La Canyada holds many secrets. It is a joy to take a leisurely stroll through its streets and chat with the locals and hear their tales - some as old as the vines and olive trees that abound throughout the valley and the Sierra. 

The town of Alt Vinalopó, with 1,200 inhabitants, is located in an enclave between the provinces of Valencia, Albacete and Murcia in the shelter of the Sierra de la Vila, San Cristóbal and Sanmaior mountain ranges. Rich in underground water sources, the plain that lies between the two sierras is ideal for a wide range of crops, while the slopes are home to an olive growing tradition going back for generations producing excellent oil.     

All this local produce, combined with abundant aromatic plants and herbs, result in a splendid cuisine for the visitor to enjoy, based on the Mediterranean diet, with olive oil, wine, fruit, vegetables and cereals as the staple ingredients.  

The Madre de Dios del Carmen hermitage dominates the plain, and is the starting point for a fascinating route packed with history, dark tales, mystery and traditions which are still preserved among the townsfolk.