Benimantell (Valley of Guadalest)

Introduction

Benimantell is a municipality in the Valencian Community. It is located in the interior of the province of Alicante, in the region of the Marina Baja and in the sub-region of the Valley of Guadalest.

Located in the Valley of Guadalest it lies in the foothills of the Aitana Mountains, which provides interesting excursions. It is settled only a kilometer from the ever touristy Guadalest. From Alicante, you can access the AP-7 motorway or the N-332 road taking the CV-70 in Benidorm.

The municipality of Benimantell borders with the towns of Beniardá, Benidorm, Benifato, Castell de Castells, Finestrat, Guadalest, Polop and Sella.

Description

It is basically an agricultural and mountain village located in the Valley of Guadalest , in the shady area of ​​the Aitana Mountain , and dedicated to the farming of almond and olive trees. Its streets are very steep giving the curious case that one of them is called Trencacames (breaking legs) due to the slope sharpness. You can buy a magnificent oil in the cooperative. Meat sausages are excellent tasting. This is an area of ​​a high aquifer value with good quality. Springs are abundant, such as the Molí, the Arc, the Pi, or the Salines Springs. They have accommodation in rural houses, and also a hostel. There are also a set of several restaurants offering the best of traditional cuisine. It takes part in the tourism development produced throughout the valley around the Castell de Guadalest.

Agriculture exclusively, with almond and olive trees. Good quality oil. Due to influences of the tourism to the proximity to Castell de Guadalest a great chain of restaurants of traditional cuisine with very good quality has been consolidated.

It was a Muslim Farmhouse founded towards 1249, It started depending on Guadalest after the Christian conquest in the middle of 13^th century. It was repopulated by Christians, mostly from Aragon, once the Moriscos were expelled in 1609. During the eighteenth century the town saw a remarkable population growth, reaching 1,012 inhabitants in the mid-nineteenth century. However, since then the locality has suffered a continuous depopulation, with a negative peak in 1991 (404 inhabitants counted). Since then the population has been maintained with a slight increase, until the 466 inhabitants in 2007. The emigration during 20^th century has been directed to the provincial capital being settled in the Old Town.

The Youngsters Festivity
They are celebrated from 8  to 12 August in honour of Saint Lorenzo

- October Festivals: 

They are celebrated every year during the weekend, the third Sunday of October included, and are dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament.

Feast of St. Vincent Martyr. It is celebrated on 22^nd January, day of San Vicente Martyr, patron of the locality.