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Holidays in Monte Pego
Pego is a charming inland town in the Marina Alta region of the province of Alicante, Spain, nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains and close to the Mediterranean coast. It offers a mix of cultural heritage, traditional Spanish life, and stunning natural landscapes.
History and Description
History: Pego's history dates back to ancient times, with settlements from the Bronze Age, Iberian, and Roman civilizations. Its story as a town truly begins with the Moorish occupation around 726, becoming an important Arab enclave. It was conquered by James I of Aragon in 1244 and later repopulated by Catalonian peasants. The town's economy was significantly shaped by the cultivation of rice in the surrounding wetlands. The final expulsion of the Moriscos (Moors converted to Christianity) occurred in 1609, briefly leaving the town nearly deserted.
Description: Pego is situated on an alluvial plain, about 15 km inland from the northern Costa Blanca coast (Denia/Oliva). The Old Town retains a medieval street layout, with narrow streets and traditional buildings. Notable architecture includes the Arciprestal Church of Our Lady of the Assumption (16th century, Renaissance style) and the Chapel of Ecce Homo (18th century, Baroque style).
Typical Foods
Pego's cuisine is heavily influenced by its rice-growing heritage and is part of traditional Valencian gastronomy. Typical dishes include:
"Crosta" (Arroz con Crosta): A baked rice dish with pork parts, botifarra (blood and onion sausage), chickpeas, and topped with beaten eggs that form a crust when baked. It is traditionally eaten on the "Day of the Crosta," the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday.
Paella: Many varieties of paella, including those with land snails and rabbit, are common.
"Arros Caldos": Soupy rice dishes with ingredients like beans, turnips, chicken, and pork.
Other specialties: Local tapas like "pichinettes" (sautéed tiny clams) and different preparations of land snails ("caragols"). Pego is also known for producing local rice, oranges, and olive oil.
Activities (Summer and Winter)
Pego is an excellent base for active and nature-focused holidays year-round.
Season Activities
Summer Beach access: Easy driving distance (15-25 minutes) to the popular beaches of Oliva and Denia (e.g., Les Deveses), offering swimming, sunbathing, and water sports like windsurfing and kitesurfing. Nature walks and birdwatching: Exploring the Marjal de Pego-Oliva Natural Park (best in the morning/evening to avoid midday heat). Festivals: Attending the major summer festivals, especially the Moors and Christians.
Winter Hiking and Cycling: The surrounding mountains (Sierra de Segaria, Sierra de la Mariola) offer excellent conditions for hiking and mountain biking in mild weather. The natural park has flat cycling routes. Birdwatching: The Marjal is important for migratory birds, especially during the autumn/spring migrations, but offers fauna year-round. Cultural exploration: Visiting the Old Town, historical monuments, and local museums. Hunting: Waterfowl hunting is permitted in designated areas of the Marjal from mid-October to early February.
Nature
The primary natural feature is the Parque Natural de la Marjal de Pego-Oliva (Pego-Oliva Marsh Natural Park).
Wetlands: This protected area (approx. 1,255 hectares) is one of the most important wetlands on the Iberian Peninsula. It consists of marshes, rice fields, and a unique system of underground fresh-water springs (ullals).
Wildlife: It is a Ramsar Convention wetland, crucial for birdlife, including species like the Purple Swamphen, Squacco Heron, Glossy Ibis, and the rare Marbled Teal. It's also home to endemic fish like the samaruc (Valencia toothcarp) and various reptiles and amphibians.
Outdoor access: Offers easy access for walking, cycling (a flat 15km circular route is available), and birdwatching from various observation points.
Shops and Markets
Shops: Pego is a working town with good local shops, banks, supermarkets, pharmacies, and a health center, providing all necessary day-to-day services away from typical tourist centers.
Market: Thursday is market day in Pego, where the main square and surrounding streets fill with stalls selling fresh local produce (fruit, vegetables, rice), artisan products, cured meats, and general goods.
Festivals
Pego is famous for its lively and highly participatory festivals throughout the year:
Carnival (February/March): One of the most famous Carnivals in the Valencian Community, involving elaborate costumes, parades, and street parties that transform the town.
La Pinyata / Soterrrament de la Sardina (Burial of the Sardine) (After Carnival): Marks the start of Lent with a humorous parade in mourning, followed by the burning of coffins and a Correfoc (fire run), symbolizing the end of the carnival period.
Moors and Christians Festival (Moros y Cristianos) (Late June/Early July): A colorful historical re-enactment commemorating the medieval battles between Moors and Christians, featuring elaborate parades, costumes, and music.
Porrat de Sant Antoni del Porquet (January 17th): Marks the start of the festive year with a pilgrimage, the traditional blessing of animals, the burning of a pine tree in a bonfire, and a small fair of traditional sweets.
