The area · Mountains, history and silence on your doorstep
The best reason to stay at Masía El Pinet isn’t inside the estate. It’s all around it.
Within a two-hour drive, the Sierra de Mariola and its valleys are home to medieval mills, Almohad castles, archaeological caves, picture-postcard villages and crystal-clear natural pools. And it all starts here.
ON THE ESTATE
Heritage that belongs to the masía
The Pantanet Cave Mill
A short walk from the door, within the grounds of the estate, lies an archaeological rarity unique in the province of Alicante: the Pantanet Cave Mill, an old medieval flour mill carved straight into the limestone of the ravine, surrounded by greenery and waterfalls. It belongs to the owners of the masía. You visit it on foot, no car needed.
The Pantanet Cave Mill
THE VILLAGE
Alfafara, our village
With just over 400 inhabitants, Alfafara sits 582 metres above sea level at the foot of the Sierra de Mariola, between Alicante and Valencia. Its small village centre, full of fountains, can be explored on foot in a few minutes: the Church of the Transfiguration (18th century) presides over the centre, and next to it an alleyway barely half a metre wide, one of the narrowest in the whole Valencia region, leads to the old public wash house, still in use.
From 5 to 9 August, the village celebrates its patron saint festivities in honour of the Divino Salvador, the Divina Aurora and San Roque, officially declared of Tourist Interest, with street parades, firecrackers and an a cappella procession. At the table, the dishes of the dry inland country rule: pericana, espencat, borreta and oven-baked rice, with olive oil as the star product of the area.
LESS THAN 15 MINUTES AWAY
Around Alfafara
La Cova de les Finestres
La Cova de les Finestres
Alfafara’s most iconic landmark. Twelve windows carved into the limestone look out from a sheer cliff face in the Barranc del Pont Trencat, dating from the Moorish period. An impressive spot you can walk to from the masía.
The Hermitage of the Virgen de la Luz
The Hermitage of the Virgen de la Luz
A peaceful walk full of local charm. This 17th-century hermitage stands out for its traditional architecture, its white façade and its cypress-lined setting. The village’s best-loved spot.
Agres and the Convent Sanctuary
Agres and the Convent Sanctuary
A few minutes’ drive away, the village of Agres climbs the mountainside with its steep streets. At the top, the Sanctuary of the Virgen del Castillo, built on the ruins of an old castle, offers a peace that’s hard to find anywhere else.
Bocairent, one of the most beautiful villages in Spain
Bocairent. One of the most beautiful villages in Spain
Bocairent is the day trip par excellence from Masía El Pinet. Its medieval quarter is a listed Historic-Artistic Site and every street is a photograph.
Don’t miss:
Les Covetes dels Moros: man-made caves hanging from a cliff face, linked by inner galleries. One of the most striking sights in the whole area.
The medieval quarter: narrow lanes, stone doorways and stairways that have stood for centuries. Best explored slowly, with no rush.
The Hermitage of the Santo Cristo: at the top of the hill, reached by the Stations of the Cross. The views over the valley make the climb worthwhile.
La Cava de Sant Blai: a 17th-century snow well in the middle of the village, with an underground access gallery carved into the rock.
NATURE AND WATER
Water and nature routes nearby
Source of the River Vinalopó · Font de la Coveta
A shady trail past old flour mills that ends at the source of the river. Cool even in August. Access from Banyeres de Mariola.
Pou Clar · Ontinyent
Natural limestone pools carved by the river over several kilometres. The water is so clear it hardly looks real. The summer swim of choice.
FORTRESSES
The Castle Route · A medieval road trip
From Masía El Pinet you can complete an exceptional historic circuit: the castles of the old frontier of the Kingdom of Valencia, all less than 2 hours away.
TRAILS
Hiking routes from the masía
The trails of the Sierra de Mariola start right at the estate’s gate. For the more adventurous, the route to the Iberian settlement of El Cabeço de Mariola and the Cova del Bolumini combines ancient history with high-mountain scenery, one of Alfafara’s best-kept secrets.
For the summit: the Cava de Don Miguel, a monumental 17th-century snow well more than 1,050 metres above sea level between Bocairent and Alfafara. The Cava Arquejada in Agres, the official emblem of the Natural Park, is a must for anyone interested in the region’s snow-trade heritage.
Your questions answered
What can I visit without a car from Masía El Pinet?
Within the grounds of the estate itself is the Pantanet Cave Mill, a medieval flour mill carved into limestone, reachable on foot from the front door. La Cova de les Finestres, Alfafara’s most iconic landmark, can also be reached on foot from the masía, no car needed.
How far is Bocairent from Masía El Pinet?
Bocairent, one of the most beautiful villages in Spain and a listed Historic-Artistic Site, makes a full day out from the masía and is just a few minutes’ drive away. Highlights include Les Covetes dels Moros, the medieval quarter and the Cava de Sant Blai.
How long does it take to get to Pou Clar (Ontinyent) from the house?
Pou Clar, Ontinyent’s famous natural limestone pools, is a classic summer swimming trip and lies within the water and nature routes you can reach from Masía El Pinet, a short drive through the area.
Which villages with castles can I visit near Alfafara?
From Masía El Pinet you can complete the Castle Route, a historic circuit through the old fortresses on the frontier of the Kingdom of Valencia, with every castle less than 2 hours’ drive from the house.
Can I go hiking straight from the masía?
Yes. The trails of the Sierra de Mariola start right at the estate’s gate, including the route to the Iberian settlement of El Cabeço de Mariola and the Cova del Bolumini, as well as the climb to the Cava de Don Miguel, a 17th-century snow well more than 1,050 metres above sea level.
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