THE GORGOS VALLEY COSTA BLANCA

The river Gorgos is joined by the river Castell west of the little town of Gata de Gorgos, and runs into the sea at Jivea.The landscape of this gentle agricultural valley, surrounded by gradually rising hills, is known for its citrus groves and its vineyards. Here the traditional way of life has been untouched by the coastal tourist boom. Gata itself straddles the main road, but the peaceful old town makes a good stop, especially if you're interested in cane and rattan ware. Cane and esparto grass have been used here for centuries to make the matting and furniture still on sale today, though much is now imported. West from Gala, orange groves start to give way to vineyards.

The traditional grape here is the moscatello, used in the production of wines of the same name, still a specialty of Alicante (Alacant) province. The raisins made from these grapes were famed in the 19th century, when they were shipped from Denia  The attractive old houses, now largely uninhabited, are called riuraus; their arched porches were designed for drying the grapes. Jalon lies surrounded by this fertile land, a tranquil town with a striking church and local wine for sale in its shops  From here the valley narrows, the sierras rise on either side, and the villages become more scattered.