A narrow, rugged valley, a hiking route with clearly defined stages and historical evidence from very different periods shape La Torre de les Maçanes. When planning your stay, you can decide whether hiking, local history or cuisine should take centre stage. The different themes offer specific points to help you choose.
Valley, mountain ranges and hiking trails
La Torre de les Maçanes lies in a narrow, rugged valley shaped by the Torremanzanas River. The town is surrounded by the Sierras Los Planes and La Rentonar, the Serra de Penàguila, La Grana and Montagut. The Río Torremanzanas is a rambla, a seasonal riverbed, and flows into the Monnegre. The valley, surrounding mountain ranges and river course offer different geographical reference points for finding your way around the landscape.
A hiking route starts at Parque Municipal, follows the GR-330 and PR-CV 232 north to the La Canaleta area, then branches uphill into the Barranco del Rentonar. Along the way, the Costera de la Mare de Deu and the summit of Els Plans are in view. This sequence of trail markers, a turn-off and a climb gives the route a clear structure. Check the current condition of the trails before setting out. Another option for active tourism is the Camino de Santiago del Sureste.
Buildings and archaeological evidence
Villa Edelmira is classified as a monument in the Comunitat Valenciana. La Casa Alta is an Almohad watchtower, probably dating from the 12th century or the period of Almohad rule between 1172 and the Reconquista. After the Reconquista, it lost its function as a watchtower and became a manor house. The parish church of Santa Ana dates back to 1588; a necropolis is located inside.
El Sanatori also tells the story of various historical uses. The building dates from 1926. Its history includes a tuberculosis sanatorium, a convalescent home and a children's holiday colony; during the Civil War, it served as a military hospital. The building is now abandoned.
The archaeological evidence reaches far back in time: Freginal de la Font Major is a Mesolithic site. The sites of La Foia de Cortés and el Xipreret include silos from a group of more than seventy; the silos in this group were built between 3000 BC and the Middle Ages. Together with the buildings, they span a range of historical periods that you can prioritise according to your interests when planning your visit.
Cuisine, festivals and Parque Municipal
The local cuisine includes more than a hundred recipes. Giraboix is one of the traditional soups and stews, making it a specific example from this extensive repertoire.
Festival traditions include two distinct customs. At the festival of the Mare de Deu dels Fadrins, La Banyà is a kind of water fight; it always takes place on 15 August at 1 pm. The exact festival programme may vary. If the date is important for your trip, check the current programme in advance. At the festival of San Gregorio, the handmade Pa Beneït is served: blessed bread weighing around six to eight kilograms, decorated with flowers and finely embroidered fabrics.
Parque Municipal is also the starting point for the hiking route described above. It has stone picnic tables with benches beneath trees, a children's play area and covered barbecue areas. Before visiting, check whether the facilities are currently available for use.
Getting there
The main road connection is the CV-785 towards Xixona. Another possible route is via Benidorm, Finestrat and Relleu. These two routes can serve as guides for your journey; check current road conditions before setting off.
Discover more destinations: El Tosalet, Els Poblets, Torrevieja, Quatretondeta, Las Virtudes, Callosa D'en Sarrià, Trencall, El Ràfol d'Almúnia.
For the broader travel overview: Alicante.
