Tranquillity, hospitality and quality… this is what we will find in this beautiful town that managed to preserve its traditions and indigenous character. We want you to know Benissa and all its possibilities. The Mediterranean and its landscape, light and personality make up the identity of this place.
Benissa offers you beach and mountains and its pleasant climate allows you to enjoy it throughout the year. If you like the sun you can go to the 4 km coastline where there are magnificent sandy and stone beaches, rugged coves and small quiet bays. In the port ʻLes Bassetesʼ you can practice water sports such as sailing, diving, windsurfing, kayaking and catamaran.
And when you want to enjoy culture, you can visit its medieval Historical Centre with its small streets, its old buildings such as the Puríssima Xiqueta Church, better known as the Cathedral of the Marina for its large dimensions and the Placeta de l’Església Vella. In addition, you can taste local delicious food in bars or restaurants with rice dishes and typical specialties.
Finally, do not forget to pay attention to the orchids during your visit, the Orchis fragans, a species protected by the Valencian Catalogue of Protected Species.
Charming places
Benissa’s washing places are one of its most peculiar highlights. These are large 19th-century concrete constructions for washing clothes, located in the heart of nature. The most recommendable are the Pou d’Avall, the one in Santa Ana, the one in Nusols and the one in Orxelles. The Riuraus are constructions built to protect the Muscat grape from rain and humidity in order to continue the drying process and become raisins.
Sport in nature
Benissa is ideal to enjoy practicing sports with your family in nature. There are two mountain bike routes in Sierra de Bèrnia and it also offers the Muscat route, perfect to know the famous vineyards in the area. In addition, it has little slope so it is very suitable for children. There are also several trekking trails that cover the 70 km² of Benissa.
Four kilometres of coastline
The seabed of the Benissa coast and its crystal clear waters are the ideal combination for snorkelling with your family. Les Bassetes bay or La Fustera beach are some of the most recommended areas. In Les Bassetes there is a diving centre offering professionals services to go with you if you do not have experience. The waters of Benissa are also ideal for kayaking with its quiet bays with transparent waters where you can see the underwater meadows of Posidonia.
There are also great beaches in Benissa for swimming, playing in the sand and spending a relaxing day with the family. La Fustera beach, distinguished with the Blue Flag, is characterized by its fine sand perfect for young children. The Pinets cove is also suitable for children, a small cove with sand and pebbles where you can go on a walking excursion to the ʻMar Morta i Roques Negresʼ, a small spit of land in the sea protected by rocks.
The Llobella cove is located in a natural and discreet area in case you do not want to meet many people, in contrast to the Advocat cove, where there is a livelier atmosphere with its beach bar, its place to walk and its small protected sandy beach for the little ones. Finally, in the Baladrar cove you will enjoy clear and shallow waters and the east breeze.
The Ecological Path
It is a low difficulty walk that has two sections, north and south, with information panels that describe different aspects of local culture and history, as well as its botanical and geological wealth. It is the ideal plan to spend the day with the family outdoors and enjoy the scenery with places such as the Rock of Ifach in Calpe or the watchtower Cap d’Or in Moraira.
Along the Ecological Path and in different points of Benissa you will find several green areas to enjoy the landscape and a picnic in the best spots of Benissa. Some of these areas offer barbecue facilities and children’s parks.
Gastronomy with personality
Finally, we cannot forget to recommend some of the typical Benissa products such as its famous Cocas with local sausages, baked dough with ratatouille or anchovies that you can buy at any bakery. Octopus, rice, frigate tuna, turnip, cod and paprika are very popular in Benissa’s cuisine. Other delicious dishes are bull amb ceba (tuna guts with onion), mullador (vegetable and tomato mix) de pelleta or sang amb ceba (cooked blood with onions). The putxero de polp is a delicious octopus stew, a typical dish from seafaring areas, in the same way as the mullador de sangatxo made with garlic, tomato and tuna. All this without forgetting the wines of the area.