Alcalá de Xivert is a municipality in the Baix Maestrat region, in Castellón, well known for its history and valuable cultural heritage. The old town of Alcalá de Xivert is the main attraction, marked by the impressive parish church of San Juan Bautista, its castle, and its proximity to the Sierra de Irta Natural Park.
Together, they make up a perfect travel plan. We’ll tell you more!
Visit the Castle of Xivert
Visiting the Castle of Xivert is an experience you can’t miss. Located on top of a hill, it is of Muslim origin—11th century—and, although it has seen better times, it is still fascinating. Only its walls and towers are preserved, but its three main areas can be perfectly recognized: the alcazaba, the highest part; the albacar, a walled space where the population and livestock took refuge in times of war; and the aljama, the town itself, which was also walled. . One of the highlights of the visit is its impressive panoramic views of the surroundings: the Mediterranean coast and Castellón.
Touring it is an immersion into the medieval past of the Valencian Community. You can reach it by car or on foot, with a walk that, although a bit demanding, rewards you with spectacular views and the sensation of walking along paths full of history while enjoying the most typical landscapes of the Sierra de Irta.
Discover all the nature and routes that Alcalá de Xivert hides in the Sierra de Irta
The Sierra de Irta is one of the most outstanding natural treasures of the province of Castellón and offers a spectacular environment for lovers of fauna, flora, and hiking. This natural park extends along the Costa Azahar, between the towns of Peñíscola and Alcossebre, and you are in luck because it is very close to Alcalá de Xivert.
The park is known for its rugged landscape, with mountains that descend directly to the sea, creating steep cliffs and beautiful hidden coves. It is also known for the dense vegetation that covers it, with numerous pine trees, holm oaks, shrubs, and plants of all kinds. In addition, it is home to a wide variety of species of birds, reptiles, and mammals, which makes the Sierra de Irta an ideal place for wildlife observation.
Of course, there are a lot of routes of different levels of difficulty for you to explore it thoroughly. Our favorites are, in addition to the one that goes up to the Castle of Xivert, the route of the fountains and the route of the hermitages, which visit, as their name indicates, natural springs and several hermitages, such as Santa Lucía. However, if you like challenges, there is a route that may fit even better into your trip to Alcalá de Xivert: the cliff route, a route that follows the coast, passing through hidden coves and truly impressive cliffs. And the best of all is that, between section and section, you can take a good swim.
Tour the old town of Alcalá de Xivert
The old town of Alcalá de Xivert takes you to travel back in time in just a few steps. The streets retain their original medieval layout: they are narrow, cobbled, and maintain the historical essence of the place. In addition, the neighbors have them especially cared for and decorated.
You won’t have to walk too far to find very special spots in Alcalá de Xivert, such as the Parish Church of San Juan Bautista, the most emblematic building in the old town, from the 18th century, and climb its 68-meter-high bell tower, one of the highest in the Valencian Community, with impressive panoramic views of the surroundings.
The Plaza de la Iglesia, in the heart of the old town, is full of Renaissance buildings with stone facades and elegant balconies, such as the Town Hall, and is another of those places that you have to see in Alcalá de Xivert. You should also stop at the Convent of the Carmelite Fathers, a religious complex from the 18th century, and enjoy the stately homes of the old town, which are a spectacular reflection of the architecture of the time.
Taste the cuisine and visit the markets of Alcalá de Xivert
Exploring the cuisine of Alcalá de Xivert and visiting its markets is a unique sensory experience, due to the large number of flavors and culinary traditions that are concentrated in this region of Baix Maestrat.
The cuisine of Alcalá de Xivert is a faithful representation of Mediterranean cuisine; it uses fresh and local ingredients, such as fish and seafood, vegetables, rice and, of course, olive oil, to create dishes full of flavor.
Therefore, you will mainly find dishes made with rice, such as paella or «arroz a banda», fideuàs, the famous «suquet de peix», a stew made with fish, and the typical cocas, a kind of thin-crust pizza that can be sweet or savory. For dessert, you can’t miss the «pastissets», sweet dumplings filled with cabello de ángel, and the «rollets d’anís», small anise donuts.
If you want to know where the ingredients of these coveted dishes in Alcalá de Xivert come from, you just have to visit its markets, which, by the way, have a great atmosphere. The busiest are the Municipal Market and the Weekly Market, which is set up in the main square of Alcalá de Xivert, where there are also clothes, accessories, and handicrafts.
And if you want them to prepare one of those typical dishes for you, you can go—with a reservation—to the Restaurante Serra d’Irta, whose specialty is rice dishes, fresh fish, and grilled meat; or to La Tasca de Xivert, if you prefer to have some homemade tapas and the famous cocas.
Discover Alcalá de Xivert and all its charms with us
Have you become even more eager to get to know the city? It’s no wonder, it is a destination that does not disappoint, with a lot of things to visit and do.
In addition, it is a place where festivals and cultural events abound throughout the year. The climate in Alcalá de Xivert is not an impediment to local celebrations, such as the Patron Saint Festivities in Honor of San Juan Bautista and San Pedro —in June—, the Fira de la Tomata de Penjar —in August—, a festival dedicated to the typical tomato of the town, or the Fiesta de Santa Cecilia —in November—. But hey, no matter when you decide to come to Alcalá de Xivert, there is always atmosphere and many activities to do.
Like accommodations, at Orange Costa we have a lot of options available so that your stay, along with everything that the city has to offer, is a ten. Are you coming?
