Where to find Sax
Sax is located in the Costa Blanca, in the Alicante district between Valencia and Murcia. Sax is located to the north and west of Alicante and the south of Denia and Benidorm. You can reach Sax by using the A-31 road which comes all the way from Alicante. You can fly into the province of Alicante through one of three different airports. There is Alicante airport which is located just outside the city of Elche. You can also fly in to the province of Murcia through San Javier airport. Finally, if you want to come from the north, there is an airport in Valencia
Sax accommodation
There are enough places to vacation here counting Sax hotels, guest houses, and self catering villas. You are guaranteed to find Sax accommodation to suit all levels of wealth. The near towns of Elda, Castalla, Villena, Salinas, Yecla, Biar, Onil, Tibi, Agost, Monovar, el Pinos and Novelda also offer a wide variety of lodging styles.
Car rental in Sax
Hiring a car is just about imperative in this area since there is no municipal transport to speak of. There are a load of restaurants, shops, bars for you to pick from if you do not want to trek very far, some folks just intend a peaceful vacation. But hey look, there is some fantastic scenery in this district and if you’re coming to stay in a place like Sax then it would be a crying shame not to rent a car. Sax car hire will be a will to give you the freedom to move around on these excellent Spanish roads. You can rent a car either from one of the airports or from quite a few companies in Sax or the neighboring towns and cities.
A smidgen of info about Sax
The town of Sax is located in the Alt Vinalopo which is a Comerca in the province of Alicante. The population of the town, according to the Spanish National statistics office in 2006 was 9577 people and the area of the municipality is 63.5 km² and an altitude of 471 meters above sea level. Since ancient times, this town has been very strategic when it came to communications; it was crossed by Arab/Christian roads, and earlier Roman roads. The town now exploits its position between the Mediterranean and the plateau of Spain by having connections for the railway between Alicante and Madrid.
The history of Sax
There were settlers here in the prehistoric times, both Iberian and Roman remains have been found. The Muslims had conquered this whole area during the eighth century and it was finally reconquered under the crown of Aragon in 1239. It was attached to the kingdom of Castile following the Treaty of Almizra. In 1262 it belongs to the estate of the Villena and it has roughly been tied to this area ever since. In 1445, the town became the domain of the Pacheco family on the death of Enrique de Villena, until it joined the Catholic monarchs in 1480. During the war of succession, which involved most of Europe, the town took the side of Felipe against the war of words. As a reward for their support, Filipe V conferred the title “Most Loyal and Noble” on the town. In 1836, the town of became a part of the province of Alicante.
What to see in Sax
Sax is a fascinating city with some interesting buildings. Some of the interesting places that you should visit are in the old quarter. This shows its clear Arabic origins. These streets actually hug against the rock and adapt themselves to the contour lines. Also, there is the Colonia Santa Eulalia which is an agricultural colony that was built during the last 10 years of the 19th century. It is planted with olives, almonds, and vines.
The castle really stands out over the town, it sits at 500 meters and overlooks the village and the river Vinalopo. It is a rectangle castle with a square tower of brick wall and is from the Almohad period. Also there is the Ermita de San Blas which is located in the town square, la Plaza San Blas. It is the historic centre of the town and now houses the statue of the patron saint of the town St Blaise. It was the parish church of Sax during the Middle Ages. Also you should see the church of Our Lady of the Assumption. This church was built during the 16th century. It is one of the finest examples of the Catalan influenced single nave church. It was reformed and expanded in 1787. During the reform of the church, the side chapels were removed which enlarged the sanctuary and the extension consisted of a new vault. Despite the sobriety and simplicity of the design, the church still offers a magnificent and majestic air.
