Callosa D'en Sarrià: Trails, Heritage and Loquats

If you’re looking for hotels in Callosa D'en Sarrià, it’s worth first deciding what you want to focus on during your trip: the landscape and hiking trails, the town’s history, or the dates of local festivals. The attractions and activities offer different highlights and practical pointers for planning your visit.

Hiking Trails and Landscapes

The PR-CV 49 hiking trail starts in the upper part of Callosa d'en Sarrià, near the IES. It passes through a mountainous landscape with deep ravines and mountain passes offering far-reaching views. Another route with its own character is the Calvari: this approximately 700-metre-long, peri-urban zigzag climb starts at the last house in the town centre and ends at a hermitage on Calvari hill. The PR-CV 49 passes through a mountainous landscape with ravines and mountain passes; the Calvari is an approximately 700-metre-long zigzag climb on the edge of town.

At Les Fonts d'Algar, a 1.5-kilometre circular walk follows the course of the Algar River. The landscape is characterised by limestone and karst features; the route includes waterfalls, springs and pools known as “tolls”. Les Fonts d'Algar was designated a protected wetland in 2002. Visitors can swim in the clear water of the “tolls”, although swimming conditions may vary. Check them before your visit.

The facilities at Les Fonts d'Algar include a tourist office, car parks, toilets, first aid, an arboretum, a picnic area and a second-category campsite. As some facilities may change, it is advisable to check what is currently available in advance. One named route is El camino al Fort de Bèrnia: it connects Les Fonts d'Algar with the fort. The climb to the fort offers views of the Aitana and Xortà mountain ranges.

Local History and Architecture

The Museo de Etnología y Arqueología de Callosa displays and explains objects that have shaped the local folk culture and customs of the various societies that have lived in the town and its natural and urban surroundings over the course of recent history. The museum also documents rural activities, crafts, trades and products. It thus highlights both everyday work and the town’s cultural traditions.

The town’s buildings also reveal different aspects of its history. The Iglesia Parroquial de San Juan Bautista has a monumental façade made from marble quarried locally. El Portal is the only surviving gate of Callosa d'en Sarrià. El Poador de la Font Major, meanwhile, is an 18th-century washhouse and livestock watering place with twelve spouts. These three sites show different forms of architectural heritage: a church façade, a town gate and a facility for everyday use.

At Fort de Bèrnia, you can still see arches, a moat, a bastion, a cistern and the remains of walls. Since 1997, the fort has been classified as a BIC (Bien de Interés Cultural, an Asset of Cultural Interest). Those interested in the route there can combine the surviving structures with the views of Aitana and Xortà along the climb.

Festivals and Loquat Cuisine

The Mostra de Cuina del Nyespro begins in early May and runs until June. At weekends, various restaurants in Callosa d'en Sarrià prepare dishes and other creations featuring the local fruit, the loquat, as a main ingredient or accompaniment. If you’d like to plan your trip around the Mostra, confirm the dates and participating restaurants in advance.

The Moros y Cristianos festivals in honour of the Virgen de las Injurias include special dances: the “ball de les pastoretes” and the “ball dels nanos”. At the Danses de Sant Jaume, people dance at midnight in Plaza de España for three days each year. Several couples, the “caps de dança”, begin, and the local population and audience join in until dawn. Check the festival dates before travelling. The festivities in Callosa in honour of Sant Jaume have been documented since 1819.

Discover more destinations: Forna, L'Alguenya, Altea, Jijona, Daya Vieja, Teulada, La Canalosa, Beniarbeig

For the main travel overview: Alicante.