Cycling route Alcoy

Beautiful route that we can enjoy from the town of Alcoy / Alcoi. A very rewarding route from the landscape point of view, and that does not require a high physical or technical level. Although the lighting of the tunnels is in good condition, we recommend bringing both front and rear lights on the bicycle for safety reasons (Not only because you can see in the tunnels in the event of failure of the lighting. Also because of being seen by other cyclists and pedestrians). We start the route in the Batoi neighborhood. Exactly at the intersection between Els Canalóns and Mondúber streets. Next we will see a small rest area that announces the start of the route and has water, bicycle parking, tables, information maps and WC (the latter only open on Sunday market). Practically as soon as we start the route, we enjoy beautiful views to our right of Els Canalons and Salt, from the bridge that receives the same name: "Pont del Salt" or also known as Barxell Viaduct. El chorro del Salt is a well known waterfall in the Barxell River in Alcoy / Alcoi due to its proximity to the population and the spectacular nature it possesses. Unfortunately, most of the year is inactive due to lack of flow in the river and only with the abundant rains of spring or autumn, regrowth. However, the place is very attractive both from the geological and architectural point of view. In El Salt, several industrial buildings stand out, currently without activity, together with other residential buildings, which make up a unique landscape. The waters of the Barxell River, channeled through galleries and ditches, favored the establishment of flour mills and, above all, paper mills - dedicated to the manufacture of smoking paper - whose origin dates back to the second half of the 18th century. Only 1Km., Having started the route we enter the first tunnel (600m), at the exit of which we find the huge and beautiful viaduct of the "Pont de les Set Llunes" or "Bridge of the Seven Moons" . This bridge was built for the Alcoy / Alcoi - Alicante / Alacant train to pass through here, which never circulated. This spectacular viaduct over the Polop River (260m long and 46m high), which offers stunning views over Alcoy / Alcoi, the Font Roja Natural Park and the Sierra de Mariola Natural Park, receives its name from the number of arches that make up the structure, and traditionally in the area the semicircular arches are called moons. This explains the name of the bridge. At the height of km 3.7 there is another rest area and the Mas de la Font de l'Olivereta viewpoint. Magnificent opportunity to contemplate panoramic views and rural architecture. The road continues alternating small tunnels - not all with lighting - and areas with thick vegetation, until it leaves (at km 4.8) at the height of the municipal sports center. If we want to access it and enjoy a little rest, we must deviate from the path of the track a few meters to later climb the ramp and recover the road. From here, the Greenway passes through the Sierra de Sant Antoni and the Barranc de la Batalla, places of great beauty that unfortunately are barely visible in this section, since it runs through the three longest tunnels of the route ( 324, 917 and 1013 meters respectively). Between the second and the third tunnel, the small great bridge known as the Sant Antoni Viaduct awaits us. It was built to save the ravine of the same name that converges downstream with the Molinar River, tributary of the Serpis. Once we have crossed the third and longest tunnel, we arrive at the “L´Estepar” site, which gives its name to the rest area where we make a small stop and finish our route, to start the turn on our steps. We do not continue to be from this point the route in worse conditions, and the route is set to go as a family or for those cyclists who are starting in this beautiful sport. However, for those who want to extend the route a little longer, it continues to pass very close to the Sarga, a hamlet of Jijona / Xixona, near which there are some cave paintings declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. There we will find beautiful views, and the final plate. Even so, we can continue the route along a beautiful and not particularly complicated path that runs substantially parallel to the CV-800 and that will take us to the summit of La Carrasqueta with nothing more and nothing less than 1,020m., High, from where We can see spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea. But to make this last section should be informed as there are many forest tracks and paths in the area that can lead us to error, and would be the object of another route.