Castillo de Forna combines grand architecture with a remarkable collection of graffiti or inscriptions. In the village, the Església de Sant Bernat Abat, Casa Badia and routes with different focuses add to this cultural picture. To help you decide how to explore, it is useful to distinguish between them: you can focus on architectural history and surviving details, or make the landscape views along a route the centrepiece. Forna thus offers several distinct ways to discover the village.
Castillo de Forna
Castillo de Forna is a stately residence built in the late 15th or early 16th century in the Valencian style of Civil Gothic. The dating spans the turn of the century; it does not refer to a single year of construction. The style classification adds an architectural perspective to its function as a residence: it describes the design, while the term “stately residence” identifies the building’s character.
The castle contains one of the area’s finest collections of graffiti or inscriptions. The graffiti are thought to have been made by the craftsmen who built the structure. This attribution remains a supposition. You can therefore find two different kinds of historical clues here: the construction period and style help place the building in context, while the inscriptions invite a cautious interpretation of who may have been involved in its construction.
Church and Casa Badia
The Església de Sant Bernat Abat dates from around the 16th century. Parts of its original decorative paintings and stonework, as well as the bell gable, have been preserved. The approximate date and the surviving features give the church two distinct characteristics: a historical context and specific architectural details.
Casa Badia also offers a glimpse into local history, but in a different way. It is one of Forna’s most distinguished buildings and is especially valued by local residents. During the 1932–1933 school year, it housed the village’s mixed one-room school. Casa Badia thus combines its standing among Forna’s buildings with a precisely dated former use. Those interested in local architectural and everyday history will find both here: a distinguished building and a specific insight into its former role as a school.
A route through Forna
The urban route through Forna is designed for all visitor groups and leads to six points in the village. It passes through the preserved architectural and cultural heritage and conveys the character of an authentic Moorish alqueria. Its focus is therefore on the village’s appearance and cultural character. As route arrangements can change, check the current route before your visit.
Two routes with different views
The Forna–Vilallonga route starts in Forna’s square and offers views of the Marina mountains, Revoltes d'Orba, La Llacuna and Mount Xillibre. The Forna–El Carritxar–l'Atzúbia route has a different focus: its panoramic views take in Marjal Pego-Oliva Natural Park and the eastern slopes of the Mostalla and Segà ria mountain ranges. You can distinguish between the routes by their described landscape features: one takes in the Marina mountains and several named places, while the other features a natural park and eastern mountain slopes.
Finding your way around the village
The washhouse also provides a useful point of reference: it is below the level of the square and can be reached via a staircase. If you need to take stairs into account when planning, you can factor in the washhouse’s location when considering your visit.
Discover more destinations: Tormos, El Chaparral, Dolores, TĂ rbena, La Vall D'alcalĂ , AlcalalĂ, Benidorm, El Tossal.
For the broader travel overview: Alicante.
