Los Montesinos: Cycling Routes, Nature and History

Los Montesinos combines cycling routes of varying lengths, sacred architecture, traces of Roman times, natural landscapes and Mediterranean-inspired cuisine.

Cycling routes between the town centre and the countryside

For cycling tours, Ruta 10 exterior begins in the centre of Los Montesinos. The 25-kilometre route then continues onto the Vía Verde. At 25 kilometres, it is shorter than Ruta 11 exterior and Ruta 12 exterior.

Ruta 11 exterior is a 37.5-kilometre road cycling route that runs entirely on roads, circles the La Pedrera Reservoir and passes through the valuable landscapes of Los Montesinos. Ruta 12 exterior is 39 kilometres long and runs from Los Montesinos through fields and orange groves.

Nature and walking routes

There is also a local hiking trail for exploring the area on foot: Ruta Salada is the SL-CV-115 hiking trail, which leads to the Torrevieja Lagoon. There is also an observation tower there. Ruta 13 exterior runs for around 10 kilometres through the Lagunas de la Mata y Torrevieja Nature Park. The municipality of Los Montesinos also includes a nature park.

Churches and the history of La Marquesa

The Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Pilar was built in 1886. The Iglesia Parroquial de Nuestra Señora del Pilar has a central nave, two side aisles, a choir area and an attached tower.

The Ermita de La Marquesa has a rectangular floor plan, two naves and a square bell tower with three bells. In 1829, it was granted parish church status to provide pastoral care for the farm workers in the surrounding fields and the residents of Los Montesinos.

In the Partida de La Marquesa, archaeological remains and villae rusticae in the surrounding area indicate settlement since Roman times. The Vía Augusta ran through the estate. The existence of the Aljibe de La Marquesa can be traced back to the mid-18th century; the cistern served to secure the water supply of the first settlement.

Cuisine and living traditions

The traditional cuisine of Los Montesinos is based on Mediterranean produce. Typical dishes combine products from the agricultural estates with animals raised there. The regional character is therefore reflected not only in the landscape and agriculture, but also in the food.

In the first week of October, the residents of Los Montesinos organise a pilgrimage, as well as other religious and festive celebrations, in honour of the Virgen del Rosario. In doing so, they commemorate the former parish community.

Discover more places

If you would like to continue planning your trip beyond Los Montesinos, you can find more places here: Tangel, Benferri, Finestrat, Algorfa, Catral, Aspe, San Isidro and Margarida.

To the higher-level travel overview: Alicante.