Onil

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Categories: Alicante Province, Onil

Where is Onil?

Onil is situated on the Costa Blanca in the South East zone of Spain. The town of Onil is situated to the north west of the provincial capital Alicante. It is located in among the mountains, to the south of the Sierra de Mariola. If you are driving to the town you can arise here by either taking the A-31 or the A-7. There are a few different alternatives if you are arriving in the region by air. The main airport in the province is Alicante airport which is located just outside the city of Elche. There is also an airport in the southern province of Murcia. Murcia airport, otherwise known as San Javier, is a popular airport for many European travelers. Also,in the northern province of Valencia is another airport. Valencia airport is quite a distance though and most people should not attempt it unless they want to see some of the parts of northern Alicante, Southern Valencia.

Accommodation in Onil

You can stay in many different places here including guest houses, Onil hotels, self catering accommodation, and camping amenities. There is Onil accommodation to suit all pockets. There is a extensive mixture of houses styles offered in the adjacent towns of Castalla, Biar, Ibi, Jijona, Elda, Sax, Biar, Banyeres de Mariola, and Villena.

Renting a car in Onil

There is no real public transport in this locale so you in actual fact need to rent a car. You do not need to travel very far because the center of Onil is in actual fact well looked after with lots of restaurants, shops, and bars. An Onil car hire is going to permit you to see a good deal more of the neighboring parts, and there are some delightful parts around here. If you stay in the town itself, you are going to be right in the heart of the mountains and this is a really great part of the country to explore. There are a number of companies in Onil or the surrounding towns where you can rent a car, or you can always choose to pickup from the airport as you disembark.

A small bit about Onil

Onil is a municipality in the region of the Hoya de Alcoy. A very rugged terrain and there are two very distinct geographical parts, and the mountainous part and the plains. Some of the peaks in this area include Frare Quint, la Creu, and la Fenesosa. To the north are the Sierra de Onil and the foothills of the Sierra de Mariola, and to the south is the great plain of La Marjal.

History of Onil

The first mention of Onil is during the reign of James I of Aragon, when he allowed the Muslims to hold onto their possessions. But the history of Onil seems to go further back than that, maybe even to the Bronze Age. In 1362, the barony of Castalla and Onil were created. And, for several centuries after this, the town was under the patronage of the descendants of Ramon de Villanova. That was until the 18th century. In the war of succession, Onil, like many other towns in the region sided with the Bourbons, and along with many other towns was granted many privileges and exemptions by the victor.

The toy industry in Onil dates back to 1879. The toy industry here in Onil is at such a level that in 1970, 60% of the children’s dolls that went into production in Spain were made here in the town.

According to the Spanish statistics bureau, Onil has a population in 2008 of 8068. This is much bigger than the population that was here in 1900 which was 2918. By 1950, this had only increased by one person, to 2919, although it had fluctuated in the intervening years.

The economy of Onil is really based around the production of children’s toys, mostly dolls. But there is also an industry in smelting metals and the treatment of olives. The growth of olive trees and almond trees is also a booming industry.

What to see in Onil

If you come to Onil, either for a visit or for a longer stay, there are a few things that you should see whilst you are here. The Palacio del Marqués de Dos Aguas was built in 1539 but was left unfinished. The stone building is a Renaissance Gothic style with an outer moat, an impressive 16 arches and it is flanked by four towers, one of them which is the church tower. You should also see the Casa Residencial del Cardenal Payá (the residential house of Cardinal Paya) which has been declared a cultural attraction. It is located on the east side of the palace and although it is a smaller building, it is actually a finished product.

Two of the more religious architectural monuments that you should see are the Iglesia Parroquial (parish church) which was completed in 1778, and the Convento de la Monjas Justinianas (the Convent of the Justinian Nuns).

Like most of the towns, villages, and indeed cities, have their own Fiestas throughout the year. The Moors and Christians festival is one of the largest of which in Onil commences towards the end of April with the traditional campfire dinner known as “Nit de les Fogueres”. Other celebrations which are a made in this town include the feast for the patron saint of the village.

Like many of the villages and small little towns that you will find in among the mountains of the Costa Blanca, the type of tourism that is practiced here is a far cry from the busy tourism that can be found along the Mediterranean coast in cities such as Alicante and Benidorm. In the mountain villages you can rest and relax in a part of Spain that still holds on to its traditional values, we will still see families eating underneath the shade of the trees in the afternoon sun, and you can walk down the street without seeing another person who speaks English.

As for something to do in Onil, if you are looking for an active holiday you can find much in the way of hiking, rock climbing, mountaineering, horseback riding, or just driving through the wonderful scenery. Rent a car in this area and you will see much more than you imagined, around each corner here you will find a secret waiting to be uncovered. Head to the coast for a day’s fun in the Mediterranean Sea or relax on one of the beaches or just outside Benidorm you will find two theme parks. One is known as Terra Mitica and the other is called Terra Natura. Or, maybe you’re interested in knocking a ball down the fairway. Onil golfing has a lot to offer, although there is no golf course in the town, there are several in the area such as Alenda golf course.

You will find a lot of information about Onil at the tourist office. This is located at Plaza Mayor, 1-City Hall, 03430 Onil (Alicante). The office hours are Monday through Friday from 10 to 14 hours. You can also contact the tourist office by telephone at 96 654 47 45 or fax 96 556 41 31, or you can contact them by e-mail to onil@touristinfo.net.

What to eat in Onil

This province of Spain boasts gastronomy from numerous parts of the earth. To refer to one or two, there is Food from Spain, Germany, China, France, and Hungary. There will be other enjoyable national cuisines if you look at. If you cannot find food to go well with your likes and dislikes in this place than there is a little not right with your liking. Look, maybe you’re not going to get a fantastic arrangement of food in Onil from many international locations, but when it comes to Spanish food, these small towns can give any major city run for their money.

The weather conditions in Onil

Sunlight is the common rule when it comes to climate in the area and in Onil. You are nearly sure of sun throughout the year. It is habitually very hot in the summer reaching temperatures of 35°C and over, but in the winter they can sink as low as -10°C. The regular high temperature can at times be broken up by the out of the ordinary showery day or two. Some of the lightning storms can be brilliant.