Busot

Busot is a medieval village at the foot of the Cabeçó d'Or massif, about 20 km north of Alicante. The Canelobre caves, with one of the highest cave vaults in Spain, lie within the municipality, and mountain trails surround the village.

Busot is a small, quiet inland village about 20 km north of Alicante and some 7 km from the coast at El Campello. It sits at the foot of the Cabeçó d'Or massif, whose 1209 m summit is one of the highest peaks in the province of Alicante. The village has Moorish roots: in 1252 King Alfonso X the Wise placed it within the district of Alicante, and Busot only became an independent municipality in 1773. On a hill on the outskirts of the village lie the remains of a castle dating back to Arab times, now completely in ruins. In the centre you can visit the parish church of San Lorenzo Mártir, climb Calvario hill for views of the area and see the old Pont de la Bassa washing place. The old town is also home to the Museum of Ethnic Music, which displays a selection from Carlos Blanco Fadol's collection of more than 4,000 instruments from 145 countries. The municipality's main attraction is the Canelobre caves, set at about 700 m on the northern slope of Cabeçó d'Or. Their vault is 70 m high, one of the highest in Spain, and the name comes from a candelabra-shaped stalagmite more than 100,000 years old. During the Civil War the Republican army used the caves as an aircraft repair workshop, and today their acoustics make them a venue for concerts. The surrounding hills are crossed by hiking and mountain-bike trails, including the waymarked 10.5 km PR-CV 2 route to the summit of Cabeçó d'Or. There are also via ferrata routes in the area, which the regional tourism portal describes as suitable for people without much experience. Some trails pass old mines, potholes and artesian wells, while others lead to the Cabrafich tower. The main festival is Moors and Christians, held after Easter, while in July the village celebrates the Nit dels Ciris, or Night of Candles. Local dishes worth trying include gachamiga and traditional sweets. Busot makes a good base for exploring the less touristy side of the province of Alicante, away from the busy coast.