cvnews 79 english version

8/2/2019 CVNEWS 79 english version

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Cofrentes, Llria and AlziraHorse-riding routes.............................................................................

Inma BermdezValencian design.............................................................................

Espai dArt ContemporaniThrough the eyes of Darcy Lange

[79

AlicanteCharming country houses

CVNEWSwww.comunitatvalenciana.com 2012
http://www.comunitatvalenciana.com/http://www.comunitatvalenciana.com/


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NEWS ........................................................................................................... 03

The third: The Festival in AlgemesIntangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.... 03

Company of the month: Marjal Costa Blanca Eco Camping Resort in Crevillent .... 04 Professional Photography Competition in Cullera ........................................ 04

Santantonada de Forcall, an Asset of Cultural Interest ................................. 05 La Luz de la Imgenes restore the Gorga Canopy ........................................ 05

SURFERS ON THE NET/INTERNET NEWS ........................................................................................ 06

Meteorological information at comunitatvalenciana.com ................................ 06 Guadelocio.com, the best ......................................................................... 06

Pago de Tharsys, new website ................ ................................................... 07 Internet news ......... ................................................................................. 07

DOBLE PAGE ................................................................................................ 08EACC Castellon Contemporary Art Centre exhibits the work of Darcy Lange

THOROUGHLY ........................................................................................................10Rural Alicante, seven charming houses on the Costa Blanca

TRAVELLERS CORNER ........................................... ......................................16

Horse-riding routes Alzira, Cofrentes y Lliria

AN INTERVIEW WITH: Inma Bermdez ......................................................... 24

Between ornament and functionality

WHAT WE OFFER .. ........................................ ............................................... 28

Wine: Verdil of Daniel Belda, Mediterranean white ................................................. 28 Monstrance in San Esteban church in Valencia ....................................................... 28

A thousand daffofils around the La Mata and Torrevieja lagoons ......................... 29 Presenting the Pearl of Valencia Oyster to society ................................................... 29

FLASH ....................................... ...................................................................... 30

Spring in Mundomar Segorbe Nostrum in the 2012 Flos Olei Guide International scope at Berklee Valencia Nico Terol, a curve on the Circuit

PUBLICATIONS .................................................. .......................................... 31

WHATS ON ..................................................................................................32

CVNEWSAgncia Valenciana del TurismeAv. Aragn, 30, 8 46021 ValenciaTel. 963 986 000 Fax 963 986 001

2012[79]Email: [email protected]

Agncia Valenciana del Turisme. rea dePromocin y Comunicacin Turstica. Servicio deComunicacin Turstica.Comit de redaccin/Editorial committee: Paula deCubas, Isabel Palafox, Carmen Sahuquillo, JavierHerraiz, Antonio Martn, Maica Botella.Maquetacin/Layout and design: Catherine Lpez.

www.comunitatvalenciana.com

Summary

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UNESCO stated that the Algemes Festivalcombines the towns ritual, artistic and festiveaspects of intangible cultural heritage.The processions, which are an importantpart of the Algemes Festival, pass throughthe heart of the city and strengthen thesocial bonds and sense of belonging of itspeople. The rituals, which have beenpassed down through the generations, arecrystalised in a number of differentmanifestations: oral expressions such astheatre, music with 63 compositions,dance and performances reminiscent ofChristian, Muslim and Jewish cults; cultures

thatwove the essence of this land and thathave materialised in the creation of musicalinstruments, the inspiration for melodiesand the variety of clothing used during thefestivals. All these elements have turnedthis festival into a point of reference fortraditional Valencian festivals.

The festival of Algemes, in honour ofMare de Du de la Salut, the Virgin of Health,takes place on 7th and 8th Septembercomes from the Middle Ages and isAlgemess largest religious festival. The

festival has played an important role in therecovery of certain folk dances that existedin other towns and that, thanks to theAlgemes celebrations, have now been re-established.

Choreographed acrobatic routines suchas Muixeranga, dances like els Bastonetsor els Tornejants and even the tabal idolaina music that accompanies them arethe product of those who have managedto maintain and preserve a fundamentalaspect of Valencian culture.

INFORMACIN

CVNEWS 3

C/ Nou del Convent, 71Museu Valenci de la Festa46680 AlgemesTel. 962018630www.museuvalenciadelafesta.com

News

Festa de Algemes

A divine treasure

UNESCO has placed AlgemessMare de Du de la Salut Festivalon the Representative List ofIntangible Cultural Heritage ofHumanity in the last meeting ofthe Intangible Heritage

Committee that was held in Bali.The international organisationexplained how the AlgemesFestival meets all of therequirements for registration,such as the promotion ofintercultural dialogue and humancreativity, which are apparent inits public celebrations.

UNESCO declared the Mare

de Du de la Salut Festivalin Algemes Intangible

Cultural Heritage of

Humanity
http://www.museuvalenciadelafesta.com/http://www.museuvalenciadelafesta.com/http://www.museuvalenciadelafesta.com/


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CVNEWS 4

News

COMPAN

YOFTHE

MONTH

The Marjal Costa Blanca Eco-Camping Resort inCrevillente is one of the most modern four star camp-sites in Europe. It covers an area of more than fourthousand square metres next to the El Hondo NaturalPark. The complex is self sustainable and energy effi-cient, recycling waste materials, using solar energyand collecting rainwater for irrigation purposes.

The services and amenities include toilets andshower facilities, a tapas bar and restaurant, first-aid,a hair salon, a club house and supermarket, amongstothers. There are also various sports facilities includingtennis, padel tennis and basketball courts, as wellas a climbing wall and a mini golf course.

The resort has a fifteen hundred pitch campgroundranging from ninety to one hundred and eighty squaremetres and all have electric hook ups, TV, water anddrainage.

The Marjal Costa Blanca Eco Camping Resort alsohas bungalows with two bedrooms, lounge, kitchen,

bathroom and a terrace.The communal areas include a restaurant, bar, pub,gym, outdoor swimming pools and two heated pools,a spa with a sauna and Turkish bath, a playgroundand an area to play boules and barbeque areas.

The resort is surrounded by cultural, historicaland leisure attractions such as the El Hondo NaturalPark, Orihuela, Elx and Alicante.

PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION

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Last February, the Professional Photographers Associationof Valencia (AFPV) held the Region of ValenciaProfessional Photography Competition in Cullera and hasawarded the Region of Valencia Prize to Vctor ManuelLpez Postigo from Elche in the Portrait section. TheCommercial Advertising Prize went to Xanti RodrguezUrriaga from Azpeitia (Guipzcoa), while the Graphic-Social Prize was won by Josu Izarra Garca from Vitoria-

Gasteiz, with the Wedding category being awarded toJorge Miguel Jaime Bez, from Canet dEn Berenguer inValencia.

The Professional Photography Competition is one of themost highly-regarded among professional Spanishphotographers and has grown to be one of the mostimportant artistic, image-related events in the Region ofValencia. Proof of this can be seen by the fact that over400 photographs were presented in the Portrait,Advertising-Commercial, Graphic-Social and Weddingcategories.

The competition is held every two years, alongside theInternational Professional Photography and Video

Conference organised by the AFPV. More than threethousand photographers have attended its ten editionsand more than 150 specialists in all fields of photographyfrom all over Europe and America have givenpresentations on different areas of photographic art,including fine art, wedding, studio, advertising, fashion,nature, glamour and artistic nude photography.

www.afpv.es

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MARJAL COSTA BLANCA ECO CAMPING RESORTAP-7. Salida 730 (Catral-Crevillent)03330 Crevillente Tel. 965 48 49 45www.marjalcostablanca.com
http://www.afpv.es/http://www.marjalcostablanca.com/http://www.marjalcostablanca.com/http://www.marjalcostablanca.com/http://www.afpv.es/


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CVNEWS 5

RESTORING THE GORGA CANOPY

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The Fundacin de Luz de las Imgenes has completed therestoration of the Gorga Canopy, a piece of textile fabricmade in 1808 of tissue silk and embroidered with metallicthread and silk. Miguel Olcina Sempere, who donated thecanopy to the Parish Church of La Asuncin de NuestraSeora de Gorga, paid 5120 reales for the piece in theearly nineteenth century.

The silk designs of this canopy display a Valencianinfluence, which can be seen in the colours of the floral

decoration and style of the neoclassical motifs. The canopyis rectangular in shape with an oval design in the centredisplaying the Eucharist on rays of splendour. Thecompletion date, 1808, is displayed on scrolls that hangfrom the top at the sides.

