Tonsa
C/ Dr. Fleming, 1
Café Llomello
C/ Rep. Argentina, 12
Cafetería el Passeig
Passeig de la Trinitat, 9
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O
Bar El Rincón Andaluz
C/ Lepanto, 6
Cervecería La Basseta
C/ Azorín, 45
96 656 06 88
Cervecería Frankfurt
C/ Cervantes, 73
657 811 895
Tasca el Chorro
Avda. de Ibi, 19
96 556 09 82
SSE
PA
Bar Argentina
Avda. Rep. Argentina, 35
Bar Avenida
Avda. Rep. Argentina, 2
Bar Casinos
Placeta Dels Casinos, 16
Bar Ca Llauro
C/ Bovians, 5
Bar Ca Pepet
C/ Colon, 49
Bar Ca Rascalio
C/ Balmes, 6
637 169 518
Bar Cazadores
C/ Blasco Ibañez, 68
96 556 16 80
Bar Central
Pza. Ntra. Sra. de La Soledad, 4
Bar El Parque
Parque Municipal de Castalla
699 740 893
Bar El Rincón de Quevedo
C/ Salvador Dalí, 26
96 556 04 16
Bar El Trenet
Avda. Rep. Argentina, 2
675 106 366
Bar Friends
C/ Alcalde Juan Rico p.2
Urb. Castalla Internacional
Bar Gil
Avda. Constitución, 34
96 656 05 23
Bar la Bolera II
C/ Cervantes, 44
96 656 08 42
Bar La Manchega
C/ Reyes Católicos,17
96 556 06 05
Bar La Tapeta
C/ Jaume I, 20
965 561 665
Bar Natalia
C/ Herrerías,14
616 743 432
Bar Parque la Carrasca
P.I. - Avda. Italia, 20
646 045 686
Bar Rama
C/ Jaime I, 5
Lucy’s Bar
C/ Joan Beneyto, 10
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BARS
C/ PORT
AL D’ON
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EL CHORRO
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Located in a beautiful valley with the same name; the Foia
of Castalla is surrounded by Nature and here you will find the
city of Castalla snuggled into the hill that is crowned by the
castle.
Only 30 km from the capital city of the province of Alicante,
you can discover this privileged spot surrounded by mountain
ranges such as l'Argenya, Maigmó or Catí.
The main town of the Foia welcomes us with its unforgettable
silhouette and invites us to stroll through its streets packed
with history Aristocratic houses, century-old palaces, churches
and winding streets full of charm lead us up to the majestic
castle, which stands as a constant witness to the history of
the city.
The local gastronomy delights us with exquisite dishes such
as its famous gaspatxos or the delicious homemade desserts:
sequillos, a type of biscuit, cocas and'toñas local cakes, icecream and many other types of homemade confectionary.
Surrounded by countryside, excellent wines are obtained
from the land; also almonds, as well as olive oil with its
incomparable flavour are all produced in the local agricultural
cooperatives. Over half of the municipal area of Castalla is
densely populated forest land which is highly suitable for
active tourism. Hiking or cycling are some of the options to
spend some time at one with Nature. The significant covering
of vegetation, above all in the shaded areas, is predominated
by the kermes oak wood and aromatic plants such as thyme,
rosemary, 'piperela', a herb derived from the thyme family and
cat's tail.
Its natural richness offers us the possibility to enjoy openair activities such as hiking and cycling, especially in the Xorret
de Catí area.
The district of Castalla occupies the mountains in the West
and South east of the Foia, which are the following: Sierra de
la Argueña (1.228 m.), Sierra de Castalla (1.175 m.), and
North of the Sierra del Maigmó (1.296 m.)
The mountain ranges to the East, North and North West of
the Foia belong to Tibi, Ibi Onil and Biar with altitudes of: El
Reconco (1.206 m.), Cenarosa (1.210 m.), Menejador (1.352
m.) and Penya Rotja (1.226 m.)
The climate in the area can be defined as a typical
Mediterranean mountain climate with occasional snowfalls in
winter.
