We again depart from the Town Hall Square, going past the side of 'La
Íglesia de la Asunción' (Church of the Assumption) and heading for the
historical center of the Villa.
We reach a small square known as the 'Tou de Sant Pere', built over what
was previously the trench of the Arab Castle of Bekirent and where we can
admire a tiled image of Saint Pere of XVIII Century. From here we head
towards the left, into the street, 'Calle Cantareria' where the pavement
is particularly narrow and excavated from the very rock.
This is something that can be experienced throughout the
whole of the medieval quarter, where the houses are also built directly on the
rock. On this street, it is worth noting such picturesque and interesting
corners such as the 'Calca Excusada', in old times used as a secondary door of
access into the village: Those who did not arrive before the set time at which
they closed the main doors, would try to get in this way, and if not allowed
in would spend the night "under the Valencia moon".
Continuing up this street we reach the 'Plaza de la Cantereria', where we find
important mansions of the medieval era, 'la Font de Gracia' (The Fountain of
Grace), 1974 from we can see a magnificent view of Sierra Mariola. We will
continue our walk until we reach la Ermita de la Virgen de Agosto (The
Hermitage of Our Lady of August).
Itinerary through the medieval quarters (3)
Dedicated to the Virgin ofthe Assumption, it was built after the conquest
of Bocairent by the troops of King James I in 1245. Following tradition,
King James I ordered it to be built over the old entry gate to the town so
as everyone who entered the villa, would do so under her protection. This
gate is known as the 'Portxe de la Mare de Deu d'Agost' (The Door of the
Mother of God of August) or 'Portal de l'Almaguer'. As such, the hermitage
is found just above the dome which leads in from the arch and makes corner
with another house. On the façade, we have a tiled altarpiece of the
Virgin of the Ascension with an inscription that reads, 'The Ascension of
Our Lady. (1855). The Hermitage has a bell steeple with a simple wrought
iron cross and five stone stairs lead into its interior. It is of square
floor, with chequered black and white floor, blue walls and a fleuron
roof. The masonry altarpiece is of Renaissance style and it its center a
niche shelters the Virgin. On either side niched aisles, on the right with
images of Saint Raymond and Saint Edelmira and on the left with the Sacred
Heart. Leaving the Hermitage, to the right we see one of the many
fountains in Bocairent, the Font de l'Almaguer (1794). From here we go up
the 'Carrer de les Voltes', of pure Arab style and into 'Raco de la Prensa',
named as such because it was the site of the old printing press for the
textile industry, no longer used today. From here we exit into 'La Placeta
de San Vicent' (Saint Vincent Square), where the Town Hall was situated
years ago and the Saint preached in 1410. We head into the street, 'Calle
del Batlle' and admire important Renaissance houses, suchas the one in
which the painter, John of Johns lived during his stay in Bocairent in
1578. On the left we have 'Carrer de l'Embos', a small and picturesque
narrow road with a width of less than a meter. Following on, on 'la Calle
del Battle' we come to the barrerra Vella (Old Barrier), under the main
door of the parochial temple, where we end our route that we could well
describe as "The Route of Wonders"
Bocairent information page. 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 /
