If you have children or families staying with you and you fancy a break from the beach you might like to visit some of the factories and museums to be found in the Alicante province.

Valor Chocolates

If you have a sweet tooth visit the Valor chocolate factory just off the A7 motorway at Villajoyosa.

In 1881 Valeriano Lòpez Lloret founded Valor chocolates, a family company dedicated to making quality chocolate.  From humble beginnings when they supplied only to local families, their products can now be bought in more than 25 countries all over the world.

The tour starts every hour on the hour.  It includes a film about the Valor history and products, followed by a walk around the museum which houses a large collection of the different machinery used to manufacture chocolates throughout the last two centuries.  Finally you are taken into the factory. 

Obviously because of hygiene restrictions you see the factory from behind a glass panel.  During the summer the best time to go is between 9am to 2pm when the chocolate workers are there. 

One of the most impressive exhibits is the display of chocolate sculptures that you see on your way out to the shop where you can buy an extensive range of modern and traditional chocolates. 

Entry is free and opening hours are:

9am – 6pm Monday to Friday
10am – 1pm on Saturdays. 

El Lobo Turron

As the main ingredients for Turron are honey and almonds and Jijona is situated close to a village called Mutxamel (which means lots of honey) and surrounded by almond trees, it is no surprise that the most important economic activity in this town is the manufacture of turron and marzipan. 

Since the 1960s the El Lobo factory has housed a museum showing the technological and economic history of Jijona with particular emphasis on the production of turron.

The guided tour takes you through the museum and includes a visit to the manufacturing plant giving a view of the production process from an overhead viewing platform.  Before leaving you will have the opportunity to buy some of their products including gift packs and sample boxes. 

The entry price is 1€ per person.  Opening hours are: 10am - 7pm Monday to Friday, the last visit on weekends and fiestas is 1pm.  If there are more than 10 in your group you should telephone or email for an appointment.  Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   Tel: 96 561 0225 

Museo Valenciano del Juguete

At the beginning of the 20th century a tinsmith family call “Payá” from the town of Ibi (a stone’s throw from Jijona) started to manufacture tin toys.

During their first years in business, the Payá brothers acquired a lot of Spanish and foreign toys, using them to familiarise themselves with the trends of the market and to research how to improve the quality of their products. They would buy two samples of each of the best toys they saw; take one apart to discover how the mechanism worked; the other one was added to their collection.

When the Payá company became a co-operative this collection was given to the town of Ibi. In 1990 the Valencian toy museum was created and placed in the Casa Gran an 18th century building in the historic centre of the town next to an impressive manmade waterfall.

Entry to the museum is 1,50€ per person and free on Sundays and fiestas.  The opening hours are:  10am - 1pm and 4pm -7pm Tuesday to Saturday and 11am - 2pm on Sundays and fiestas.  If you are visiting as part of a group of 15 or more you should call first for an appointment.   Tel:  96 655 0226 

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it