Alcoy, Carrasqueta and Xixona

The Port de la Carrasqueta (1,024 m) is one of the most famous and technically challenging tarmac mountain passes in the whole of the Valencian Community, and an absolute favourite amongst motorcyclists in the east of the peninsula. The N-340a, which crosses it – known for decades as one of the ‘roads of a hundred bends’ – offers a continuous series of bends over more than 12 km of ascent, with the tarmac in very good condition, steady gradients and a landscape that changes with every clearing in the forest. It is one of those roads where the motorcyclist enters a state of total flow and doesn’t want to stop until they reach the summit.

The most interesting aspect of the Port de la Carrasqueta is its historical significance: for centuries it has been one of the most important natural passes between the Marina Alta and the Alcoià region, and goods, travellers and armies used to pass through here. Sections of the old ‘Camí Reial de Castella’ – the 18th-century royal road that linked Madrid with Valencia and Alicante via this pass, running parallel to the modern N-340a in places – are still preserved today. On clear days, the viewpoint at the top of the pass offers panoramic views stretching across the entire Mediterranean coast, from Cape Sant Antoni in the north to the peaks of the Serra Mariola in the south. It is one of the most comprehensive yet least well-known viewpoints in the centre of Alicante.

Alcoy, the starting point of the route, is a fascinating industrial and cultural surprise. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was one of the most important textile centres in the whole of Spain (known as ‘the Manchester of Valencia’), with textile mills, paper mills and metalworks that made it one of the most prosperous cities in the east of the peninsula. This industrial legacy has left the town with a Modernist architectural heritage that is unique in the entire Valencian Community: factory buildings converted into cultural spaces, bourgeois industrial palaces and, above all, the famous Modernist Industrial Complex, declared a Site of Cultural Interest. But Alcoy is also world-famous for its Moors and Christians festival, the oldest and most spectacular in the whole of Spain: every April, for three days, the city is transformed into an open-air theatre with thousands of participants dressed in historical costumes and parades lasting for hours.

Xixona, at the foot of the mountain pass, holds a world record: it is the undisputed capital of turrón. The famous ‘turrones de Xixona’ and ‘turrones de Alicante’, each with their own designation of origin, have been produced here since the 15th century; they are considered the best in the world and are exported to over 50 countries. The traditional method of production — local Marcona almonds mixed with pure orange blossom honey — has remained virtually unchanged for 500 years, and many families in Xixona still run small artisan workshops that produce nougat of a quality that industrial brands simply cannot match. Visiting Xixona at the height of the production season (September–December) is a sensory experience: the aroma of toasted almonds and honey permeates the entire streets of the town.

Motorcycling tip: the route is short but challenging (90 km with plenty of technical bends), perfect for a focused morning’s ride. The season lasts practically all year round, although in the height of summer it gets very hot in the lower-lying areas. Fill up with petrol in Alcoy or Xixona. For lunch, in Xixona, the Casa Pelícano restaurant serves traditional Valencian cuisine with a generous helping of local produce (nougat, almonds, honey) at affordable prices. And a tip: if you’re visiting in April, try to time your trip to coincide with the Moors and Christians festival in Alcoy (usually held in the last week of the month). It’s a truly unique spectacle in Spain, and combining it with a motorbike trip means you can stay in nearby villages and head down to the festivities without the hassle of finding a parking space in Alcoy town centre.