Its festivities and traditions reveal the warm and welcoming
character of its people that make the visitor feel completely
at home. The Moors and Christians, the Bull Run, Easter all
occupy the town's festive calendar. However it is unquestionably
the San Isidro Fair that succeeds in showing the visitor the
wide range of commercial activities and services that are
available.
The economical activity is centred on the large number of
industries that are based in the town. In spite of being set in
the heart of the Toy Valley, important manufacturers of all
kinds of products are to be found, ranging from toys, furniture,
plastics, doors to cardboard.
ACCESS
• Castalla has an excellent communications system; via the
central motorway (A-7) you can reach Alcoy or San Vicente
del Raspeig, where there is a link with the motorway to
Madrid (A-31).
• By plane, the nearest airport is El Altet in Alicante and
Manises in Valencia.
• By train, the nearest stations are Villena, Alcoy and Alicante.
Distance in kilometres between Castalla and...
• Alcoy .................28 km
• Villena ...............18 Km
• Alicante .............30 Km
• Benidorm...........73 km
• Valencia ............140 Km
• Madrid ..............390 Km
• Barcelona ..........500 km
Population: 9.673 inhabitants
Altitude: 675 m.
Surface area: 114,6 km2
Average temperature: 13o
Name of the inhabitants:
Castallense (val.; castellut/da)
This urban centre of great historical interest grow as the result
of a long process of change and transformation, between the Middle
Ages and the present. The earliest buildings were clustered around
the bottom of the castle, and have left remains such as the Ermita
de la Sang (Hermitage of Holy Blood). Built in the 14th century, it
served as Castalla's parish church until 1571. In 1577 it became the
home of the Cofradía de la Preciosa Sangre de Cristo (Fraternity of
Christ's Blood) and ever since it has kept that name. Gothic in style,
it is divided into five naves by large diaphragm arcs with simulated
chapels in the side aisles. The main axis is presided by a Rococo
alcove which houses the image of the Virgen de la Soledad, Castalla's
patron. As her home, it plays an outstanding symbolic and religious
role in local festivities such as The Moors and Christians fiesta or
Holy Week. On either side of the Virgin are the Sacristy and the stairs
leading to the crypt, where townsfolk were buried between the 14th
century and 1571, the year in which the new parish church was
blessed. Next to this popular crypt were other private ones, such
those of the family Vilanova family, seigneurial lords of Castalla and
the Pérez family.
As the town's population grew during the 14th and 15th centuries
an irregularly laid-out arrabal or extramural quarter grew around
the walls. Narrow steep streets and small squares are typical of these
areas. Examples are the Plaça de Sant Tomás (Saint Thomas Square)
and Plaáa de Sant Antoni (Saint Anthony Square). The first owes its
name to Saint Tomás de Villanueva, Archbishop of Valencia, who
made a pastoral visit here in the 16th century. In the plaza stands
a ceramic altarpiece dating from the 19th century in which the
visionary Saint appears with a crosier and other bishop's signs of
office, next to a child. The inscription reads: SANTO TOMAS DE
VILLANUEVA Arpo (Saint Thomas of Villanueva, archbishop). The
Plaça de Sant Antoni owes its name to a small church now disappeared,
which was dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua. Like the Plaça de
Sant Tomás, it has a 19th-century ceramic altarpiece with an image
of the Immaculate Conception. Next to these squares stood other
public buildings, such as the seat of Castalla's Consell (Council), a
local body similar to today's Town Hall, which was located where
the gardens of Las Parras are today.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, Castalla's urban layout
became more regular, with wider streets and squares and new
features such as the parish church and the town hall. Built in the
16th century, the Parish Church of Our Lady of the Assumption
(Nuestra Señora de la Asunción) repeats the Ermita de la Sang
architectural structure: a single nave divided into five sections with
side chapels, in Gothic style. Its 17th century Mannerist Facade rises
up splendid above Carrer Major while the bell tower serves as
reference point for the surrounding buildings. Its artistic wealth
included elements such as a gilded altarpiece, above the High Altar,
carved in wood. It disappeared during the Spanish Civil War. In the
17th century, the Carrer Major or High Street became the town's
main artery and as such, scene of some of local festivities, such as
Moors and Christians fiestas, or Holy Week. The street starts in one
of the town's most important architectural spaces: the Plaza Mayor
(Main Square). Here also stands the Ayuntamiento, built in the 17th
century. Its ground floor or Lonja was used until the end of the 19th
century as a market. Nowadays it is still the seat of Ayuntamiento
or the local government. The adjacent 19th-century urban palace,
built by the Soler family, also stands out as one of the best examples
of Mediterranean urban architecture. It is also widely known as
“Casa Vermella” or "Casa Roja" (Red House). Near the square is
another Castalla's landmark: the convent of Sant Francesc de Paula,
built by the Order of the Franciscan Minim Friars, founded by Saint
Francisco de Paula between the 18 and 19th century. It consists of
a cruciform single nave, side chapels, a bell-tower and an attached
cloister. Only the church is left standing from the original complex.
