The Magic Route is one of the best ways to discover the original medieval part of Bocairent. A gentle stroll along the trail will help unfold some of the key elements that have shaped the town: surprisingly tall buildings, streets of all shapes and sizes, and hanging houses that perch over the ravine below.
The route starts out from the Ayuntamiento town hall square, where you’ll see 17th and 18th centuries houses that reach up to eight floors: this is due to the difference in the levels of the terrain the houses were built on, as can be seen on the opposite side of the houses which only reach five or six floors.
Leaving the square behind and continuing along Mossén Hilari street, you’ll see the large houses flanking either side of the road as you make your way down towards the “Covetes dels Moros” (Moorish Caves) viewpoint. From here you can appreciate this peculiar monument, which contains over fifty room-like caves carved out of the rocky scarpment face. Continuing along the road will lead you to the “Darrere la Vila” bridge and the “Pouet de Sant Vicent” spring.
From here on the route becomes narrower and more interesting: a pathway leads you to below the hanging houses that perch over one of the ravines surrounding Bocairent.
Furthermore, this stretch of the route reveals the hardness of the rock upon which the locals had to labour in order to construct terraced fields and irrigation channels, which were etched out of the living rock itself. Prehistoric remains have been found in the “d’En Gomar” cave, which later held a flour mill and surprised Martí de Viciana in the 16th century for its sheer size.
Whilst still absorbing these charms you will come across an old textile factory, explaining part of the town´s history and a key factor in its development. A bit further on you’ll go past the local market, a privilege that Bocairent has held since it was endowed with its Town Charter in 1256. Continuing upwards along the route will lead you back to the starting point.
