Hermitage of Saint. Anne

Getting there:

The hermitage can be reached on foot or by car, but we recommend walking to better enjoy the trail. You can park your car at the bus stop at the northern entrance of Benissa and follow the paved road behind the Muebles Martínez warehouse. Early in the trail you will pass an old wash-house (Pou d’Avall) with a water fountain, and such lavoirs, which have fallen into disuse, can be found throughout the rural areas. Follow the path for approximately 15 minutes until reaching the hermitage.

Description:

This is the oldest of them all, having been built in 1613. It has a single nave and a beautiful sandstone façade with a round arch and the date of construction engraved on a stone on the bottom right corner of the façade. Before it is a small square with a central cross. On the inside there is a small pulpit, a neo-classical altar, the sacristy on the left and a small lean-to that was intended to be used as lodgings for a hermit. The trail ahead leads to a fountain and a lavoir.

The entire scene is an invitation to tranquillity to the soft sound of the water fountain and against the backdrop of the lush vegetation, mostly made up of black poplars. Looking southward from the hermitage square, the Santa Ana ravine appears in the foreground as it connects to the Quisi and guides our sight towards Oltà and the Bèrnia mountain range in the background.

The landscape in this entire area is made up of terraced fields with Mediterranean plants such as almond trees, grapevines, olive trees, etc. To the left there is a lush and beautiful pine grove, and part of the town of Benissa can be seen to the west. A number of trails start from the hermitage and you can choose to advance all the way to Calpe, following the trails in the Quisi ravine.

Festivities:

The local festivities are held on 26 July, with a despertà or wake-up call with rockets and shawms, a procession and a popular snack in which the locals bring a bite to eat. The day ends with dancing and fireworks.