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Pego I Les Valls - Introduction
Pego is in a valley facing the sea, to the north of Alicante province. The climate, with an annual average of 20 C and abundant rainfall, has created a vast and rich
agricultural area specialised in the cultivation of citric fruit and rice.
The wetland ofPego´s Nature Park is of high ecological value and seperates the town from the coast. The “Marjal” marsh of pego and its complete network of paths and channels, is one of the most interesting
wetlands on the Mediterranean coastline.
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The valley gives access to the inland towns: Atzuvia-Forna, La Vall de Gallinera, La Vall d ´Alcala and la Vall d´Ebo. Here you will discover valleys, mountains,
castles, Moorish ghost towns, cave paintings, caves and a delicious cuisine.
Pego has been linked since far off times to the Marjal in which rice is cultivated and whose land is flooded through dams along the rivers Racons and Bullent, bathing this wetland formed by the attraction of all the inland water.
Out tour begins in Pego´s Marjal, at the “Muntanyeta Verda”. Before arriving, on our left we will find the Salinar, a natural spring at which we can enjoy relaxing walks and swims.
The streets of Pego still conserve their original medieval layout and the houses have included the old town walls within their holdings. We will set off from the baroque chapel of the Ecce-Homo,
Pego´s patron saint, crowned by a stilted dome with blue tiles and a triangular bell-tower. We continue towards the town hall square where there is the church of Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion (16th – 17th centuries).
Its beautiful and sturdy bell-tower is the symbol of the town. Inside it houses treasures such as the altar-piece of Nuestra Senora de la Esperanza, in international gothic style, the double Veronica by Borja Jacomart and other marvels.
| Next we will visit the culture centre which houses two interesting museums: the Contemporary Art Museum that holds all the winning works of the villa de Pego National Painting Competition held annually since 1976, and the Ethnological museum, with historic
photographs and tools for rice cultivation as well as those for other traditional trades in the town such as wood and silk work and orange growing.
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After the museums we will enter into the great patio of this building where we can see the ancient 13th century wall and now at the lower part of the street, we will see the Portal de Sala, the only one of the three entrance gates to the walled town
still standings and conserving its splendid arch.
On the way to the castle of Ambra on the Ebo road, we can stop at the Franciscan convent, from the end of the 19th century.
Then we can go on to the Castle of Ambra which is reached along a goat track on the right hand side of the road before reaching the Heretat de Sant Joan ( the castle is not signposted).
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