The piece, which was moved to the Luz de las Imgenesworkshop in the town of Btera, showed signs of deteriorationdue to its exposure to sudden changes in temperature andhumidity, as it is used in the Corpus Christi day procession,as well as the effects of ageing and improper storage.

Certain marks were cleaned using a micro-suctionprocess and misshapen areas were rectified using anultrasonic humidifier with cold vapour. Due to its poor condition

the original lining has been cleaned and repaired, and anew lining has been placed on top.

www.laluzdelasimagenes.com

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The Santantonada festival has been celebrated in Forcallfor six centuries and has been declared an Asset ofIntangible Cultural Heritage by Valencias regionalgovernment. The Santantonada is a theatrical celebrationhonouring Saint Antonio Abad that ends with the burningof a hut made of heather.

The festival of San Antonio is one of the most importantand widespread celebrations in the winter calendar of the

Valencia region. Around three hundred Valencianmunicipalities pay homage to the patron saint of workinganimals and pets with activities and events such asbonfires, the offering of blessed bread and cakes, the blessingof animals as well as re-enactments of the saints life.

Forcalls Santantonada is celebrated on the weekendclosest to 17thJanuary and lasts three days. The paradespass through the main streets of Forcalls old quarter, aswell as the square where the hut is erected.

The festival is a theatrical representation of the life ofthe saint, in which a series of characters appear in a kindof ritual hierarchy. Although not one of them is more importantthan another, all have a specific function and arecomplementary. This then creates an overall impressionthat can appear to be contradictory at times and whichcombines the anarchy of movement and the order ofperformance.

www.forcall.es

SANTANTONADA DE FORCALL, AN ASSET OF CULTURAL INTER
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A recent survey by NetObserver confirmed the leadershipof Guiadelocio.com among users, well ahead of othergeneral or themed online leisure guides. The surveyanalysed user preferences in nine different categories: news,general information, food and drink, employment, careers,sports, videogames, small ads, price comparison, tripand leisure guides, personal sales and family portals.

The 17% of users chose guiadelocio.com as theirfavourite website in the sector, well ahead of such others

as Lanetro.com or Salir.com, which also appeared in theranking. In fact, the runner up was Cinesa.es, preferredby 6.7% of users, while Lanetro.com ranked third with5%.

The NetObserver rankings were decided on the basisof the votes cast by regular users of each of the websitecategories selected by Harris Interactive for this secondsurvey.The website keeps its visitors informed by continuouslyupdating its content related to leisure activities taking placein all Spanish provinces as well as all the latest informationregarding film, theatre, food and drink, music, nightlife,culture and childrens leisure activities.

www.guiadelocio.com

GUADELOCIO.COM, THE FIRM FAVORITE

Last January saw the incorporation of three new unitsinto the weather station network run by the official Regionof Valencia tourist website. The new stations arelocated in Alboraya, Calpe and Altea.

These new units provide real-time information,which is updated every few seconds, on wind speed,temperature, precipitation, humidity and barometric

pressure, as well as the strength of sunlight and theultraviolet index. They also provide almanac information,including sunrise and sunset, as well as lunar phases.

The new stations aim to provide a better service tolovers of water sports which is why they have beenstrategically sited in Calpe port, the Villa Gadea Hotelon lOlla beach in Altea and on Port-Saplaya beachin Alboraya.

The weather station network run by the Region ofValencia tourist website currently has 23 unitsthroughout the provinces of Castelln, Valencia andAlicante, both on the coast and inland. This service

is offered in parallel with the weather forecasts for touristtowns and areas provided by the websites Weathersection,one of this sites most visited areas, with considerablymore than a million hits a year.

WEATHER NFORMATION

www.comunitatvalenciana.com/tiempo-comunidad-valenciana

Internet NewsSurfers on the net
http://www.guiadelocio.com/http://www.comunitatvalenciana.com/tiempo-comunidad-valencianahttp://www.comunitatvalenciana.com/tiempo-comunidad-valencianahttp://www.guiadelocio.com/


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Routes and culture in the Mountains of Alicantewww.muntanyadalacant.com

The Alicante Mountain Rural Accommodation Association websaims to promote the unique nature of what the area offeits visitors, providing information on its tourist resources, valleand towns. The website offers in-depth information on sharand unshared rural accommodation, country hotels wicomprehensive services and hostels. The leisure section subdivided into such sections as nature parks, greenways, festivaand customs. The website also describes upcoming coursheld by the Red CdT Tourist Centre network, job offegrants and financial assistance.

A tour of the Desamparados Basilica www.basilicadesamparados.org

The website of the Nuestra Seora de los DesamparadRoyal Basilica in Valencia offers internet users, visitors aparishioners comprehensive information, ranging from the histoof the church to a virtual tour, as well as a photo gallery wialmost fifty images, times of services, confession and rosa

From the Homepage, which is divided into fifteen sectionvisitors can access History, Sacred Image, Services, SenBrotherhood, Foundations, Honourable Association, ChoFollowers, Prayers, Marian Museum, Cultural visit, MatDesertorum, Photo Gallery, Links and Contact.

Coeliac Catering Club www.restauracionparaceliacoscv.com

The Catering and Tourism Confederation in the Region of Valenc(CONHOSTUR) has collaborated with the Department Tourism, Culture and Sport, the Coeliac Association of the Regioof Valencia (ACECOVA) and the Spanish Coeliac Federati(FACE) to launch the Coeliac Catering Club. Participatirestaurants display a sign at the entrance by way of identificatioThere is also a guide to the establishments belonging to tCoeliac Catering Club and a website.

INTERNET NEWS

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The Pago de Tharsys winery website has an interactive menuin Spanish and English, as well as a number of attractivesections. The website corresponds to the winerys philosophyregarding innovation, originality and quality and is dividedinto several different sections: the Winery, Wines, NightHarvesting, Visits and Shop, Country Hotel, Blog andContact.

The Winery section is also divided into three parts:Vineyard, Facilities and Production. The Wine section

offers visitors to the site the chance to take a virtual tourof the production process and contains explanations andinformation about the tasting of each of the seven wines Pago de Tharsys Gran Reserva, Pago de Tharsys SeleccinBodega, Pago de Tharsys Merlot, Pago de Tharsys NuestroBobal, Pago de Tharsys Pago de Tharsys Vendimia nocturna,Carlota Sura Reserva and Pago de Tharsys Dulce. It alsodescribes the tasting process of the eleven cavas producedby this Valencian winery - Pago de Tharsys Gran Reserva,Pago de Tharsys Millsime, Pago de Tharsys Millsime Ros,Pago de Tharsys nico, Brut Nature, Pago de Tharsys RosadoBrut, Carlota Suria Brut Nature, Carlota Sura Brut,Dominio de Requena Brut Nature, Dominio de Requena

Brut and Domino de Tharsys Brut.The Country Hotel section is particularly appealing as

it offers practical information and photos of La Caseta deTharsys, which provides accommodation as part of the servicesoffered by the winery. Finally, the Blog allows us to interactwith all the news, social events and other activitiesassociated with the winery.

www.pagodetharsys.com

NEW WEBSITE FOR THE PAGO DE THARSYS WINERY
http://www.muntanyadalacant.com/http://www.basilicadesamparados.org/http://www.restauracionparaceliacoscv.com/http://www.pagodetharsys.com/http://www.pagodetharsys.com/http://www.restauracionparaceliacoscv.com/http://www.basilicadesamparados.org/http://www.muntanyadalacant.com/


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CVNEWS 8

INFORMACININFORMATION

Espai dArt Contemporani de CastellC/ Prim, s/n 12003 CastellTel. 964 723 540

www.eacc.es

The latest exhibition at the EACC Contemporary ArtCentre in Castelln is dedicated to the work of DarcyLange (1946-2005) and examines the artistic trajecto-

ry of this pioneering video artist. Born in Urenui, Taranaki,Aotearoa in New Zealand, Langes work spanned from sculp-

ture, video, photography and film to flamenco. The exhi-

bition is at the EACC until April 29th of this year and offers

visitors the chance to examine Langes project at the exact

moment it was created, within its historical and social

context.