Another place to look back in history is at the Tower, El Torre, which goes back to the time of the Romans. Also, you should visit the Pocico de la Nieve which is a very interesting place. It is situated on the northern flank of the cliff behind the castle and it is a building which is built of brick and mortar and circular in shape. This is basically a snow pit which has been reconstructed since 1970 by the city of Sax. Experts say that they date this structure to the 13th century and it was built in order to supply ice to the locals with ice. The depth of the pit is between 10 and 15 meters and snow was obviously stored here during the winter time until summer arrived. Ice was then supplied to cool down drinks, as a treatment for fevers, or to keep food fresh. The ice was also exported to the nearby city of Alicante. You can find these snow pit over the region and many of them were in operation well into the 19th century. It is only when the technology was advanced enough that ice was being manufactured on an industrial scale that these snow pits were no longer of any use.
There are some good sites here apart from the ones that were made by man. The forests of El Plano have well over 1 million pine trees, and there is also the Sierra de la Cabrera which reaches a height of almost 900 meters. From the top of this mountain you get a great vantage point over the whole valley. There are many unique landscapes in the area which complements the historic allure. If you’re into hiking, there are plenty of trails and roads which are ideal. There is also areas for cycling, climbing, paragliding, and either ultra light flying or hang gliding.
If you’re staying in Sax long enough you can also visit one of the many superb cities in the district. You have the choice between Alicante and the wonderful city of Elche to the east, above that there is Benidorm, Denia, and Javea, and to the south you can visit Torrevieja. With a beautiful coastline stretching the length of the province you have many different choices if you want to relax for a day on the beach. Or, how about Sax golfing? The nearest golf course to Sax is Alenda golf club which is approximately 15 km away. If you’re in the mood to shop, the nearest shopping districts can be found in Elda or Petrer. There is also a market which is held twice a week on both Wednesday and Saturday.
The Moors and Christians festival is held in Sax during the first week of February. It has really evolved since the early 1940s from a mere religious celebration into a festival that lasts for a full five days. Other festivals include the pilgrimage of San Pancrazio, the festival to celebrate the virgin of the Assumption and the Virgen de los Frutos, the Kings parade, and of course the festivals and parades that celebrate Easter.
Where to eat in Sax
In addition to the pleasant Spanish cookery which is offered in Sax or the close towns and cities, you can partake of unbelievable fare from numerous distinct countries including Dutch, Chinese, Indian, Cantonese, English, and Hungarian. So you will in no way be stumped for something to eat. The local cuisine has many dishes that are customary in the area such as gazpacho, rice, rabbit, seafood, and many different styles of the Spanish sausage. Also, you can sample the local wine and the local virgin olive oil.
The weather in Sax
Just as it is everywhere in the province, the climate in Sax are in general fairly hot and sun-drenched. The winters are kind and sunny the summers are beautiful and hot. Rain does not occur very often but it is well expected that it does rainfall now and then. It can frequently signify a refreshing rest from the unbroken heat.
How do I find Sax?
Directions from Alicante Airport
To Sax Spain
Distance: 49.4 km
Time: 0 hr 35 min
Start: Head east
Take the ramp to N-340/Elche/E-15/A-7/Valencia/Murcia
Merge onto N-338
Merge onto E-15/A-7 via the ramp to A-31/Madrid/A-70/Alicante/Benidorm/Valencia
Take the exit onto A-31
Take the exit toward Sax
Continue straight
At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Ctra de Ocaña a Alicante heading to CV-829/Sax
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Calle de San Sebastián
Turn right at Calle de Castelar
Arrive at Sax, Spain
Directions from Aeropuerto de Murcia-San Javier, 30729 San Javier Spain
To Sax Spain
Distance: 113.8 km
Time: 1 hr 12 min
Start: Head southwest
Turn right
Turn left toward AP-7
Go through 1 roundabout
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto the AP-7 ramp to San Pedro del Pinatar/Alicante/Balsicas/C-3319/Murcia/A-37
Merge onto AP-7
Partial toll road
Take the exit onto A-7
Take the A-7 exit toward Valencia/AP-7/A-31/Albacete/Madrid
Keep left at the fork to continue toward A-7 and merge onto A-7
Take the exit onto A-31
Take the exit toward Sax
Continue straight
At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Ctra de Ocaña a Alicante heading to CV-829/Sax
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Calle de San Sebastián
Turn right at Calle de Castelar
Arrive at Sax Spain