Baixada del Rui Bullent (Saturday before Carnival): A relatively young, fun event where participants race unique, self-made boats down the Bullent River in the Marjal.
History and Description
History: Pego's history dates back to ancient times, with settlements from the Bronze Age, Iberian, and Roman civilizations. Its story as a town truly begins with the Moorish occupation around 726, becoming an important Arab enclave. It was conquered by James I of Aragon in 1244 and later repopulated by Catalonian peasants. The town's economy was significantly shaped by the cultivation of rice in the surrounding wetlands. The final expulsion of the Moriscos (Moors converted to Christianity) occurred in 1609, briefly leaving the town nearly deserted.
Description: Pego is situated on an alluvial plain, about 15 km inland from the northern Costa Blanca coast (Denia/Oliva). The Old Town retains a medieval street layout, with narrow streets and traditional buildings. Notable architecture includes the Arciprestal Church of Our Lady of the Assumption (16th century, Renaissance style) and the Chapel of Ecce Homo (18th century, Baroque style).
Typical Foods
Pego's cuisine is heavily influenced by its rice-growing heritage and is part of traditional Valencian gastronomy. Typical dishes include:
"Crosta" (Arroz con Crosta): A baked rice dish with pork parts, botifarra (blood and onion sausage), chickpeas, and topped with beaten eggs that form a crust when baked. It is traditionally eaten on the "Day of the Crosta," the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday.
Paella: Many varieties of paella, including those with land snails and rabbit, are common.
"Arros Caldos": Soupy rice dishes with ingredients like beans, turnips, chicken, and pork.
Other specialties: Local tapas like "pichinettes" (sautéed tiny clams) and different preparations of land snails ("caragols"). Pego is also known for producing local rice, oranges, and olive oil.
Activities (Summer and Winter)
Pego is an excellent base for active and nature-focused holidays year-round.
Season Activities
Summer Beach access: Easy driving distance (15-25 minutes) to the popular beaches of Oliva and Denia (e.g., Les Deveses), offering swimming, sunbathing, and water sports like windsurfing and kitesurfing. Nature walks and birdwatching: Exploring the Marjal de Pego-Oliva Natural Park (best in the morning/evening to avoid midday heat). Festivals: Attending the major summer festivals, especially the Moors and Christians.
Winter Hiking and Cycling: The surrounding mountains (Sierra de Segaria, Sierra de la Mariola) offer excellent conditions for hiking and mountain biking in mild weather. The natural park has flat cycling routes. Birdwatching: The Marjal is important for migratory birds, especially during the autumn/spring migrations, but offers fauna year-round. Cultural exploration: Visiting the Old Town, historical monuments, and local museums. Hunting: Waterfowl hunting is permitted in designated areas of the Marjal from mid-October to early February.
Nature
The primary natural feature is the Parque Natural de la Marjal de Pego-Oliva (Pego-Oliva Marsh Natural Park).
Wetlands: This protected area (approx. 1,255 hectares) is one of the most important wetlands on the Iberian Peninsula. It consists of marshes, rice fields, and a unique system of underground fresh-water springs (ullals).
Wildlife: It is a Ramsar Convention wetland, crucial for birdlife, including species like the Purple Swamphen, Squacco Heron, Glossy Ibis, and the rare Marbled Teal. It's also home to endemic fish like the samaruc (Valencia toothcarp) and various reptiles and amphibians.
Outdoor access: Offers easy access for walking, cycling (a flat 15km circular route is available), and birdwatching from various observation points.
Shops and Markets
Shops: Pego is a working town with good local shops, banks, supermarkets, pharmacies, and a health center, providing all necessary day-to-day services away from typical tourist centers.
Market: Thursday is market day in Pego, where the main square and surrounding streets fill with stalls selling fresh local produce (fruit, vegetables, rice), artisan products, cured meats, and general goods.
Festivals
Pego is famous for its lively and highly participatory festivals throughout the year:
Carnival (February/March): One of the most famous Carnivals in the Valencian Community, involving elaborate costumes, parades, and street parties that transform the town.
La Pinyata / Soterrrament de la Sardina (Burial of the Sardine) (After Carnival): Marks the start of Lent with a humorous parade in mourning, followed by the burning of coffins and a Correfoc (fire run), symbolizing the end of the carnival period.
Moors and Christians Festival (Moros y Cristianos) (Late June/Early July): A colorful historical re-enactment commemorating the medieval battles between Moors and Christians, featuring elaborate parades, costumes, and music.
Porrat de Sant Antoni del Porquet (January 17th): Marks the start of the festive year with a pilgrimage, the traditional blessing of animals, the burning of a pine tree in a bonfire, and a small fair of traditional sweets.
Baixada del Rui Bullent (Saturday before Carnival): A relatively young, fun event where participants race unique, self-made boats down the Bullent River in the Marjal.
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