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TRAVEL REPORT
REPORT ON DAY TRIP TO BOCAIRENT - 17TH MAY 2007
by JAN PILCHER
Please click on the thumbnails to view the photographs
It was a beautiful sunny morning on Thursday 17th May when 44 Members set off from Calpe . Our driver Carlos took us through some lovely countryside on the way to Bocairent, which was a wonderful sight as we approached sitting on top of a mountain.
It is the highest village in the Valencia region with just over 5000 residents. After a quick cup of coffee Marta, our guide took us first to the Bullring, which is the second oldest in Spain, and was hewn out of the hillside with picks and shovels in 1815 mainly by the villagers . It can accommodate up to 1000 people and is still used for twice yearly bullfights and throughout the year for cultural events.
We toured the village up and down the steep cobbled streets, with its well preserved 17/18C buildings, saw some really pretty plazas one of which is dedicated to the Patron Saint Blais, who was beatified for the miracle he performed in saving the village from a plague-type sickness in the 18C. Another commemorating a visit from the famous Saint Vincent in 1412.
The Town Hall square has houses towering up to 8 storeys looking like medieval high rises, but as we walked up the steep street behind, Marta pointed out the entrance doors that showed they were really only 4 2-story houses on top of each other.
There was a long winding path leading down from the road and then up the side of the mountain to a series of 55 caves, where the villagers took refuge in times of trouble. It looked a bit like “heart attack hill”, but fortunately or unfortunately for us we did not have time to visit. One big sigh of relief could be heard across the valley, but some brave souls did venture part way down to see the ice cave.
We then headed to the Restaurant L’Estacion, where we enjoyed a meal in delightful surroundings.
After lunch we retraced our steps over the bridge to the center of the village to visit the church, a dull looking building from the outside but inside it was outstanding, with many marble statues, frescoes, and wonderful painted ceilings. It also houses a museum with examples of centuries of sacred Paintings and Chalices: some by Sorolla and Cellini. I have seen a good number of Churches but have never seen a village church quite like this one.
The day finished with many of us weary and with aching feet, but would not have missed it for the world. It was most interesting and a great day out.
JAN PILCHER.
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