Darcy LangeStudy of an

artist at work

Double-page...
http://www.eacc.es/http://www.eacc.es/


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Darcy Lange created hisfirst sculptures in thelate sixties, abandoning

his career as a sculptorin 1971 to focus onfilm

Darcy Lange used photography toexplore and document People at work,which was filmed in The UnitedKingdom, Spain and New Zealand.In 1972, he documented work inEnglish factories and mines. In 1975,

he filmed Cantavieja, dealing withfarm work in Spain. He returned to NewZealand shortly afterwards to documentthe way of life of workers in Taranakiand the struggle of Maori activists torecover their land rights in Auckland.The theme of People at workplacesLanges work firmly in the field of1930s documentary film and social pho-tography and shares their ideologicalgenealogy. These works turned himinto one of the first to use tracking shotsto record the actions of people carry-ing out their daily work in real time.His experiments with moving and stillimages led to the parallel use of pho-tography, film and video, all recordedsimultaneously.

The advantage of the first portablevideo-cameras over film and photog-raphy was that it could record real-timefeedback and use it as a tool for crit-icism and analysis, as a catalyst for socialchange. Lange intensified the rela-tionship of the subjects of his work by

showing them the recorded material.In his studies of work in schools inBirmingham and Oxfordshire, Langerecorded teachers in the classroomand then showed their reactions andthose of the students to the recordings.

There was no electronic editing whenvideo began, meaning that tapes couldnot be converted into finished prod-ucts, which stimulated the developmentof a processual view of video. Langenever saw his tapes as finished works,but as research and a learningprocess. His subjects reactions to thetapes became an integral part of hisbody of work, guiding his develop-ment.

Parallel to the exhibition, a story about

the artist and his contribution to thedevelopment of video as a media is tobe published. The historian BenjaminH. D. Buchloh analyses the history ofdocumentary photography and con-ceptual video to dignify Langes workon his portraits.

The critic Guy Brett looks at hiswork in the light of current trends inworks aimed at the screen, recentdecades of performance and the asso-ciated documentation. The film writerLawrence McDonald analyses Langeswork in relation to documentaries andethnography. The photographer JohnMiller joins the media studies com-mentator Geraldene Peters to broad-en the approach by concentrating onthe Maori Land Project, linking it tovideo and film work and activism asso-ciated with Maori land rights in Aotearoa,New Zealand. Pedro G. Romero looksat flamenco as a tool for survival anda way of life, taking an in-depth lookat Langes devotion to flamenco gui-tar and the maestro Diego del Gastorde Morn de la Frontera. The con-ceptual artist Dan Graham talks aboutLanges interest in flamenco musicand the commitment of both to every-thing associated with the community

and social justice.

CVNEWS 9


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CVNEWS 10

In their day they were stately homes and mansions where the upper classes lived or spentlong periods of time, and others were places of work such as the riu-raus (typical farm

buildings with arched terraces used to shelter harvested grapes from the rain) or oil mills,where the less privileged earned their wages. Rural Alicantes seven houses are splendid

vantage points which complement their high quality amenities with a respect for the locallandscape, heritage, gastronomy and nature. They are houses that characterise the historyof the province and are the perfect starting point for a journey through this geographically

diverse region of southern Valencia.A route through quiet white-washed Mediterranean villages like Benimeli and

Alpatr in the Marina Alta and others in green valleys and magnificent mountains such asBenilloba, Alcoleja or La Torre de Les Maanes. Even some in flat farmland such as

Catral, irrigated by the Mayor Segura irrigation channel, surrounded by the fertile lands ofthe Vega Baja, the southernmost region in the province of Alicante.

CVNEWS presents a one by one, step by step guide of Rural Alicantes seven housesand at the same time, six of Alicantes beautiful and relatively unknown inland towns.

www.ruralalicante.es

Six destinations Seven houses

Thoroughly ...
http://www.ruralalicante.es/http://www.ruralalicante.es/


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CVNEWS 11

Since 2008, Rural Alicantes - Unique Houses Association offers acareful selection of charming country houses in different inland towns

in the Province of Alicante. The association was formed thanks tothe concern of a group of owners wishing to promote and marketQuality Rural Tourism in Valencia. The aim is to provide professionallyrun, unique accommodation offering a high level of amenities andpersonal service. Most of the houses have received the Q for Qualityaward, the Categora Superior (Highest Standard) rating or top classclassification from ASETUR and the properties are run accordingto these guidelines. The houses are old or historical buildings,country houses, farmhouses, country estates or townhouses that havebeen restored by their owners with respect for the traditionalarchitecture, whilst combining modern facilities to ensure a

comfortable stay.The houses are located in rural areas or small inland towns and

offer the option of either full rental of the property or by room, whilstothers are country hotels.

All accommodations that form part of Rural Alicantes UniqueHouses Association share the same philosophy: to offer their gueststhe best possible service.

UNIQUES HOUSES

The Rural Alicante-Unique

Houses Association hascarefully selected sevencharming country houses indifferent towns within theprovince

EL MORAL. LA TORRE DE LES MAANES

Torremanzanas or Torre de les Maanes owes its name to an oldAlmohad fortification located on the towns highest point and also evokesa past tradition of hospitality since the word maanes in the Valenciandialect means country house or farmhouse. You can still see some ofthese constructions today, such as Los Castellanos, El Comanaor,Mareta, La Foia Boix and El Buitre, which are vestiges of an oldagricultural society. In addition, Torre de les Maanes has someremarkable buildings such as the Casa Alta, a 13th century Almohadtower, which was once a watchtower and now, following a magnificentrestoration, houses the local Cultural Heritage Museum. The Santa AnaChurch, the Snow Well and the Old Sanatorium are other attractionsof this green town in the Alacant region. La Torre de les Maanes hasa great selection of bars and restaurants where you can sample all ofthe regions dishes. On Sunday there is a traditional market, where youcan find the freshest fruit, vegetables, pickles and other products ofthe area.

And in this historic rural town we find El Morals two houses: CasaCaona and Casa Piteta. The two buildings have been renovated,keeping the traditional architecture, with stone walls, wooden beamsand terracotta tiled floors but are also equipped with modernamenities to ensure guests have a top quality, unique and comfortablestay. The two houses are linked inside and each has two double roomswith an extra bed and bathroom in each, as well as a lounge, diningarea and kitchen.


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CVNEWS 12

The houses are historical buildings, farmhouses, country estates, country houses ortownhouses that have been restored with respect for their traditional architecture

ALBEREDA, CASA RURAL. BENILLOBA

Nestled in the Sierra de Aitana Mountains, Benilloba is an old farmingcommunity, whose steep streets reveal its Muslim past. From the foothillsof Aitana, we can see the town and its narrow streets. There are also viewsover Salto, La Cruceta and the Frains River Pools, where the remains of aMoorish aqueduct and two flourmills can still be seen today. It is in the heartof Benilloba where we find Albereda, which is also of Arabic origin.

The building has been restored and although it has been modernised tooffer comfort, it still retains its original charm and character. Tranquillity, peace,a friendly service and beautiful surroundings are words that are best used todescribe this property. The house has three bedrooms, each with their own

private bathroom, sleeping up to six people and a three level loft, alsosleeping up to six people. This room has an area with a sofa bed, armchairsand a bathroom as well as two other areas with twin beds. All the rooms havewooden beam ceilings, as do the library, dining room, games room andcellar. The house also has a quiet terrace and is surrounded by a beautifulMediterranean garden with spectacular mountain views.

Albereda country house has been rated Categora Superior(HighestStandard) by the Region of Valencias Tourist Board.

LA CARRASCA CASA RURAL. CATRAL

Hidden away, in the fertile lands of the River Segura in the Vega Baja region, wefind La Carrasca, an old farmhouse built at the beginning of the twentiethcentury, a mile away from the town of Catral, Alicante. These orchards andfields, mostly growing citrus trees, pomegranate trees, artichokes, broccoli, andcereals, cover more than one thousand five hundred hectares and are irrigatedby the Acequia Mayor irrigation channel as well as some smaller aqueducts calledarrobassuch as La Madriguera, Hornos, Albelln and San Juan. From the sturdyPursima Chapel, the oldest monument in the region dedicated to the worshipof the Immaculate Conception, you can see across the orchards and patchworkgreen fields to beyond the Acequia Mayor basin, which is an ideal spot for bikerides. Other monuments include Santa gueda Chapel and Santos JuanesChurch.

La Carrasca consists of two separate adjoining houses, the Orange House andLemon House, with shared garden and orchard. La Carrasca also has a swimmingpool with hydro-massage jets, water beds and a sheet waterfall for neck and shouldermassages, which is surrounded by orange trees and blends into the landscapeperfectly. The Lemon House has room for eight guests in three twin and two singlerooms and the Orange House sleeps another other eight people, with the optionof two more extra beds. The house has been renovated and is equipped with modern

facilities whilst still managing to retain its rustic charm. The house, surroundedby trees such as kermes oak, cork oak, mulberry, palm trees, pine trees, orangeand lemon trees, also has a small plot where seasonal vegetables are grown organicallyand a hen house for the guests to enjoy. There is also a barbecue with firewoodand two paella cookers.

