In this article we will review the most beautiful places to see in Guadalest. A beautiful medieval village of 208 inhabitants included in the denomination of one of the most beautiful villages in Spain, and why not, also of the Costa Blanca largely thanks to the Castell de Guadalest of which we will give a couple of brushstrokes to soak up its magic.
Guadalest is a village with Muslim roots that forms a valley between the Sierra de Xortà and Serrella, the Sierra de Aitana and the Sierra de Bernia, located in the interior of the province of Alicante, its most famous and beautiful places of interest are: The Castell (or castle) of Guadalest, the village and the reservoir (or dam).
If you come to Camping Arena Blanca Benidorm, you can visit the sites we will see below we can with children if we want, because it is not a difficult route or anything like that.
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The castle of San José or Castell de Guadalest
The Castle of San Jose, also known as the Castell de Guadalest, is located on a large rock in the highest part of the village, this castle of the eleventh century was the base of the Muslim troops prior to the renconquest. The castle has suffered two earthquakes so much of it has collapsed. During the 70’s, the village began to be a point of visit for many tourists, at which time it was declared a historic-artistic site.
Next to the Castle of San José is the Casillo de la Alcozaiba (or Alcozaba de Guadalest). It is a restored watchtower with a wide range of vision over the valley.
Guadalest Castle Information
| Name | Guadalest Castle |
| Address | 03517 El Castell de Guadalest, Alicante |
| Phone | 965885393 |
| turismo@guadalest.es | |
| Opening hours | Every day, 10:00 – 20:00 |
| Google Maps | Google profile |
The People
The entrance to the arrabal (core of the village) is through a tunnel that crosses the rock of the mountain on which the castle is built. The streets of the village breathe a beautiful medieval atmosphere with cobblestone streets. Just at the entrance we will find a photographer who will take a photo (without obligation) and offer us to materialize it in a keychain or similar souvenirs.
If we advance a little more, we find to our right the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption. The village is full of craft stores, museums and restaurants.
The town hall is in the central square of the village, with a bench that allows us to enjoy splendid views of the valley. An interesting fact is that underneath the town hall is a former prison in the form of dungeons from the 12th century.
Guadalest Reservoir
The reservoir / dam / dam of Guadalest is one of the most beautiful places in the province of Alicante. The water of this reservoir comes from the Guadalest river. There is a very simple and pleasant route to do at any time of the year that surrounds the swamp.
The museums of Guadalest
Despite being a small town,it preserves much of the history that surrounds its walls and the civilizations that have passed through Guadalest. We can find the following museums:
1. The Orduña House
It is the house built by the Orduña family, a family that resided in El Castell de Guadalest and was in the service of the Marquises. With a picturesque appearance, it contains original furniture and decoration of the period. In addition to having its own rooms, exhibitions are also held in this house.
2. Antonio Marco Museum / Bethlehem and Dollhouses Museum
Museo de Antonio Marco / Museo Belén y Casitas de muñecas
This museum is built on one of the rocks of the village fortress and contains the creation of Antonio Marco; a collection of dollhouses, antique toys and a biological nativity scene.
Microminiatures Museum
Exhibition of monuments and picturesque scenes presented in the form of miniatures. You’ll find the Statue of Liberty inside the eye of a needle, a greyhound race in a hair, a flea dressed as a bullfighter and a few other surprises.
4. Microgiant Museum
It is a museum quite similar to the one mentioned above, where you can see an ant playing the violin, a painting of El Greco replicated in a grain of rice and more works of this unique and tiny nature.
5. Medieval Historical Museum
This is the museum of medieval torture. Here you can learn first-hand about the gruesome instruments with which people were punished in the Middle Ages.
6. Museum of historic vehicles Vall de Guadalest
Museo de vehículos históricos Vall de Guadalest
This museum houses a collection of vintage motorcycles and cars, dating from the 1920s to the 1970s. In addition to the vehicles, other items and household appliances of the period (TVs and radios, for example) are also on display.
Here you can also find 60 models of the first bicycles ever built. The celerífero, the drasiana or the tricycle of the nineteenth century are some of the specimens that we can see in this magnificent museum that claims the bike as a means of transport more committed to the environment.
7. Salt and Pepper Shakers Museum
The only museum of Salt and Pepper Shakers (in our continent, as there is another one in the USA). Small works of curatorial art from the 19th century.
8. Ethnological Museum
Here is the place where we can learn about the way the people of Guadalest lived in the seventeenth century. Customs and daily chores of the time in a house paved on the same rock as the castle.
Where is Guadalest? and how to get there from Benidorm
| Bus | From Camping Arena Blanca |
| Car | From Camping Arena Blanca |
If you are going to spend a few more days on the Costa Blanca, we recommend that you include in your plans a visit to some of its villages, to enjoy the sun and the Mediterranean cuisine that make our land a quality place for your vacation.
