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Millenary olive trees, signature wines, century-old olive mills and traditional crafts are just some of the treasures hidden in the inland towns of Alicante.

Now, thanks to a new campaign of the Essències project, visitors will be able to immerse themselves in the living history of these territories through thirteen guided experiences, tasting their most emblematic products and connecting with their most authentic crafts and traditions.

These experiences, although called "routes", are not traditional hiking itineraries, but experiences designed for small groups where the tasting of local products, contact with artisans and producers and the discovery of local history take priority. With durations of between 2 and 6 hours, all experiences include tastings, samplings and meals in local establishments.

13 Routes to discover 8 villages and rural areas
Essencies, sustainable rural tourism experiences
Agost
In this pottery town, the experience revolves around the ‘Route of the pottery’, which takes us into the historic centre of the town. Visitors can visit the Pottery Museum, take part in a clay and wheel workshop with a master craftsman and enjoy a lunch with typical local products.

Aigües
The route through this picturesque town includes a walk through the emblematic Barrio de la Torre and its extensive pine forest. The tour includes a visit to the 19th-century Grand Spa, which has housed members of royalty for centuries. The experience is complemented by a practical photography workshop given by renowned photographer Rosa Ripoll and culminates with a lunch at the La Bacorera restaurant, based on local traditions.

Balones
This town offers two different experiences. The first, ‘The Millenary Olive Trees’, allows you to discover unique specimens with more than a thousand years of history and participate in an oil tasting at the Castell de la Costurera, as well as visiting the streets of Benimassot and tasting the local cuisine. The second route, ‘Mediterranean Trilogy: Oil, Bread and Wine’, includes a visit to the Millena Millenary Olmo, a tour of the oil mill, a tasting of signature wines from Celler de Gurgu fermented in clay jars and a visit to the traditional oven in Gorga.

Camp d’Elx
The route through Camp d’Elx offers a tour of its characteristic landscapes, including a visit to the El Tendre oil mill and the Puçol School Museum, recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The experience is completed with a white palm workshop and the discovery of emblematic products such as the date and the Elche Mollar pomegranate, the only one in the world with a Protected Designation of Origin.

Cocentaina
This municipality offers three different routes. The first focuses on its historical monuments, highlighting the 12th-13th century Palacio Condal, with its spectacular Sala Dorada, and the 17th century Monasterio de las Clarisas. The second route explores the essence of the olive tree, with a visit to the Cooperativa Agrícola Católica, which has more than 75 years of history, and includes a master class on pairings and essences of oil. The third offers a unique sensory experience at the Oli El Comtat oil mill, with tastings of premium oils.

La Canyada
The two routes in this municipality offer complementary experiences. ‘Walking among century-old olive trees’ allows you to enjoy these trees in a unique setting and participate in a tasting of five Octobris Bio oils in the heart of nature, accompanied by local sausages. The ‘Treasure Route’ combines the history of the discovery of the Treasure of Villena with a visit to a 19th-century winery, where you can learn about the traditional process of winemaking and taste the famous Fondillón.

La Torre de les Maçanes
This municipality offers two different options. The ‘We are the people’ route allows you to see the wood-fired ovens and traditional sausages, as well as visiting the Oli de La Torre oil mill to discover the native varieties of olives and take part in an oil tasting. For its part, ‘We are links’ focuses on local history, with visits to the monumental clock of the Parish of Santa Ana, the oldest in operation in the Valencian Community, and to the Casa Alta, an old Almohad tower from the 12th-13th century that gives its name to the municipality.

Teulada-Moraira
The route through this destination combines the coast with vineyards, heritage, culture and gastronomy. The protagonist is the local muscatel, renowned for its aromas and flavour, which can be tasted in a tasting of the M de Alejandría wine, paired with different local products from local producers.

The Alicantina Federation for Territorial Development and Innovation (FADIT) with the collaboration of the Rural and Fishing Local Action Groups of Alicante and the support of the Alicante Provincial Council, has been responsible for launching this new promotional campaign to publicize the tourist routes of the Essències project.

From FADIT they point out that this type of routes “bring you closer to nature, to real flavors and connect you with history and our roots. They are unique experiences in a singular environment that bring people closer to rural areas, give visibility to these territories and boost their economic activity.”

“These types of projects contribute to fighting against the depopulation of towns by showing their beauty and the different attractions they have. It is a sustainable, close and friendly way of doing tourism and connecting us with the essence, identity and our origins,” concludes FADIT.

Calendar and Reservations
Essències' guided experiences begin on October 24 with the Ruta de la Cantarería de Agost and will run until December 31, 2024. Prices for each route range from 44 to 60 euros per person.

The places available for each activity are limited, with experiences limited to groups of between 10 and 20 people maximum. Reservations are made through the Essències website.