The house is close to El Hondo, which has recently been awarded the officialtitle of Natural Park in the Region of Valencia and has been classified as offeringNature Tourism.

Thoroughly ...


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CVNEWS 13

The seven houses chosen by Rural Alicante offer splendid views andamenities and also respect the local landscape, heritage,

gastronomy and nature

CASA SASTRE SEGU. ALPATR

The Asuncin de Nuestra Seora Churchs slender bell tower emergesgracefully over Alpatr, a village toasted by the Mediterranean sun in the Vallde Gallinera valley. This stunning place becomes even more spectacular whenthe cherry trees come into flower; one of the most beautiful sights naturehas to offer. In the Plaza de la Font, near the church bell tower, which is squarein design with openings on each side, there is a fountain with crystal clearwater flowing day and night and beside it is Casa Sastre Segu.

Casa Sastre Segu was built in the early nineteenth century, has fivebedrooms, four twin rooms and one double room. It is decorated with restoredpieces as well as items with a functional purpose that add a touch ofelegance whilst also lending it a modern feel. Of all the rooms in the house,some deserve particular mention such as the old stable, which has been convertedinto a cosy corner. The mill, where the oil was produced, has now been transformedinto a beautiful room that can host a variety of events such as wine tasting,language courses, family celebrations or business meetings. The kitchen isfully equipped with all the necessary appliances, crockery and cutlery.Outside, there are two patios, one with a swimming pool and a barbecue.

Casa Sastre Segu is included in the Houses with History Guide, has beenawarded five ears of wheat by the Spanish Association of Rural Tourism (ASETUR)

and has been classified as Categora Superior(Highest Standard) by the Regionof Valencias Tourist Board and is also a member of the Temps Club.

LA LLAR DAITANA. ALCOLEJANestled in the Sierra de Aitana, Alcoleja is a small, typical mountain village,surrounded by beautiful countryside with forests and fields, where every seasonis beautiful and you can enjoy unforgettable walks. The town has managedto preserve its stone buildings with tiled roofs. In one of its streets we findthe Llar dAitana, an eighteenth century country house of the highest standardthat has been renovated with great care to offer all the comfort and amenitiesof a modern home, while still retaining the beauty of its original architecture.Spread over three floors there is capacity for 14 guests. On the ground floor,suitable for people with disabilities, there is a bedroom, bathroom, receptionarea, lounge, dining room and a fully equipped kitchen. On the first floor arethree bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, TV and DVD, a library, board games

and a large collection of films. From this room you can access the jacuzzi.The top floor has a triple room with beautiful mountain views, a lovely openplan loft sleeping three guests, with wooden ceilings and stone walls, whichis equipped with a kitchen, a living room with fireplace and a bathroom.Other amentities include Wi-Fi and rental of electric bicycles. Pets arewelcome. As well as the natural surroundings, visitors, groups of friends, familiesand children can enjoy a relaxing jacuzzi, the local gastronomy and the AitanaSafari Park.

Comfort, quality and beauty in a mountain village.


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EL SEQUER Y XAYMACA MEDITERRNEORURAL. BENIMELI

Benimeli is part of La Rectora, which is a sub-district of the Marina Alta regionand situated at the foot of the Sierra de Segaria mountain range. The 18thcentury San Andrs Apstol Parish Church, La Casa del Senyor, with the remainsof an ancient Arabic palace, and the Segaria Mirador, at the centre part ofthe old Moorish castles remains, are the must see sites of Benimeli, as arethe Catalan and Campillo natural springs.

In the foothills of Segaria, subtly emerging from amongst the orange, almondand carob trees, we find El Sequer and Xaymaca, two charming holiday homeswhere you can enjoy endless peace, between the mountains and theMediterranean Sea in Benimeli. This privileged location offers visitors thechance to visit several nature parks, prehistoric caves and historical sites,practice outdoor activities and enjoy an excellent enogastronomic experience,all within a few kilometres.

El Sequer, a typical nineteenth century Mediterranean building called ariu-rau, which was formerly used to keep grapes dry, has now become a cosy

self-catering country cottage set amidst an orange grove on the outskirts ofBenimeli. The house, decorated in a rustic style, has been restored preservingthe original structure and incorporating traditional materials such as terracottatiles, stone walls, wood and bamboo cane ceilings.

El Sequer, which can comfortably accommodate four people, is pleasantlydecorated with Mediterranean colours to make the visitors stay as enjoyableas possible. It has one twin bedroom and a double bedroom, a spacious andbright living- dining area with a fireplace and a fully equipped kitchen.Outdoors, the porch, under the shade of fruit trees, is a natural vantage pointfor enjoying the spectacular views over the Rectora Valley, especially at sunset.From here you enter a secluded garden with a swimming pool and barbecuearea, the perfect place for a refreshing swim, al fresco meals or a leisurelysiesta. Adjoining this area is the ecologic fruit orchard, where guests canpick fresh fruit or aromatic herbs. Bicycles are provided for guests use.

The second house, Xaymaca, is a late nineteenth century, two-storey manorhouse situated on the outskirts of Benimeli, with facades facing the town andsurrounding countryside. After a meticulous, well-planned renovation, incor-porating the latest modern facilities, it has been converted into a beautifulself-catering holiday home, accommodating up to eight people. A huge wood-en door leads us through to a large courtyard with stone walls, which onceserved as an oil mill. The ground floor comprises a spacious and sunny liv-ing room, a rustic-style kitchen, fully equipped with modern appliances tomeet the most demanding culinary needs, a dining room and a second liv-ing room with a fireplace. Upstairs there are four double bedrooms, deco-rated in different styles, each with its own bathroom. From the courtyard wecan access the garden area, which features a large swimming pool sur-rounded by lawn and fruit trees, a covered porch and a barbecue area withmagnificent views.

Both houses, which have received top tourist ratings such as ASETURsfive ears of wheat, the Categora Superior (Highest Standard) classificationand the Q for Quality award, are designed to offer maximum comfort to guests,where the owners provide discreet but personal attention.

CVNEWS 14

Thoroughly ...


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Casa Sastre SeguiCalle Mayor ,1003788 Alpatrwww.sastresegui.comTel. 696 226 [email protected]

La Carrasca casa ruralCamino de Almorad, 8303158 CatralTel. 660 789 741www.lacarrasca.es

Casa Rural El SequerCalle Traviesa, 1703769 Benimeli

Casa Rural XaymacaCalle Pou, 903769 Benimeli

www.mediterraneorural.comTel. 966 424 056/626 20 00 [email protected]

La Llar dAitanaC/ Nou 17 Alcoleja03011 Alcolejawww.lallardaitana.comTel. 965 171 253/966 509 051/649 442 [email protected]

Casa rural El LlauradorC/ Llauradors N 2Benimeli 03769www.benimelirural.comTel. 965 587 288/679 017 [email protected]

El Moral. Casas RuralesPlaza de la Iglesia, 503108 La Torre de les Maaneswww.elmoral.esTel. 690 293 [email protected]

Casa Rural AlberedaC/ Almssera, 303810 Benillobawww.casaruralalbereda.com

INFORMATION[i]

EL LLAURADOR. BENIMELI

In the heart of Benimeli, a town of Muslim origin conquered by James I in1250, situated in the Girona River valley and at the foot of the Segaria mountainrange we find El Llaurador country house, an elegant mansion built in the

nineteenth century that sleeps eight people.The house has three floors, four bedrooms with en suite bathroom, a hall

with a comfortable reading area, a living room with fireplace, a fully equippedkitchen, a patio with barbecue and outdoor dining area, a jacuzzi for five peoplewith large windows overlooking the village and mountains. El Llaurador alsooffers a massage service by a professional physiotherapist at a special price.

The Llaurador has been restored in-keeping with its nineteenth-century stylebut also offers modern comforts such as air conditioning and heating in allrooms. There is a choice of services offered to suit everyones tastes, withoptions of accommodation only or including lunch and dinner.

Also, there is a private company that organises tours for guests, which includetransport, food and insurance. If you prefer to explore independently thereis information available on local walks, as well as bike rental or horse riding.For guests who prefer a bit of peace and quiet they can take a stroll throughthe owners fruit orchards outside the village and pick their own oranges,as well as enjoying the beautiful views from the terrace, the sound of birdssinging, the smell of fresh bread cooked in the bakerys traditional wood fired-oven or the sweet smell of orange blossom.