The belltower is a modern, while the cloister has disappeared.
The history of Castalla started on the plains which offered
optimum conditions for cultivation and pasture. Apart from this,
the valley also had good fresh water supplies. In the 3rd millennium
BC the Mas dels Alfaros (Alfaros Farm) was settled by farming
communities. By the Bronze Age (2nd Millenium BC) there were
a number of settlements, such as Alt de Paella, Cabeço dels
Campellos, Castell de Castalla and Foia de la Perera, each of which
aimed at controlling and exploiting the territory's resources.
Later, in the Iberian times, the strategic location of the hill on
which Castalla's castle stands, became important. Archaeological
remains have revealed the existence of settlements there, between
the 2nd and 1st century BC, which was intended to control the
surrounding territory. It was then occupied by the Romans, from
the 1st century BC to the 5th century AC. Other examples of
settlement can be elsewhere, as at Cabanyes (1st and 2nd century
a.C).
The hill on which the town's castle sits was occupied in prehistoric
times (around 2.000 BC) and during both the Iberian and Roman
periods (2nd century BC - 5th century AD). In the 11th century the
Muslims raised the first fortification that was to become the Foia de
Castalla's administrative centre.
After its peaceful incorporation in the Kingdom of Aragon in
1244, the castle played a crucial role in defending the border with
the Kingdom of Castile. King Pedro V gave the castle to Ram¢n de
Vilanova in 1362 in order to strengthen its deteriorated defences
against attacks by Castilian armies. From then on and throughout
the 15th century the castle underwent significant transformations
as El Palau and Pati d'armes were planned and built. El Palau, a
fortified palace, was the Lord's well-defended residence. For its part,
the Pati d'Armes (Parade Ground) housed several domestic structures,
such as the aljibe (cistern), often locally called l'escola dels moros
(the Moor's school). Torre Grossa (Stout Tower) built in 1579, was
the final construction of importance within the castle precincts, and
was built as part of the Habsburg monarchy's strategy for dealing
with the Barbary pirates' constant raids on the Alicante coastline.
As the castle lost its military character, it went into further decline,
remaining consigned to specific functions, such as storage during
the 18th-centruy Spanish War of Succession. By 1813 it was in ruins
and had become a quiet witness to visitors climbing up from Castalla
and the surrounding area. In the 20th century, between 1933 and
1935, the hill, including its fortifications, was sacked by the town's
inhabitants in search of treasures. Today a new episode of its long
history has begun with its restoration as a site with public visits,
hopefully soon to be extended to other sites of cultural interest on
the slopes below the castle.
