Barri Medieval de Bocairent

The Medieval Quarter of Bocairent is a labyrinth of cobbled lanes, whitewashed houses and arches that climb the rock. Its layout, of Arab origin, earned it status as a Historic-Artistic Site, and wandering its corners with no fixed route is the best way to get to know this village in the Vall d'Albaida.

History

The old heart of Bocairent preserves the urban fabric inherited from the Andalusi period: narrow, winding streets that follow the lie of the land, dead-end alleys and covered passages. It is the classic layout of a medieval medina, designed for shade and defence, and over the centuries it was whitewashed and filled with houses stacked on the bedrock.

What to see

Rather than individual monuments, what you visit here is the ensemble: the weave of streets, the white façades, the stone arches and the natural viewpoints that look out over the ravine. Every corner gives a different view of rooftops and mountains.

Tips for your visit

• Wear comfortable shoes: the cobbles and slopes never let up.
• Get lost on purpose; there is no single route, and the best corners turn up by chance.
• Come early or in the late afternoon, when the low light brings out the stone and the streets are quietest.
• Combine it with the rest of the old town of Bocairent.