Callosa

Callosa d´En Sarriá´s curious name comes from Bernat d´En Sarriá, the first Christian feudal lord of Boronía, an area of Moorish influences and agriculture. He subsequently transferred ownership to the Bou family and the village eventually became the property of Conde Orgaz, a descendant of the famous protagonist of the burial painted by El Greco that hangs in the Church of St Thomas in Toledo. The historical disputes regarding its ownership and the limits of its borders are due to its privileged access to water – Callosa is situated between the Guadalest and Algar Rivers, and is 3 km from the impressive springs and waterfalls of the Algar River. The Aitana Sierra (1,558 m), the Sierra de Bernia (1,360) and the Ponoch Sierra (1,100) are further up the valley. The great abundance of water and the mild climate have enabled Mediterranean produce such as almonds and vines to be cultivated in traditional terraces. Tropical produce such as kiwis, mangoes and especially medlar are also grown. Callosa produces more than half of the total national production of medlar and a Denominación de Origen (label of origin) applies to the entire area. Today Callosa is closely involved in the tourist market due to its proximity to Benidorm and Altea. It is a beautiful white and ochre coloured town with an old town centre where visitors can see the Iglesia de San Juan Bautista (Church of St John the Baptist), designed by Antonio Gilabert Fornés, and an Old Quarter surrounding a unique church in whose vestibule the medieval arch providing access to the interior is still visible. The remnants of the medieval walls can be seen, especially in the Plaça del Castell, where the residence of the feudal lord is located. The well-known and much visited Fuentes del Algar is located 3 kilometres away and visits can be made to the various waterfalls and the Environmental Museum.