Home > Castalla

Castalla

Where is Castalla?

The location of Castalla is in the South East of Spain, in the section called the Costa Blanca. It is west of Denia and Javea, north of Alicante and Murcia. You have a couple of decent choices when it comes to getting into the region by plane. The regional airport is probably your best bet. Alicante airport is located just outside Elche. There is also San Javier or Murcia airport to the south and to the north is Valencia airport. Just take a look at the maps below and you will see the distances for yourself.

Accommodation in Castalla

There are many places to lodge here counting Castalla hotels, guest houses, and self catering lodging. You are guaranteed to find Castalla accommodation to suit all finances. The near towns of Ibi, Alcoy, Altea, Calpe, Benidorm, Sax, Villena, Sant Vicent del Raspeig, and El Campello also offer a wide variety of houses styles.

Rent a car in Castalla

There is no real municipal transportation in this area so you truly have to hire a car. If you don’t want to move any distance, Castalla is very well looked after when it comes to bars, restaurants, and shops. But if you intend to have the benefit of much of the neighboring areas then you’re going to enjoy a great deal more by getting a Castalla car hire. You can rent a car either from one of the airports or from numerous companies in Castalla.

What to see in Castalla

Castalla is a municipality of Valencia, Spain. It is located within the province of Alicante in the region of La Hoya de Alcoy. It has 10,021 inhabitants as of 2008.

Castalla Castle is on the slopes of a hill overlooking the valley at 680 meters above sea level. It is a broad T-shaped valley oriented east and sandwiched between various mountain formations. Castalla occupies the west and southwest of La Hoya where are the mountains of Maigmó (1296 m), Catí (1260 m) and Argenya (1230 m). The climate of the area can be put within a Mediterranean mountain climate. The average annual temperature is around 13 degrees. The rains are not plentiful, around 400mm per year, while upland regions favor the formation of local precipitation and cloudiness, increasing these with altitude. Snowfall is common in winter days of January and February.

There have been found remains of settlements of the Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iberians, Romans (who called it Castra Alta”, fortaleza alta) and Arabs. The Arabs actually

The Foia of Castalla is surrounded by natural wonder and you will find the city of Castalla melted into the hill atop which sits the castle. Castalla is only 30 km from the city of Alicante. The first fortification that was raised here was built by the Moslems as the administrative centre. It was integrated peacefully, after the conquest of Biar, into the kingdom of Valencia by James I of Aragon and, as you can imagine, it played a superb role in the defending of the Borders with the kingdom of Castille. Thus began the rebuilding of the castle and was consecrated the first church in the place where stands the present Ermita de la Sangre or Chapel of the Blood.

In 1336, King Pedro IV of Aragon became Crown property. In 1362 the barony was created Castalla, which was donated to Don Ramon de Vilanova. The castle was inherited by the year 1729 by the Marquis de Dos Aguas, until in 1989 Castalla became municipal property.

During the War of Succession, Castalla and all the region sided with the Bourbons, and the result of this was that once the war was over Felipe V granted Castalla a number of privileges and the title of ” Muy Noble, Fiel y Leal” which means very Noble and loyal faithful.

During the Revolutionary War took place in Castalla two major military actions. The First Battle of Castalla, which took place in 1812, was a major defeat for the Spanish army, and led to the conquest of the city by the French army. However, the second battle, which took place on 13 April 1813, was a great triumph for the Spanish side who defeated the French troops of General Suchet.

In 1890, Queen Regent Maria Cristina gave the village the title of City Castalla.

Castalla’s economy is based on the toy industry (like the neighboring Onil and Ibi), but also of building materials, furniture and metallurgy. Apart from the agricultural economy (almond, olive trees, and vineyards), Castalla is also making a good living through rural tourism and for its wonderful astronomy.

Obviously one of the main tourist attractions in Castalla is the castle itself perched up on top of the hill. The castle, which was built between the eleventh and sixteenth centuries, is now fully restored. The castle include the huge bulk that is the “Torre Grossa” or Tower of Homage which has been acceptably conserved. Yet what must have been more spectacular the whole called “Palau”. It contains buildings ranging from the thirteenth century to the fifteenth century, among which stands the “Torre Prima” and the huge rectangular vaulted room.

