Adsubia, also known as L’Atzuvia in the valenciano language, is an ancient Moorish town just a couple of kilometres from Pego and its marshlands where the rice is cultivated for making paella.
It’s a small, sleepy village surrounded by orange groves and the beautiful mountain ranges in this rural part of the north Alicante province.
This area is fabulous for walking from town to town through the orchards or for rock climbing.
It’s worth a visit to see the traditional Spanish buildings, although if you visit in the afternoon you may find everything is closed. This town seems to keep its tradition of enjoying a siesta.
Mountain spring water on tap
In the Plaza del Ayuntamiento (town hall square) is the town hall with a Fuente Morisca alongside it. Turn on the taps to enjoy free, cool spring water from the nearby mountains.
It’s a charming town with a population of about 600. However, like many small towns, it has a very impressive church. San Vicente church was built in the 17th century and extended in the 19th century.
Just outside the town is the Adsubia cave, also known as Canalobres. It’s a small but interesting cave with stalagmites and stalactites. There is a small platform where you can observe the minerals and rock formations.
Fine Moorish castle in Forna
Between Adsubia and Forna is one of the best preserved Moorish castles in the Alicante region.
Forna castle is a small but interesting hilltop monument. It’s about a five minute walk from the car park up to the castle gate.
The medieval castle was built by the Moors to keep a watchful eye out for Christian soldiers sent to overthrow the Arabs and reclaim the land.
Both Adsubia and Forna celebrate the Moors and Christians festival with re-enactments of the battles, colourful parades and plenty of noise from the gunpowder and fireworks.
Next to Adsubia is Forna town where you can enjoy fantastic views from the steep and narrow streets in the old town.
In the main square is another spring water fountain which has been used since the Roman times.
Cultivating rice for paella
You can easily combine a visit to Adsubia with a trip to Pego and its rice fields used for making paella and also to the Vall de Gallinera, famous for its delicious cherries.
The cuisine in the region is more rustic than you will find on the coast.
Typical dishes could include ‘blat picat’ which is a thick broth using ground wheat similar to couscous; ‘coques’ which are like little pizzas and can be flavoured with prawns; rabbit in garlic or rabbit stew; paella with meat rather than fish; wild boar, local sausages and for dessert, cherries soaked in liqueur.
The restaurants will serve seasonal regional cuisine. Look out for the fixed price menu del dia, which offers three or four courses for just a few euros.
How to get there
Get on the main N332 road in the direction of Valencia. Go through Ondara and El Vergel and turn off at Pego.
From Pego, go along the CV700 road, past the Pego-Oliva marshes and into Pego. Continue along the CV700 to Adsubia.
To get to Forna, get on the CV717 in Adsubia which will take you past the castle and into Forna, 4kms away.