The village of Bocairent is worth discovering both above ground and below
The living rock — that’s what they call Bocairent. This is because the 5,000-person pueblo sits atop a hillside of porous earth, which has, over the centuries, been creatively used for various human purposes.
But more on that in a moment. This town, once called Bekirén by its former Muslim residents, is a sight to behold above ground too, a labyrinth of staired alleys and tiny cobbled streets. It is home to several historic chapels, one of which sits on the site of a pre-existing mosque, and whose foundations date back to the 13th century. Meanwhile, its main church, built atop a prior Muslim fortress, dominates the town’s skyline, and, apart from housing a lavish interior, is also packed with some pretty noteworthy religious art.
A wander around town promises more old-world discoveries, too, from the Portal d’Agost, the only still-existing entrance through the town’s former wall; to the main square, with its arch that once formed part of an aqueduct; and the Santo Cristo Chapel, which watches over the village from a hilltop just beyond.
Much of Bocairent’s sights are indeed below ground, though. Perhaps most notable are Les Covetes dels Moros, a nearby hillside network of 50 man-made caves illuminated by window-like holes, and that originate from Muslim times. You can also explore the Monasterio Rupestre, an underground convent dating back to 1556. And then there’s the town’s bullring, the oldest in the Valencian Community, and which was constructed in 1843 (and gains subterranean status simply because it was in fact carved out of the rock and into the ground).
If all these sights don’t win you over, Bocairent has more discoverable caves, as well as museums too, and loads of hiking trails that lead off to other adventures. And it’s just over an hour’s drive away from Valencia — a big, coastal city which you can easily explore via the Valencia hop-off, hop-off bus, visiting stops such as the Bioparc Valencia and the City of Arts and Sciences.
-Contributed by Erin Ridley
Day Trip to Bocairent from Valencia from Andalucia & Costa del Sol Things to Do