Sorry, this trip is now fully booked; if you would like to be added to the reserve list, please send an email to Angela Chantry at the email address shown at the bottom of the page.
Elche de la Sierra is considered the birthplace of the sawdust carpet creations centred around the Feast of Corpus Christi. On the Saturday before the feast, 3 squares and 27 street sections are converted into real-life canvases upon which 30 carpets will appear – colourful compositions that alternate between religious scenes and geometric figures. They will barely last three hours, and they will be destroyed with the passing of the Corpus procession, but the 30 groups of carpet-artists will have been preparing for months prior to the event. Competing for the honour of the most impressive carpet creation, their designs become more spectacular with each year. The festival has earned the distinction of National Touristic Interest.
DAY 1 THURSDAY 30TH MAY: Jávea / Molina de Segura (165 km) / Hellín (75 km)
08.30 hrs: Departure from Avenida Bruselas (layby opposite petanque park), behind Mas y Mas, Jávea Arenal.
08.45 hrs: Second departure from Interiors (opposite side of the road), Jávea port.
09.00 hrs: Third pick up at Mas y Mas on the N332.
Comfort step enroute to Molina de Segura.
11.15 hrs: Refreshment break in a café bar near MUDEM.
12.00 hrs: Guided walking visit, including El Museo del Enclave de la Muralla (MUDEM), designed to house and display the remains of the medieval wall which was built almost a thousand years ago by the Moors to protect the town of Mulinat-as-Sikka.
13.30 hrs: Free time for lunch in one of the café/bars near to the Parque de la Compañía, which is full of specimen trees and plants with many different varieties of palms, conifers and shrubs, as well as a replica of an old water mill.
15.00 hrs: Reboard our coach and travel to Hellín
16.15 hrs: Arrival and check in to the 3* Hotel Restaurante Emilio (3 nights’ half-board accommodation, dinner & breakfast included). Rest of the afternoon free for own sightseeing.
DAY 2 Friday 31st May: Hellín / Elche de la Sierra (36 kms) / Letur (28 km) / Hellín
From 07.30 hrs: Breakfast (café/infusion, juice and tostada or pastries).
09.15 hrs: Departure for Elche de la Sierra.
10.00 hrs: Guided visit to the Museo Alfombras Elche de la Sierra, the only ephemeral art museum in the country (the group will be divided into two, one half visiting the museum whilst the other half have a refreshment break, then alternating).
11. 40 hrs: Both groups get together again at the El Búho Café Cultural, reboard our coach and departure for Letur.
12.30 hrs: Arrival in Letur and free time to wander around its narrow streets and to have lunch. The old town was declared an Historical-Artistic Site in 1983 for being the best preserved medieval layout of Arab origin in the province of Albacete.
15.45 hrs: Reboard our coach and return to Hellín.
20.00 hrs: Group dinner in the hotel restaurant.
DAY 3 Saturday 1st June: Hellín / Liétor (28 km) / Hellín
From 07.30 hrs: Breakfast
09.30 hrs: Travel to Liétor.
10.15 hrs: Free time for refreshments.
11.00 hrs: Guided visit.
13.00 hrs: Free time for lunch.
14.30 hrs: Return to Hellin; rest of the afternoon free.
20.00 hrs: Dinner for the group in the hotel restaurant.
Day 4: Sunday 2nd June
08.00 hrs: Breakfast.
09.30 hrs: Check out and load luggage onto the coach; travel to Elche de la Sierra. On arrival, free time to view the carpets.
12.00 hrs: Corpus Christi Festival and free time for lunch.
14.30 hrs: Reboard our coach and return to Jávea; comfort break enroute.
18.00 hrs: Approximate return arrival time in Jávea.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
Coach, guided visits as detailed; 3 nights’ half board accommodation (dinner & breakfast) in the 3* Hotel Restaurante Emilio (rooms in the newer section); gratuities.
PRICE
Sharing a twin/double room: per person €240
For a detailed copy of the programme and to book, please contact the group leader, Angela Chantry: spanish.culture.cuisine@u3ajavea.com
