Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción y Campanario

At the very top of Guadalest, crowning the cluster of houses that clings to the rock, stands the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption. It is a parish church with a Baroque feel, plain and bright, and the climb up to it already opens onto views over the valley.

History

The building follows the Baroque taste of the 18th century, when many parishes in the area were renewed. Damage during the Civil War meant it had to be rebuilt, so what we see today combines the historic layout with that later, more sober reconstruction. The interior is open and clear, with little ornament, in keeping with the humble character of this mountain village.

What to see

The great curiosity is the bell tower, separated from the body of the church by the very rock on which the village sits. This freestanding tower is the image most associated with Guadalest, and it appears in almost every panorama of the town.

• The church itself, with its simple plan and white walls.
• The detached bell tower, outlined against the sky and the valley.
• The views that open up around it, towards the turquoise reservoir.

Tips for your visit

• Entry is free; please keep quiet if a service is taking place.
• Access is on foot up the steep streets of the old centre, so wear comfortable shoes.
• Combine it with the other corners of Guadalest in a single morning.