Discover Beniaia: Rock Art and Hiking Trails

Beniaia offers several points of interest to help you plan your trip: rock art, historic buildings and trails each shape the visit in different ways. When preparing your stay, you can choose between cultural and historical sites and routes through the landscape. If you are visiting on a specific date, remember to take the August festival dates into account.

Getting Around and Getting There

The Vall de Gallinera Tourist Office is located in Benialí, Carrer de la Font, 03787. The Vectalia bus runs through the municipality of Vall de Gallinera on the Alcoi–Pego–Dénia line. There is no service on Saturdays, Sundays or public holidays. As timetables may change, check the information for your travel date.

Routes and Rock Art

The Pels Carrers de la Memòria route passes through Benialí and uses QR codes to tell the stories of marked streets, squares and houses. It combines a stroll with local stories about these places. The PRCV147 Benialí–Alpatró hiking trail offers a different experience: it is officially approved by the Mountain Sports and Climbing Federation of the Valencian Community, follows a section of the Gallinera River and passes through a dry agricultural landscape shaped by olive and cherry trees. Rain may affect trail conditions.

The Ruta d'Art Rupestre – Jaciment de Benialí starts in Benialí and leads to a rock shelter with rock art. The Pinturas de Benialí site comprises five rock shelters in total, featuring macro-schematic, schematic and Levantine rock art, as well as engravings. Rock Shelter IV is open to visitors and features all three of these rock art traditions; check access conditions locally. Benialí Town Hall is also home to the Vall de la Gallinera Rock Art Interpretation Centre. A route of about ten kilometres starts there and links two rock art sites.

Buildings and Local History

The Església de Sant Roc de Benialí is a Neo-Gothic church in the oldest part of the village. It became an independent parish in 1961. Inside is an anonymous medieval image of the Cristo de la Providencia. Benialí’s square also has historical significance: the carta de población was signed there in 1611, and the church of Benialí stands in the square.

The Font de la Concepció is a fountain in Benialí dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The site includes a washhouse and a water system that runs via a livestock trough to a basin beside the Les Hortes path. The El Molinet aqueduct now serves as a bridge over the ravine. The mill itself is privately owned and was already in existence in the 16th century.

The Almazara de San Roque also tells a story of community organisation: it was built using a traditional rotation system among the village’s heads of household; construction began before 1954. The former Casa de la Senyoria building was located in Benialí’s square.

Landscape and Festival Dates

Les Llomes del Xap is a 4,456-hectare plant micro-reserve between Benirrama, Benialí and Benitaia. For those interested in protected plant habitats as well as historic buildings, it is another point of interest in the region.

The Festes de Benialí take place on the second weekend in August in honour of Saint Michael and the Mare de Déu dels Desemparats; the programme includes Moros i Cristians celebrations. As the programme may vary from year to year, check the dates for your travel year in advance.

Discover more destinations: Penella, Almoradí, Orxeta, Els Poblets, Xinorlet, La Encina, Finestrat, Aspe.

For the broader travel overview: Alicante.