Guadalest

A little further inland than Callosa d’en Serria is the beautiful Guadalest “Eagles Nest” fortress.  This impressive moorish settlement built over 1200 years ago can only be entered by foot throught the original tunnel excavated through 50 feet of solid rock.  Try to go off season as it receives over 2,000,000 visitors per year.

Once inside the walls you can tour the house of the Orduna family and follow the route past some interesting bronze sculptures to the little cemetery at the top and the remains of the original castle.  The fortress was never conquered and even withstood an earthquake in 1644.

The path takes you up to the small cemetery at the top of the hill and several viewpoints where you can look down at the valley below.

When you emerge from the upper levels you come into the main courtyard from where you can go down into the jail under the town hall and imagine what it must have been like for prisoners before the days of electricity, alternatively you could stop for a drink and a snack in one of the cafes or a wander round the gift shops.

Despite it’s obvious visual attraction it also offers a rural life museum, miniature museum, antique toy museum and even a mediaval torture museum.

Before you leave take the opportunity to look around the Lladro shop near the car park at the fine china on display.

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