Here’s an ultimate list of things to do in Bocairente, one of the most charming small towns near Valencia.

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Things to do in Bocairente, a beautiful village near Valencia

Where in Bocairente

Bocairente (also called Bocairent in Valencian) is one of the top hidden gems near Valencia, often called one of Spain’s most beautiful villages. This small town is located about 100 km from the city of Valencia and can be visited on a day trip or on the road from Valencia to Alicante.

How to get to Bocairente

I recommend visiting Bocairente by car or booking an organized day tour. This town is accessible via the A-7 motorway, which connects Valencia to Alicante. There are bus services that connect Bocairente with other cities in the region, including Valencia, departing from Valencia’s central bus station (Estación de Autobuses). However, with the current schedules, you will lose a lot of time unless traveling by car or on an organized tour.

What is Bocairente known for

Bocairente is a popular Valencia day trip for history enthusiasts and fans of Spanish medieval villages. The small town is known for its historic old town, the Moorish caves, the ice caves, the bullring, the fountains and bridges, and the parish church.

Charming old houses in Bocairente medieval villages in spain
Bocairente

Top Things to do in Bocairente

1. The Moorish Caves

The Moorish Caves (or Les Covetes de Los Moros) are a group of artificial caves with window-like openings, considered one of the unique landmarks of Bocairente. They form the most complex and numerous group of cave windows in the area, with over 50 windows leading to an equal number of chambers, distributed across 3-4 different levels. The Moorish Caves are surrounded by various theories about their origins, including the possibility that they were burial chambers from ancient times, granaries, or even Visigoth monasteries. Their exact dating is uncertain, though it is likely they were created during the Hispano-Arabic period. The interior of the caves is accessible (if you don’t mind a climb), which adds to the allure of the experience. Interestingly, similar cave-windows can be found around the world. These types of caves were traditionally discovered in regions inhabited by the Tamazight (Berber) tribes in the pre-Saharan areas of the Maghreb. French historians have identified these caves as early forms of what later became collective granaries known as agadir in Morocco and gorfas in Tunisia, which were in use up until the early 20th century.

The Moorish Caves in Bocairente Valencia day trip
The Moorish Caves of Bocairente

2. The Colomer Caves

Another popular place to visit in Bocairente is The Colomer Caves. This location hosts a small exhibition where you can watch a documentary and learn more about its historical significance. Unlike the Moorish Caves, these are smaller and have been converted into an interpretation center. Like most of the caves in Bocairente, the one in the photo below was manually carved into the rock. It was once an obligatory stop for those entering the town. On market days, traders had to pay the corresponding tax to the collector, known as “el consumer,” who would shelter from bad weather inside this cave.

What to do in Bocairente
A cave outside the Interpretation Centre of the Colomer Caves
Ancient caves near valencia spain
The Colomer Caves in Bocairente
The Colomer Caves in Bocairente Valencia Community village
Inside the Colomer Caves
Exposition at the Colomer Caves in Bocairente
Exposition inside the Colomer Caves

3. The Ice Cave

Before the arrival of fridge-freezer technology, nature’s cold was harnessed through the development of the snow and ice trade – a business that reached its peak during the 17th and 19th centuries. Collecting snow, conserving it, transporting it, selling it, and consuming it – all of these activities were part of a now-forgotten industry. The rare remnants of this once-thriving business are the massive deposits of Bocairente used to store snow, known as ice wells, ice caves, or ice cellars. Even after all these years, it remains cold inside. The Sant Blai Ice Cave could likely still serve its original purpose today. Seriously, constructions like this often make me question humanity’s progress. Like those stunning Roman mosaics I recently saw in Cyprus, which date back to the 2nd century A.D. and still look better than some of the floor tiles in modern public buildings!

Ice Cave in Bocairente Spain history
Inside the Sant Blai Ice Cave 

4. The streets of Bocairente

Bocairente’s peculiar geographical location has favored the development of different cultures throughout its long history, from the remains of Neolithic human settlements to the Romans, Arabs, and finally, the Spanish. The old town itself is an artistic-historical heritage site and feels like an open-air museum. Every corner in Bocairente is so picture-perfect that one could spend hours just walking through this charming small town.

Is Bocairente worth visiting valencia spain
Bocairente Spain Valencia day trip
Beautiful small towns in spain bocairente
The house of Bocairente poet near Valencia spain
The house of Bocairente poet Abu Marc Muhamaj Ibn Ruhaim (1070-1121)
What to do in Bocairente Valencia Spain
Another church spotted from the city walls of Bocairente
Medieval street with flower pots in Bocairente
Flower pots on local walls of Bocairente Spain
pots with plants and ancient walls in Bocairente Spain

Is Bocairente worth visiting?

Bocairente is one of the prettiest small towns near Valencia, making it a great day trip (or even a weekend break) idea for those seeking to experience the small-town charm of rural Spain, with traditional architecture and lifestyle. In addition, the interesting historical sights in Bocairente make it worth visiting, even if it’s just as a stop on the road from Valencia to Alicante.

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Things to do in Bocairente Valencia Spain

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