MUSEU DE L'ESPARDENYA

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Banyeres de Mariola is home to Museu de l'Espardenya, a museum dedicated to the local espadrille industry.

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Banyeres de Mariola in L'Alcoià is a village that was once renowned for its production of alpargatas, also known as espardenyes, or espadrilles, in English. The industry was the precursor to the textile sector, which remains an important driver of the local economy. Given the historic importance of the trade, Museu de l'Espardenya (the espadrille museum) was founded so that you can discover everything there is to know about the production of the shoes, from the choice of materials to the final results.

The museum will take you on a journey back in time, immersing you in the world of an industry that was once the livelihood of many people in Banyeres de Mariola and other surrounding villages. The 20th century was the golden age of the espadrille, but over time the trade was lost with the last workshop closing in the 1960s.

The museum's permanent exhibition explains all sorts of interesting facts about espadrilles, a shoe with a braided hemp, esparto or jute sole with ties around the ankle. Displays of materials, tools and soles will take you on an exploration of the artisanal process of making espadrilles, a trade that speaks of years gone by.

Museu de l'Espardenya is located in Villa Rosario park in Banyeres de Mariola. There is a collection of museums in the park that are all well worth a visit, namely Museu Torre Font Bona, Museu Valencià del Paper (paper museum), Museu de la Paraula (oral tradition museum) and Museu de la Farmàcia (the museum of pharmacies). The espadrille museum has an audio description for people with visual impairment and is accessible for people with disabilities.