El Llaurador has been awarded four ears of wheat by the Spanish Associationof Rural Tourism (ASETUR).

CVNEWS 15
http://www.sastresegui.com/http://www.sastresegui.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.lacarrasca.es/http://www.lacarrasca.es/http://www.mediterraneorural.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.lallardaitana.com/http://www.lallardaitana.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.benimelirural.com/http://www.benimelirural.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.elmoral.es/http://www.elmoral.es/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.casaruralalbereda.com/http://www.casaruralalbereda.com/http://www.casaruralalbereda.com/mailto:[email protected]://www.elmoral.es/mailto:[email protected]://www.benimelirural.com/mailto:[email protected]://www.lallardaitana.com/mailto:[email protected]://www.mediterraneorural.com/http://www.lacarrasca.es/mailto:[email protected]://www.sastresegui.com/


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CVNEWS 16

Travellers Corner

Walk, trot and gallop!Alzira, Lliria and Cofrentes have the perfect plan for horse lovers. Riders are

lucky enough to be able to enjoy five equestrian routes along tracks andpathways around these three Valencian towns. Art and sport, water and stone,

woods and mountains, Travellers Corner offers five riding routes that passbesides fields, monasteries, rivers and reservoirs. The perfect excuse to visitthe Montes de la Concordia mountains, cross broad valleys, visit monasteries

such as Santa Mara de la Valldigna and La Murta, follow the Jcar andCabriel rivers. Riding beautiful steeds with little luggage, walking, trotting and

galloping, our Valencian adventure has only just begun.


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CVNEWS 17

Green, how I want you green.Green wind. Green branches.The ship out on the sea

and the horse on the mountain.

Federico Garca Lorca


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IE-001 The Els Monestirs........................................................................

From monastery to monasteryThe Els Monestirs route is an exciting journey through theValencian countryside, a surprising route that recovers theancient pilgrim track between the monasteries of Sant Jeronide Cotalba in Alfauir, Convent del Corpus Christi in Llutxent,Monestir de la Valldigna in Simat de la Valldigna, ConventdAiges Vives in La Barraca dAiges Vives and Monestir dela Murta in Alzira. Along the way, apart from visiting the monas-teries, you also ride through the quiet, leafy countryside of theimpassive Montdver mountain.From monastery to monastery, IE-001 is one of the most excit-ing routes through the past of Valencia, a unique journey inher-ited from those who travelled in difficult circumstances and whotravelled from monastery to monastery in order to survive. Theroute is one of the most fascinating in the province, combin-ing art, culture, countryside and nature.

The Els Monestirs-El Pas del Pobre equestrian route followsa specific signed path, ideal for riding along. It was the firstequestrian tourism route approved by the Royal Riding Associationof Spain (RFHE).

The route starts at the Monestir de Sant Jeroni de Cotalbain Alfauir and finishes at the Monestir de la Murta in Alzira, pass-ing through La Safor, La Vall dAlbaida and La Ribera Alta. Themonasteries were founded by Benedictine and Cistercian monksin the Late Middle Ages and soon became major cultural cen-tres, offering help and assistance to the most underprivileged.

Five equestrian routes along tracks and pathways

around Lliria, Cofrentes and Alzira

Travellers Corner

CVNEWS 18


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The Gothic outline of Sant Jeroni de Cotalba dominates thevalley from on high. The Duke of Gandia commissioned the monasteryto be built in 1388 and, thanks to his generous donations, itwas raised by the Hieronymite monks who had fled Denia. The

complex includes the monastic buildings and other early con-structions such as the cloister, the chapterhouse, the bell tower

and a church joined to the monastery. We then trot towards theCorpus Christi Convent, a group of buildings built by the Orderof Saint Dominic in the 14 th century on the land of a hermitagedevoted to the Holy Sacrament on top of Mont Sant. Santa Marade la Valldigna is the third stop along the way, an elegant,silent monastery enveloped in a shroud of mystery and spiritu-

al peace in the heart of La Valldigna. The route than crosses orangegroves towards Santa Mara de Aiges Vives, a convent run bythe Augustinian Fathers until the 16th century which has nowbeen converted into a hotel and convention centre. We contin-ue along the ancient pilgrim route to the last monastery, SantaMara de la Murta, a convent protected by the immense rockyoutcrops of La Creu del Cardenal and El Cavall Bernat. The mar-vellous ruins of the monastery mark the end of this equestrianroute, a divine break that crosses La Ribera, La Vall dAlbaidaand La Safor.

IE-002 Ros Jcar y Cabriel........................................................................

Between two riversThe Els Monestirs route is an exciting journey through theValencian countryside, a surprising route that recovers theancient pilgrim track between the monasteries of Sant Jeronide Cotalba in Alfauir, Convent del Corpus Christi in Llutxent, Monestirde la Valldigna in Simat de la Valldigna, Convent dAiges Vivesin La Barraca dAiges Vives and Monestir de la Murta in Alzira.Along the way, apart from visiting the monasteries, you also ridethrough the quiet, leafy countryside of the impassive Montdvermountain.

From monastery to monastery, IE-001 is one of the most exciting

routes through the past of Valencia, a unique journey inheritedfrom those who travelled in difficult circumstances and who travelledfrom monastery to monastery in order to survive. The route isone of the most fascinating in the province, combining art, culture,countryside and nature.

The Els Monestirs-El Pas del Pobre equestrian route followsa specific signed path, ideal for riding along. It was the first equestriantourism route approved by the Royal Riding Association ofSpain (RFHE).The route starts at the Monestir de Sant Jeroni de Cotalba inAlfauir and finishes at the Monestir de la Murta in Alzira,passing through La Safor, La Vall dAlbaida and La Ribera Alta.The monasteries were founded by Benedictine and Cistercianmonks in the Late Middle Ages and soon became major culturalcentres, offering help and assistance to the most underprivileged.

The Gothic outline of Sant Jeroni de Cotalba dominates thevalley from on high. The Duke of Gandia commissioned the monasteryto be built in 1388 and, thanks to his generous donations, itwas raised by the Hieronymite monks who had fled Denia. Thecomplex includes the monastic buildings and other earlyconstructions such as the cloister, the chapterhouse, the belltower and a church joined to the monastery. We then trottowards the Corpus Christi Convent, a group of buildings builtby the Order of Saint Dominic in the 14 th century on the landof a hermitage devoted to the Holy Sacrament on top of MontSant. Santa Mara de la Valldigna is the third stop along the way,

CVNEWS 19

The first route is the

Monestirs-Pas del Pobre

Route, which visits five

monasteries in La Safor, LaVall dAlbaida and La Ribera

Alta


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an elegant, silent monastery enveloped in a shroud of mysteryand spiritual peace in the heart of La Valldigna. The route than

crosses orange groves towards Santa Mara de Aiges Vives, aconvent run by the Augustinian Fathers until the 16 th centurywhich has now been converted into a hotel and conventioncentre. We continue along the ancient pilgrim route to the lastmonastery, Santa Mara de la Murta, a convent protected by theimmense rocky outcrops of La Creu del Cardenal and El CavallBernat. The marvellous ruins of the monastery mark the end ofthis equestrian route, a divine break that crosses La Ribera, LaVall dAlbaida and La Safor.

IE-003 The Volcanic Route

........................................................................

A dormant craterThis equestrian route climbs for ten kilometres up country

roads to Cofrentes volcano. The roads were used by miners exploitingthe minerals in the cone of the Volcn Cerro de Agras or CerroNegro, a dormant volcano over 500 metres above sea level. Thevolcanic outcrop of Cofrentes has been known since 1907 andhas always been associated with the spring at the Herviderosspa, where volcanic gases make the water well up as if it werepermanently boiling.

There was probably volcanic activity during the Pleistocene(Lower Quaternary), making it one of the most recent examplesof volcanic activity in the Region of Valencia. The volcanicrocks of Cerro de Agras are basalt and contain aluminiumsilicates with calcium, iron and magnesium. The basalt also containsnodules with green olivine crystals.

The route starts in the Campo del Cura recreational area onthe banks of the Jcar and climbs easily to the remains of thecrater. Here it links up with the River Cabriel, if we are followingthe main route, or continues along the secondary route to Casasde Alcance. All along the route there are panels describing thehistory of the area and viewpoint indicators.

IE-004 Alcola and ScarasMountain Route........................................................................

