David Villa Entre Toix y la Serra Gelada Vinaròs - Comunidad ...

El Rincón del Viajero
Traveller’s Corner
some cavities in the limestone rocks, which
are actually small springs that, during
periods of heavy rains, impetuously spurt
out freshwater.
Although there is evidence of this
aquifer since the time of the Phoenicians
it was not until the 17 th century when
the clergyman and historian Gaspar de
Escolano recorded it in writing in his
book, Décadas de la historia de Valencia
(Decades of the history of Valencia):
“On the western side of Calpe, there
is a cape or mountain, which they call
Toyx, half a league from Hyfach, where,
the same tongue of water has naturally
carved out a cave, in which many wild
pigeons nest, it is named after the
pigeons and you cannot enter it except
by boat ....” Escolano explains that the
cave is one hundred steps wide and fiftytwo
high “... Near the mouth of the cave,
in the same tongue of water, an
impetuous and huge river emerges
from this rock. Although it doesn’t
allow us to see how it enters the sea,
CVNEWS 20
because it is very suitable for anchoring,
the boats sailing there feel its fury, and
in fear of capsizing, they change
direction....”
Below Toix is the Barra Grande cove,
the first on the route, a small beach of
pebbles and rocks, measuring around 50
metres which is difficult to reach from
land but which does have a safe anchoring
area due to its moderate swell. The
Barra Grande, with spectacular underwater
scenery, is one of the coves in Altea
that is perfect for diving.
FROM THE NORTH
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After leaving behind the Barra Grande
in the Morro de Toix, the route along the
coast of Altea passes by rocky coves
which have been eroded by the incessant
waves and ends at a bay with gentle
surf, a shore full of contrasts between
nature and civilization.
The Punta del Mascarat and the
northern dam of the marina form a
protected cove which is excellent for
swimming. The pebble and gravel beach
of Mascarat Norte, also has good diving
conditions, due to the proximity to Toix
and the purity of its waters.
After Mascarat Norte is the Greenwich
Marina, a marina with a wide choice of
accommodation, services, restaurants
and leisure activities. The Greenwich
Marina, through which the meridian
passes at precisely zero, the same as in
Greenwich, has more than five hundred
boats and gives way to the Mascarat
Sur or La Barreta de Gualda cove.
The secluded la Barreta cove, 150 metres
in length and which is easily accessible,
has a mix of fine pebbles, small stones
and some sand and is, together with
Mascarat Norte, one of Altea’s nudist
beaches.
The next beach is the Solsida, which
is nearly a kilometre and a half long. The
Solsida is a beach with strong waves which
is clear from its rugged appearance. To
reach the beach you will have to walk
along a difficult and rocky road. The
passage smells of rosemary and lavender
and the sound of the sea water keeps
the walker company until they reach
the rugged beach. The nature of Solsida
has not made any compromises, it does
not have any developments or buildings,
no roads, no crops and the sea flows in
and out of the ground it has bored
through.
BETWEEN TWO PORTS
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Among the small Mar y Montaña ports,
which are now Porto Senso, and the
Portet de L’Olla, the L‘Olla beach
stretches for over a kilometre with clear
water and alternating sand, small pebbles
and rock. The coastal road sometimes
passes close by pine forests and sometimes
travels through areas which have been
artificially softened, among boats, sails,
hammocks and beach bars. The beach
of L‘Olla, one of the most sought after
and popular in the white town, allows for
unlimited enjoyment of the sea and sun.
L’Olla was a classic turn of the century
summer resort and the proof is in some
of its traditional buildings such as
Villagarcía, which is divided into several
apartments, and the palace of Villa
Gadea, now the headquarters of the
local police service.
The larger of the two islands in Altea,
the Illeta, divides the L‘Olla beach in
two. The sun, sea and sky cling to this
green, chalky, conch shell shaped island
which plummets down into the
Mediterranean at its lowest part. The Illeta
has a peculiar landscape, which is green
during the winter months and multicoloured
in the spring, however, the
summer turns it brown while maintaining
an explosion of life in the inner part of
the island. Deep underwater, the Illeta
dominates the great posidonia meadow
through which the barbell, pollack and
black moray fish swim quietly, the
protection zone of the Serra Gelada
natural park having given them a breather
in recent years.
In the last part of the trip through L’Olla,
the pebble and gravel beach disappears
and becomes an area with large rocks
sculpted by the Mediterranean swell.
The route along the cobbled pavement
comes to an end at Portet de L’Olla,
one of the smallest ports on the Valencian
coast with capacity for around thirty
small vessels.
El Portet leads to Soio, a rocky cove,
slightly over 100 metres, with black
rocks which reveal the volcanic origin of
the cape that shelters it and with sporadic
invasions of seaweed means it tends to
be quite empty, even in the summer
months. The small bay of the Soio cove,
very near to the posidonia meadow, has
spectacular underwater scenery.
A rocky cape with thick pine forest which
is home to the chalet known as the
home of the minister is the prelude to
the beach of Cap Negret, one of the
longest in Altea at nearly a kilometre and
half long. Cap Negret is made up of
pebbles, gravel and golden sand in
several areas.