Alcoi/Alcoy

There are many sides to Alcoy, from its culture and history to its festivals, leisure and natural landscapes. And there’s just as much to discover beyond the city in the fascinating surrounding area. As you explore, make time for the local flavours too. Try an authentic pericana, tuck into bajoques farcides or order a few nouetes, sugar-coated walnuts, with a café licor. You may well find yourself coming back for more.

What to see and do in Alcoy

A walking tour of the city centre

Alcoy’s beautiful bridges and ravines are only part of the story. As you wander through the city, you’ll also come across fine examples of late 19th-century urban architecture alongside the remains of Alcoy’s 13th-century walled city.

Make time for the Santa María Church, whose relatively recent building houses Gothic treasures, as well as the Santo Sepulcro Monastery. One of the best ways to explore is to follow one of the municipal walking routes, which lead past former bourgeois residences, old factories, inviting squares and many more traces of the city’s past. Alcoy’s extensive Modernist heritage deserves particular attention.

Buildings such as Casa del Pavo, Círculo Industrial and Casa de Escaló, along with several factories in the historic centre, feature on the European Route of Art Nouveau. Alcoy was at the forefront of the architectural changes associated with the Industrial Revolution, which left an indelible mark on the fabric of the city.

Festivals and living traditions

There’s a busy calendar of festivals and traditions in Alcoy, so it’s well worth seeing what’s on when you plan your visit. These are some of the events you won’t want to miss:

• Moors and Christians Festival of Alcoy: held around the feast day of Sant Jordi, the festival unfolds over three days of spectacular parades and has been declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest. The sound of the marching bands is a huge part of the occasion and something you really have to hear for yourself.

• Betlem de Tirisiti: this little gem, declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, is a delightful rod-puppet theatre that mixes characters from everyday life with religious scenes in the run-up to Christmas. It’s one for the whole family.

• Three Kings Parade of Alcoy: every 5 January, Christmas in Alcoy reaches its grand finale. The pages of Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar climb long ladders to the balconies to deliver presents directly to children. This is the oldest Three Kings parade in Spain and has been declared both a Festival of National Tourist Interest and an Intangible Asset of Cultural Interest.

Museums and places to visit in Alcoy

• Alcoy Festival Museum (MAF): delve deeper into the history and traditions behind Alcoy’s famous Moors and Christians Festival.

• Camilo Visedo Moltó Municipal Archaeological Museum: its exhibitions open a window onto the ancient world through finds from nearby archaeological sites.

• Isurus Alcoy Palaeontology and Science Museum Collection: fossil enthusiasts and families alike will find much to explore here.

• Anchovy-Stuffed Olive Museum: a quirky little museum devoted to the story behind one of our favourite appetisers.

• IVAM: the Institut Valencià d’Art Modern has an impressive outpost in Alcoy that is well worth adding to your plans.

• Air-raid shelters: Alcoy’s surviving wartime heritage offers a moving insight into this chapter of our history.

• La Sarga Rock Art Shelters: an open-air museum that will take you back in time.

Nature, mountain biking and hiking in Alcoy

Beyond the city streets, Alcoy opens onto mountains, woodland and trails that are ripe for exploring on foot or by bike.

• Carrascal de la Font Roja Natural Park: one of the best-preserved natural areas in the Region of Valencia, with trails leading past traditional farmhouses and up towards the summit of Menejador.

• Serra Mariola Natural Park: covering almost 17,000 hectares, the park is criss-crossed by routes through Mediterranean woodland, aromatic plants and natural springs. Among them are the climb to the summit of Montcabrer and the Barranco del Cint route.

• Alcoi Greenway: travel its 10 kilometres on foot, by bike or in a wheelchair, following an accessible route through pine trees, across viaducts and into the countryside of Carrascal de la Font Roja Natural Park.

What can you visit in Alcoy over a weekend?

If you only have two days, our weekend itinerary for Alcoy will help you plan your time. Take a look and make sure you don’t miss a thing!