Muflons, goats y palmettosThe Alcola and Scaras Mountain Route runs through the south-eastern part of Cofrentes, though Los Caones del Jcar, nearthe Muela de Cortes hunting reserve. Nature is at its purest onthe steep banks of the Jcar, on its islands and beaches coveredwith pines, kermes oaks, palmettos, rosemary and lavender, amongwhich gambol mountain goats and mouflons. La Muela deCortes has been a national Big Game Hunting Reserve since 1973,meaning that we may see such animals on the rocky crags as

CVNEWS 20

Travellers Corner


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we are riding along. We can also see fish eagles, mallards andherons.

Like a living mural, the rock carved out by the water createsan abrupt but curiously soothing landscape.

The secret must lie in nature itself, flourishing on its dizzyingcliffs and smooth slopes. Here nature is spectacular andcontinuously changing, so that autumn appears in subtle shadesof ochre, while spring is bright and colourful.

The equestrian route is 23 kilometres long and affordsspectacular views of the Cofrentes valley and the Jcar canyon.

IE-005 Llria-Montes de laConcordia Route........................................................................

Coming to La ConcordiaThe last equestrian route links Lliria with the La Concordiamountains and is the fifth route approved by the Royal Riding

Association of Spain. The IE-005 is a 26.8 kilometre circularroute that runs along country roads and forest tracks, crossingwoods and traditional vineyards with evidence of their ethnologicalheritage. It also passes through unirrigated farmland withalmonds, carobs, olives and vines on the Camp del Turia plain,until it enters the Montes de la Concordia mountains, outliersof the Sierra Calderona range.

The route has a low level of difficulty, meaning that it is suitablefor both inexperienced and experienced riders, as the tracks arewide and the slopes never exceed 6% and it passes by severalreservoirs where the horses can be watered. There are alsoroads designed for use by horse-drawn carts and carriages,while other similar animals of the species, such as donkeys andmules, have also been catered for.

*QF Turisme, a company specialising in preparing and signingtourist resources, prepared routes IE-001 in Alzira and routesIE-002, IE-003 and IE-004 in Cofrentes. Route IE-005 inLlria is sponsored by the Town Hall and was prepared byresearchers from the Valencia Polytechnic University headed byMara Jos Vials.

INFORMATION

QF TurismeTel. 962 402 690www.qfturisme.com

Real Federacin Espaola de HpicaTel. 914 364 200www.rfhe.com

Federacin Hpica de la Comunitat ValencianaTel. 963 925 695www.fhcv.org

Tourist Info AlziraTel. 962 419 551 / 961 116 776

Tourist Info CofrentesTel. 961 894 316

Tourist Info LlriaTel. 962 791 522

CVNEWS 21

The Region of Valencia owns the five first equestrian routes

that the Real Spanish Equestrian Federation

has accredited in Spain

[i
http://www.qfturisme.com/http://www.rfhe.com/http://www.fhcv.org/http://www.fhcv.org/http://www.rfhe.com/http://www.qfturisme.com/


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CVNEWS 22

La Maderada de

Cofrentes recreates

the work of the

gancheros or

madereros, a trade

that has now

disappeared

For many centuries, the River Cabriel wasthe only way to transport tree trunksfrom the Serrana de Cuenca range to thesea. The madererosor gancheroswereresponsible for guiding the trunks aroundany obstacles on their long journey.

As years went by, the trade becameconsolidated and the sight of the trunks

floating downriver guided by the gancherosbecame a deep-seated tradition for thoseliving in this town in the Ayora-CofrentesValley. The madereros developed anorganisation consisting of a maestro deconduccin, who managed everything,onemayoralfor the front part and anotherfor the back, the cudrilleros, who headedcompanies of 10 or 12 men, and a largesupport group that included the guisandero,who looked after the food, the centinelas,who were responsible for signalling and

opening the locks, and the mudaerowho fetched and carried clean clothing.The construction of the Valencia-Utiel

railway in 1885 meant that a landing stagecould be built on the left bank downstreamof the Contreras bridge, from wheremuch of the wood was taken by cartalong the road to Utiel. The madereroswere last heard of in the 1920s whenlorries started being used for the work.

More than just a trade, the professionof gancherowas a tradition handed down

from father to son in Cofrentes. Timeshave changed and being a madereroisno longer a viable trade, but Cofrenteshas recovered the tradition for its festivalsin May with La Maderada and it hasconsolidated itself as a tribute to this riskyprofession.

Madereros de Cofrentes:a recovered tradition

LETS VISIT:

As part of the festivals in May, Cofrentes celebratesan age-old tradition that has been recovered to becomethe centrepiece of the towns celebrations. TheMaderada recreates the work of the gancherosormadereros, who used to guide logs down the RiverCabriel, from the Serrana de Cuenca to theValencian coast.

Travellers Corner

[i]INFORMACINwww.turismocofrentes.com
http://www.turismocofrentes.com/http://www.turismocofrentes.com/


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CVNEWS

El Caramelito RestaurantClub de Tenis AlziraUrbanizacin El Respirall46600 AlziraTel. 962419582www.restauranteelcaramelito.com

SMOKED WHOLE FOIE GRAS MICUIT WITH ARROPTALLAETES, BALSAMIC YOGHURT AND RYE SPONG

WITH SPICES

Recipe for 4 servings

Tradition and innovation combineto create the signature feature atEl Caramelito restaurant in Alzira.This charming establishmenthas been run by Vicky Sez,maitre d and wine steward,over the last three years and is

where head chef David Ramrez puts together different flavoursto create surprising dishes, minimalist in form and baroque inflavours.

El Caramelito is housed in the prestigious Club de Tenis Alzira.The restaurant opened in 1972 in exquisitely decorated modernpremises surrounded by leafy orange groves, with views of theSanta Mara de la Murta Monastery and the Mediterranean Sea.This is all part of its charm, as is its market cuisine, which varieswith the seasons. El Caramelito can hold 120 diners and alsoorganises personally-tailored banquets for weddings and firstcommunions.

e restaurant specialises in rice dishes and offers suchspectacular starters as sepietas con figatells(baby cuttlefishwith Valencian meatballs), croquetas de chipirones en su tinta(baby squid croquettes in ink) and steak tartare, as well as desserts

that include Minigofre con helado de queso de oveja(mini-wafflewith sheep cheese ice cream) and strawberries in PedroXimenez sweet wine.

El Caramelito opens every day and its 13 Euro Menu of theDay is available from Monday to Friday and includes a choiceof three starters and two main courses. A la carte meals withwine included cost around 30 Euros per head.

El Caramelito

Foie:400 g foie extra1.5 litres milk150 g AmarettoSalt and PepperWood chips and an instant smokergun

Yogur balsmico:90 gr. de yogur griego2 gr. juanolas25 gr. agua hirviendo

Bizcocho:5 huevos60 grs. harina de centeno60 grs. harina trigo integral50 grs. miel50 grs. azcar moreno5 grs. comino molido20 grs. jengibre rallado100 gr. de arrop i tallaetes

Balsamic yoghurt:90 g Greek yoghurt2 g Juanolaliquorice sweets25 g boiling water

Sponge:5 eggs60 g rye flour60 g wholemeal wheat flour50 g honey50 g brown sugar5 g ground cumin20 g grated ginger100 g arrop i tallaetes(pumpkinin grape must syrup)

Preparation:Smoke the Foie-gras with the inssmoker gun and leave it to seat room temperature for 30 minSeason and carefully scorchsides on the grill pan. Place inmilk and Amaretto mixture leave in the cool room for 24 hoRemove and place in a 99% coobag. Steam for 50 minutes at 6After 50 minutes, remove theand place in a bowl with cold w

ice and salt. Leave in the bowan hour, remove and cover cling film. Press and roll with bhands until the foie forms a Put back into the bowl and lein the cool room until the followday.

To make the balsamic yoghdissolve the Juanolaliquorice in boiling water to make a pasteslowly mix it with the yoghurt

To make the sponge, whipegg yolks and sugar togetadding the cumin, honey ginger. Then beat the whites u

stiff and finally fold in the sieflour mix. Place everything in a stick rectangular cake mouldplace in the oven for 25 minat 170 C.

Assembling the dish:Cut the foie-gras into 1.5 centimslices and arrange overlappeda plate, alongside a dash of balsayoghurt and the chopped arrtallaetes. Finally, decorate wisprig of herb and pumpkin seServe with the rye sponge.

TRADITIONAL CUISINE WITH A TWIST
http://www.turismocofrentes.com/http://www.turismocofrentes.com/http://www.turismocofrentes.com/http://www.turismocofrentes.com/http://www.turismocofrentes.com/http://www.turismocofrentes.com/http://www.restauranteelcaramelito.com/http://www.restauranteelcaramelito.com/


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CVNEWS 24


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CVNEWS 25

an interview with...

