Just 10 km from the coast at Benidorm, the old town of the village of Polop is located on the slope of a cliff. At the top are the remains of a disused cemetery, but also ruins from the time when there was a castle here. From here you have a view of the Mediterranean to the south and the mountains with Monte Ponoch (Leon Dormido) to the north. If you like city life, you can wander around the old town with its picturesque narrow streets. If you prefer to be in nature, you can climb the top of Leon Dormido (Lion Mountain).
The village of Polop is located on and around a cliff next to the mountain Monte Ponoch - also called Leon Dormido or Lion Mountain because it resembles a sleeping lion. If you like rock climbing, you can climb the cliff from the front, but if you are a regular hiker, you can follow a separate route up from the back to get the same view (https://www.turideer.com/post/monte-ponoch-den-sovende-løve).
The church la Iglesia Parroquial de San Pedro Apostol is worth a visit. It is beautiful both inside and out.
The old town of Polop is charming with its narrow streets, well-kept houses and beautiful facades decorated with flowers and art. This is not a museum town for tourists, this is a living district. The old town is located on a steep slope. This is evident in both the streets and the houses. They were built long before the time of the car, and therefore it is difficult to understand that it is possible to maneuver a car here. But those who live here permanently manage it.
The old town extends all the way up to the church where the ascent to the cemetery begins. The area at the top has been used for several purposes throughout the ages. In the beginning it was a Muslim castle. From the beginning of the 18th century until 1945 it was a cemetery for the village's population. After the cemetery was moved in 1945, the cemetery fell into disrepair and was about to become a ruin. In 2013 the municipality decided to restore the cemetery as it was described by the famous writer Gabriel Miró, and now it has become an iconic place for Polop that all visitors must see.
The districts on the flatter areas at the foot of the cliff are also nice to walk around in. Here you will find many shops and restaurants. There are two museums in the city. A museum for the writer Gabriel Miró and one about atrocities that have been committed and are being committed in the world - Museo del Grito.
More excursions: www.turideer.com
Excursion of the week: Polop - picturesque old town
Suitable for: All. The village is located on a slope with steep hills.
Getting there: Exit the N-332 or AP-7 at Benidorm towards La Nucia. Drive through Nucia and continue for one kilometre until you enter the centre of Polop. Parking here can be difficult in high season, but there are some public car parks and it is possible to park along some of the streets.
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