Covetes dels Moros
Bocairent's most distinctive sight: a cluster of around 50 man-made window-caves carved into the sheer rock face of the ravine, set across four levels. They date from the Andalusi period (10th-11th centuries) and the latest research reads them as granaries or security storehouses. They were declared a historic-artistic monument in 1931.
About fifty square-mouthed cavities open in the wall of the ravine, spread over four levels and hanging halfway up the cliff with no stair to link them. That picture, windows carved into thin air, is the one most people keep of Bocairent. They are known as the Covetes dels Moros.
Where they come from
They were cut in the Andalusi period, between the 10th and 11th centuries, and listed as a historic-artistic monument in 1931. People long took them for dwellings or burial places, but the latest research reads them as granaries or security storehouses: grain kept safe high on the rock, away from hands and damp.
Seeing them
The best vantage point is across the ravine. The visit gains a lot if you string it together with a walk through the medieval quarter, which is where it starts to make sense what to see in Bocairent on a day trip from València.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Covetes dels Moros of Bocairent?
They are a group of about 50 artificial window-caves carved into the rocky wall of the ravine, spread over four levels and dating from the Andalusi period (10th-11th centuries).
What were the Covetes dels Moros used for?
The most recent research interprets them as granaries or security stores, where grain was kept safe high up on the rock.
Where are the Covetes dels Moros best seen from?
The best viewpoint is on the other side of the ravine; visiting the caves is not free, so check the official information.
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