Inma

BermdezDESIGN BY VOCATION

Inma Bermdez has become what she hasalways wanted to be: a designer. For some

time now she has worked from her base inValencia for Ikea, the huge Swedishmultinational, while creating exquisitepieces for Lladr and spectacular bottlesfor one of the champagnes from the TorreOria winery. These very different projectsallow her to switch from the functional tothe superfluous, from the simple to thecomplex, from the natural to the effective.

She began her professional career aftergraduating in Industrial Design from theCardenal Herrera CEU University inValencia and spending a years workexperience at the Pforzheim School ofApplied Sciences and Design in Germany.After spending some time at a Vitra DesignMuseum workshop in France, Bermdezwas persuaded by Sigga Heimis, one of her

teachers, to send a sample of her projectsto Ikea and she got the job. Thiscommission led to the creation of theLillangen washbasin, one of Ikeas iconicdesigns. And thats where it all began forInma Bermdez.

Designers

have to be

able to fulfilclients

expectations


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How did you get into the world of design?Ive liked painting and drawing ever since I was little. Iimagined what my room could look like, changing thefurniture and colours. I had no idea what design was thenbut I enjoyed doing it. As I got older, I started studyingIndustrial Design in Valencia, although I finally opted for

product design. The truth is that design is my vocationand I cant imagine doing anything else in my life.

What was your first design?The furniture in my room when I was a little girl. As aprofessional, and besides my university projects, Iproduced several product designs in Germany atelephone and some refrigerators. Thats when I changedcourse, although with much more industrial design workthan what I do now.

And your first design for Ikea?I designed the Lillangen washbasin in 2006, althoughit didnt appear in the catalogue for a couple of years,because you work well in advance at Ikea.

You work for both Ikea and Lladr. How do you manageto conciliate two totally opposite brands?I love it, because I like both aspects, precisely becausethey are two sides of the same coin. I have to say thatI believe designers need to be able fulfil clientsexpectations. On the one hand, I love working with theLladr Internal Design Department because of theornamental nature of its pieces, because they aredecorative, romantic and tell stories. On the contrary, mywork at Ikea involves designs which have to be functionaland flat-pack friendly. I believe that designers have toadapt to what they are asked for, they need to beversatile. I always try to put myself in the shoes of theperson who has commissioned the work.

Its not your case now because youre very well-knownin the design world, but the brand you work for gets allthe recognition, doesnt it? How do you come to termswith that?Ive never looked for professional recognition becauseIm happy doing what I do, I feel lucky, I have a greattime and get paid for it as well. Although I am better knownthan I used to be a few years ago, its not something Ivelooked for. Ive never wanted to be famous, just to workat what I do.

Where do you find the inspiration for designing acollection?It all depends. Life, my personal experiences, chanceFor example, at Ikea I get my inspiration from my own

CVNEWS 26

Ever since I was little Ive liked

painting and drawing, I

imagined what my room could

look like, changing the

furniture and colours

My dream is to be happy and enjoy

life, my family, the countryside and

my home

inma

berm

dez


27/33

needs and from functionality. Lladr is different because,as I mentioned before, the pieces are artistic, with their

own stories. However, inspiration doesnt come out of thinair, you have to work at it.

Is there any particular design you admire?I love Lego bricks. I think theyre exceptional, fourcoloured blocks that you can make thousands of thingswith. Many generations of children have Lego and its stillpopular. Its a game that will never go out of fashion, itsmodern and will continue to be so.

What are you working on at the moment?Im working on lighting and the Parrots Party collection

for Lladr. Im working on lighting for Ikea as well, butwith glass. Im also building my own house. Were nearlyfinished and, although its a bit stressful, Im happy.

What are your plans for the future?We want to finish the house were building in the country.My partner is an architect and weve designed thefurniture and are going to make everything ourselves. Asfar as work goes, Im open to anything and hope that lifekeeps on presenting me with gifts like it has done up tonow.

Have you got a dream?I want to be happy and enjoy life, my family, thecountryside and my home, be with my dogs and, ofcourse, be healthy.

What do you think of design in the Region of Valencia?I think its incredible. There are excellent professionalswho have been working in the international market formany years and we also have excellent training schools.Id like the business community to make more of acommitment to design because weve got a fantastic industry

thats a little bit lethargic. I think you have to changewith the times if youre going to compete. However,despite the economic difficulties were going through,Im positive about the future.

Whereabouts in the Region of Valencia would you liketo get away to?I love being at home. I also like going to the Hoces delCabriel and Chulilla, walking in the country or along thebeach with my dogs, but only in the spring and autumn,never in the summer.

www.inmabermudez.com

CVNEWS 27

There are excellent professionals in

the Region of Valencia who havebeen working in the international

market for many years
http://www.inmabermudez.com/http://www.inmabermudez.com/


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The J. Belda Winery was found-ed in 1931 and is run by theenologist Daniel Belda, whohas managed to obtain high-quality single varietals of wine.Daniel has combined familytradition with the improvementsmade by new technologies andthe recovery of indigenous vari-eties.

Verdil 2011 is the result ofthe confidence placed in Verdil,an indigenous short-cycle grapethat had almost disappeared.Thanks to his personal com-mitment and enological know-how, Daniel Belda has managedto recover this grape and createa modern wine that respectsthe unique nature and authen-ticity of the Verdil grape.

The winery is located inFontanars dels Alforins, a dis-trict in the Clariano subzone, oneof the four that make up theValencia Designation of Originarea. The vineyard lies in the heart

of a valley at an altitude of sixhundred metres. It is set insandy soil with a low yield andis kept shaded in summer dueto the amount of sunshine thearea receives as a result of itscontinental climate.

The Verdil is harvested early,in the second fortnight in August.Once picked, it is taken to thewinery, pressed and cryomac-erated for 7 to 8 hours at atemperature of 5C. The skinsare then separated from the

flower must, which moves on tocontrolled alcoholic fermenta-tion with selected yeasts at 15-16 C.

FACT FILE:D.O.: Valencia.Subzone: ClarianoTown: Fontanars del Alforins.Winery: J. Belda.Enologist: Daniel Belda.Variety: 100 % verdil.

Type of wine: young white.Alcohol content: 12%.

TASTING NOTES:Appearance: clean, bright andalmost crystalline.Colour: strawish-yellow withgreenish iridescence.Bouquet: very expressive, withthe flowery notes characteristicof the variety, hints of greenapple, pineapple and peach,together with herbaceous notesand elegant jasmine floweraromas.Palate: smooth, balanced andwith a refreshing passage throughthe mouth. A light passage witha somewhat bitter finish that isvery agreeable on the palate.Aftertaste: medium to long,highlighting a finish with markedcitrus notes.Accompaniment: all kinds ofgrilled or steamed white fish,shellfish, crustaceans andmolluscs. Also ideal as an

aperitif.Serving temperature: 8C

What we offer

MONSTRANCE IN SAN ESTEBAN

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La Luz de las Imgenes Foundation has restored a monstrancefrom San Esteban Church in Valencia. The piece dates back tothe second half of the 18thcentury and is made of delicately carvedwood with acanthus leaves, scrolls and volutes that frame a smallimage of the face of Christ.

Such devotional items showing the face of Christ became veryimportant after the Council of Trent, as they were regarded assanctuary items. When the technical staff from La Luz de lasImgenes decided to restore the monstrance, it was in piecesas a result of incorrect storage in a very damp atmosphere. In

addition, wood-boring insects had attacked the base and the stemthat connects it to the central body.Restoration of this valuable piece began with a slow process

of consolidating and protecting all its parts, followed by cleaningand assembly. The parts were then consolidated with stuccoworkto strengthen the wooden support. The restorers from La Luz delas Imgenes then gilded the worn areas, wearing down the newgold to match the original, and repainted the whole piece withwater colours.

www.laluzdelasimagenes.es

CVNEWS 28

Verdil 2011Bodega J. Belda

Bodega J. Belda.C/ Salvatierra, 5446635 Fontanars delsAlforinsTel: 962 222 245 /962 222 278www.danielbelda.com
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Theres a new star in Valencian gastronomy: the Valencian oysteThese molluscs are known as Perles de Valencia(Pearls of Valenciaand have been cultivated since last year on clchinamusse

rafts in the Port of Valencia. They are now being commercialiseand have received an excellent welcome from the marketDeltimussel, the company heading the project to develop thfirst Valencian oysters known as Perles de Valenca, has ovethirty years experience cultivating clchinamussels and is member of the Port of Valencia Mussel Association.