The Old Town streets and squares are of immense artistic and architectural interest, highlighting the Carrer de Les Tronetes which is next to the church and is one of the most typical streets of Castalla with its white houses and cobblestone roadways. On the main street is a group of houses emblazoned with the square that the City Council retain as a historic essence of the noble past of this city some of whose construction dates back to the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

The Ermita de la Sangre, Chapel of the Blood, is a religious building built in the gothic style in the second half of the thirteenth century. It consists of a central nave formed by massive pointed arches, arches and side chapels located between buttresses. The ceiling is coffered. When the present church was built and it became the headquarters of the Brotherhood of the Blood and custodian of the image of the Virgen de la Soledad, patron saint of the town.

Also there is the Church of the Assumption which was completed in 1572. It is Gothic, with one great central dome.

TheTown Hall is a Renaissance-style building, with the characteristics of civil construction of the time in Valencia…freestone facade, floor with three arches, with ten floor arched windows semicircular, etc. The chronology of its construction is to be placed in the middle of the seventeenth century.

Lastly, for this record, is the Convent of the Cordeliers Minimum which built in the neoclassical style, between the mid eighteenth century and 1810.

The main festival is the festival of Moors and Christians which is held from 1 to 4 September in honor of the Virgen de la Soledad, the patron saint of the town.

The festive calendar of Castalla is broad and interesting to highlight the bonfires of San Francisco, San Isidro (May 15) and its fair, and el Bouet de la Sang of July 5, St. Jamie on July 25 and 14 to 17 August.

Because Castalla is so centrally situated, you are basically just north of Alicante and a stone’s throw away from Benidorm, there is so much choice about what you can do to occupy your time. Many people come to Spain because of the sunshine, the good food, wine, and the friendly locals, but there is so much to this area that you will be spoiled the choices when it comes to deciding what to do for the next day. So, say for instance that you’re looking for a good night out. Well, the two towns above, Alicante and Benidorm, offer great value and choice when it comes to night-time entertainment. Benidorm especially has got a reputation of being the party town of the Costa Blanca. Sometimes, this can be a bit too much because of the amount of stag nights and hen parties that tend to congregate here. But, if you’re into that type of raucous activity, Benidorm is to place for you. Benidorm also has two fun packed theme parks, one of them is Terra Mitica where you will find four different zones exploring for different ancient cultures with fun packed water rides, rollercoaster’s, and rides to get your adrenaline flowing at top speed.

The sports enthusiast will enjoy the area as well. Spain is really a country of outdoor activities so whether you’re into hiking, mountain climbing, hang gliding, parasailing, pony trekking, or swimming, you’re going to find something to suit your tastes. This area is actually a Mecca for the golf enthusiast and Castalla golfing has got so much to offer ways a couple of courses in the locale and plenty of courses up and down the Costa Blanca. Maybe you just want to stroll down the beach. There are plenty of sandy beaches for you to choose from all along the Costa Blanca.

Where can you eat in Castalla

Except for the scrumptious Spanish cookery which is supplied in Castalla, you can engage in out of this world cuisine from several countries including China, the Netherlands, India, England, Hungary, German, and France. So you will by no means be stuck for something to eat. A typical dish of Castalla is the local variety of gazpacho known as manchego gazpacho which is made with crumbled unleavened cakes, mushrooms, snails, chicken, along with rabbit and tomato, sauteed onions, all served on a baked yeast cake.

There are also some wonderful pastries, especially the sequillos which are a type of cookie, the ‘rotllets bollits’, the ‘tonyes ‘ and ‘pastissets’ de boniato. There are also dishes which spread across the region such as rice with rabbit, and many fish dishes.

The weather in Castalla

Sunlight is the universal rule when it comes to climate in the province and in Castalla. The winters are mild and sun-drenched the summers are beautiful and hot. It does not rain regularly here, but when it does it can arrive in sheets, and the storms here can be totally wonderful.

How do I find Castalla?

Directions from Alicante Airport to Castalla

Directions from Murcia Airport to Castalla

Directions from Valencia Airport to Castalla

Maps of Castalla