The Middle Ages ushered in a new period of history in which
Castalla's importance grew. In the 11th century the Muslims
raised the first fortified construction which became the region's
administrative centre. There were other smaller settlements too
such as Alquerías de Almarra, Casa de l'Escrivà or Torreta de
Cabanyes. The qâria or farmstead, of Almarra, from the Arabic
al-mara or "place to drop in" deserves special mention. Its
double necropolis has allowed deeply knowledge of Muslim life
in the Foia de Castalla. From 1244 when Castalla became part
of the Kingdom of Aragon, it was also a frontier town lying on
the dividing line linking the towns of Biar and Busot, as described
by the Almizra Treaty. As in the Muslim period, Castalla with its
castle continued to be the focal part of the surrounding area.
In 1287, when the Muslims left, King Alfonso III conferred carta
puebla upon Castalla, allowing land to be redistributed among
new residents. In 1362 the King Pedro IV ceded both the town
and castle to Ramon de Vilanova to guarantee its defence against
possible Castilian attacks. For the next century and a half Castalla
steadily expanded, initially around the base of the castle's summit.
The Ermita or Hermitage of Holy Blood and the Aljub de la Vila
(Town's cistern) are proofs thereof. However, to grow, it spread
outwards on to the surrounding plain.
The Church of the Assumption (Nuestra Señora de la Asunción),
the castle's 16th-century Torre Grossa (Stout Tower) and the
Town Hall are outstanding landmarks from this early modern
period. In the 18th century Castalla supported Philip V in the
War of Spanish Succession (side botifler), the erudite botanist
A.J. Cavanilles visited the town and local dignitary Tomás Cerdá
Rico became Officer of the Secretariat of The Indies –a kind of
colonial council-, and was an eminent member of the Spanish
Royal Academy of History.
In the 19th and 20th centuries Castalla was to find itself
caught up again in armed conflicts: the Napoleonic Wars and
the Spanish Civil War. These were stuffs between monarchy,
republics and dictatorships, each of which brought economic
and social changes to the town. But in this modern period
Castalla also became today's modern, hospitable, friendly town
which has managed to keep its festivities and traditions, such
as the Moors and Christians fiestas and to restore and preserve
emblematic elements of its architectural heritage, such as the
castle.
A number of different festivities are celebrated in Castalla during
the year. Many these traditions are hundreds of years old, such as
the Moors and Christians festivities and other more recent ones,
such as the San Isidro Fair, which fill up a varied festive calendar.
In the first part of the year several different festivities are
celebrated: Carnival, Mig Any of Moors and Christians, and Easter.
When the good weather sets in is when the calendar is really
packed full of celebrations. The 'San Francesc' Bonfire Night, then
Easter and the San Isidro Fair in May.
July starts off with the celebration of the traditional Bouet de
la Sang festivity and gets the ball rolling for the Patron Saint
celebrations of the Presentation of the Queen of the festivity and
Sant Jaume, on the 25th July, a day when the public announcement
of the imminent festivities is given, the groups flags are blessed
and an informal parade takes place from the Hermitage to the
main square and culminates in the Ballada de les Banderes.
The Running of the Bull in August is the popular and traditional
moment of this month. It is celebrated around the middle of August
and during several days cows are let loose in a closed circuit in
the streets of the centre of the town.
The Exaltation of the Festivities and the proclamation of the
festivities are also celebrated at the end of August in the Main
Square.
All these celebrations act as a prelude to the Festivities held in
honour of the Patron Saint in Castalla, held between 1st and 4th
September in honour of Virgen de la Soledad, the patron saint of
the town. With over two centuries of history, they are the main
celebrations that take place in Castalla.
The festivities start on 31st August with the celebration of the
Nit de l'Olleta. Many different public acts take place during the
following four days. The most important and colourful being the
Entrada parade and the floral offering. Another characteristic acts
of these festivities is the procession of the Bajada de la Virgen, when
the patron saint is accompanied by a volley from arquebusiers and
the rhythm of folk music and mazurka or the Ballada de les Banderes
(the Dance of the Flags).
Another typical festivity also celebrated in September is Les
Danses, held on the penultimate weekend of the month. This ancient
celebration with local popular dances is celebrated over 3 days.
It takes place in the Main Square to the sound of the dolçaina i el
tabalet (autochthonous flutes).