The fact that they have been raised in Valencian waters givethe oysters extraordinary organoleptic qualities that have beepraised by both critics and the very best Spanish restaurants

There are currently three rafts that have been authorised fothe new crop and which will produce some fifty thousanddozen oysters before the summer, when the oysters will sharcentre stage with the Valencian clchinamussel.

The remaining rafts will gradually come into service, providin

an excellent alternative as regards employment for the marinworkers with a crop that, unlike the clchinamussel, can bproduced all year round.

www.lesperlesdevalencia.es

DAFFOFILS AROUND LA MATA AND TORREVIEJA LAGOONS

A survey carried out by the Department of Infrastructures,Territory and the Environment has counted 1,033 daffofilsaround the lagoons in the La Mata and Torrevieja nature park.This great number of plants shows the excellent health of thisspecies that is endemic to the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula.It should be pointed out that 865 plants were found in just twentysquare metres near the Torrevieja lagoon.

The Nature Park is also developing a daffodil conservation project,part of the Rare, Endemic and Threatened Flora ConservationProgramme for this protected area. The area surrounding the La

Mata and Torrevieja lagoons is home to two species of daffodils:Narcissus miniatus, where the centre of the flower has an orangecrown, with a leafless stalk and flowers on the tip, and Narcisusserotinus, with a green or greenish-yellow crown and a stalk witha single flower.

The daffodil conservation work carried out by Infrastructuresand the Environment has been performed by thirty volunteers fromthe Rutas y Caminos de la Sal Association, which also helps protectother plants, such as the Orchis collinaorchid and Cynomoriumcoccineum, better known as foxs brush.

www.cma.gva.es

CVNEWS 29

PRESENTING THE PEARL OF VALENCIA OYSTER TO SOCIE
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The board of directors of the Circuit de la Comunitat ValencianaRicardo Tormo racetrack has decided to name one of the curvesof the Cheste track after Nico Terol. Terol is the fourth Valencianrider to win a world motorcycle championship and joins Doohan,Aspar, Adrin Campos, Champi Herreros and ngel Nieto, whoalso have curves named after them.

www.circuitvalencia.com

The members of the Cynomysfamily at Mundomar, better knownas prairie dogs, are awakeningfrom there hibernation in theirburrows, real feats of undergroundengineering. The prairie dogs have

been underground until the goodweather returned and these happylittle rodents have returned to runaround in the sunshine and delightvisitors to the most prestigiouswildlife park in Spain.

www.mundomar.es

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SEGORBE NOSTRUM IN 2012 FLOS OLEI GUIDE

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NICO TEROL, UNA CURVA EN EL CIRCUIT

INTERNATIONAL SCOPE AT BERKLEE VALENCIA

The extra virgin olive oil SegorbeNostrum has Region of ValenciaProtected Designation status andis produced by the San Isidrocooperative in Segorbe. The oil hasbeen included in the 2012 Flos

Olei Guide after taking part inits well-known internationalcompetition. Segorbe NostrumIntenso sin Filtrar is an unfilteredand intense extra virgin olive oilmade from the Serrana Espadnvariety of olive and is now one ofa privileged group made up ofthe best oils in the world.

Thanks to Berklee Valencia, the Region of Valenciasinternational presence has been further reinforced in the fieldof music teaching. This is the first time that the Berklee Collegeof Music has opened a campus outside of Boston. Theschool will prepare students who will become leaders andcreators of the world music community in the future. The campuscovers 3,600 square meters and is housed in the southernannexe of the Palau de Les Arts.

www.berkleevalencia.org

SPRING IN MUNDOMAR

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CVNEWS 30

www.doaceitecomunitatvalenciana.com

NewsFlash
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Publications

Valencia Gua Total

This 248 page guidebook was preparedby Pascual Izquierdo and describeseleven routes around the city on theRiver Turia. There is also a map ofValencia to help you get around andfind the most important monuments.Valencia. Gua Total gives visitorsthe chance to learn more aboutValencias history, art, food and drinkand also contains interesting sectionson the festivals and culture to be foundin the city. The Practical Information

chapter includes details on a numberof hotels, a complete street map ofthe city as well as other maps ofaccess routes to the city and theunderground.

www.anayatouring.com

Los murals of the Castelln regional council buildi..............................................................................................................

Elda footpath guide......................................................................

This book was written by Antonio JosGasc and contains descriptionsand technical and iconographicanalyses of the ten murals thatdecorate the lobby of the ProvincialCouncil building in Castelln. Overthe last ten years, the artist fromBurriana, Vicente Travel Calzada,has devoted himself to capturing in

these major paintings the mostdiverse features that form an integralpart of the districts that lie withinthe Region of Valencias northernmostprovince. The Penyagolosa massif,the Valltorta cave paintings, theentrance of the bulls in Segorbe and the war dances of Todolellaare some examples of the history and mythology that appear inthe book.

Cocina tradicional valenciana

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Through Elda, Around Boln,

Around Camara, Elda-Salinas and

Las Caadasare the six routescontained in this guide. It also hasinformation on accommodation,useful telephone numbers,recommendations, diagrams, amap and other practical informationfor walkers. The routes vary indifficulty and range from 7.31 to34.30 kilometres, so some takelonger than others. The Eldafootpath guideis very visual andhelps you find the informationyou need very quickly, making itan essential addition to any naturelovers backpack.

www.elda.es

CVNEWS 31

Rafael Mrmol is a chef fromAlczar de San Juan who hasspent over three and a half yearstravelling around the Region ofValencia, interviewing professionalsand other people to prepare thebook entitled Cocina tradicionalvalenciana. The book containsover 370 recipes for dishes thatinclude salads, salted fish,vegetables, stews, casseroles,

meat, fish, game and rice, as wellas fruit and desserts, recoveringlong-forgotten flavours and tastes.These very simply preparedregional dishes from Alicante,Castelln and Valencia areexcellent examples of the world-renowned Mediterranean cuisine.

www.carenaeditors.com
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The Teatro Principal in Alicante is set to stage 16performances of The Sound of Music. The musical willrun from 26th April to 6th May and is the biggestproduction to have ever toured Spain, with a cast andcrew of over 100 people responsible for 22 set changesand the 140 costumes worn by the shows child andadult stars.

Set in Austria under the shadow of the Nazis, thetwo-and-a-half-hour show charts the changing

relationships within a family with seven children uponthe arrival of their new governess, a nun named Maria.The musical is based on the novel The Story of theTrapp Family Singers, in which the protagonists flee ina tale of great ingenuity and charm in which, in thewords of the shows director, veteran Jaime Azpilicueta,who has also directed Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar andCabaret, theatre and music combine to whisk us offto a world of emotions.

The Sound of Music is the latest addition in the line-up of top musicals to have graced the stage of theTeatro Principal in recent years, including the Spanishhits 40 El Musical, Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar,

Chicago, Mamma Mia, Jesus Christ Superstar, SaturdayNight Fever and Los Emigrantes.

Teatro PrincipalPlaza Chap, s/n03001 AlicanteTel. 965 203 100www.teatroprincipaldealicante.com

Whats on

Information on festivals and events in theRegion of Valencia is available atwww.comunitatvalenciana.com[i]

CVNEWS 32

On the 16th May, the Hotel Bayrn on Gandia beach will

be hosting the 38th edition of the Gandia International FideuCompetition. Held to honour and promote the towns mostoriginal and delicious typical dish, this long-standingcompetition has now earned a name for itself both nation-ally and internationally.

Over the years, the Gandia International FideuCompetition has attracted entries from cookery schoolrepresentatives and top chefs from all over the world,with regular appearances from Italy, France, Asia, Americaand even Mexico, who have faithfully sent a delegation everyyear for several years now.

The best fideuwill be awarded 6,000 euros and willearn its creator the prestigious Collar de Santa Isabelchain, with 3,000 euros going to the best freestyle dishand 1,000 euros apiece for the best buffet and bestdessert.

Following a hard-fought selection process, some 20 chefswill earn themselves a place in the competition proper andwill have to prepare a fideu for 10 diners.

There are several versions of how this dish first cameinto being, with one story being that it was invented byGandia sailors who decided to cook a seafood paella outat sea before realising they had no rice, only noodles, andthus they made a noodle paella instead.

www.visitgandia.com

THE SOUND OF MUSIC COMES TO ALICANTE

GANDIA, THE ART OF FIDEU
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