Are you intrigued by history and charmed by little towns overlooking stunning panoramic views? Visit Guadalest for a couple of hours or at least a day. This town perched high on the hill is not only about history that merges the Muslim with the Christian, the medieval castle with its amazing views of the Guadalest valley from the top but also about local crafts and artisan shopping and local atmosphere you can observe at cafes and bars, all for the full experience.

True, tourists flood here but local people come here as well, and you see it mainly in the cafes and bars. Startled by unexpected rain we ran to the Nou Gadea cafe. Apparently the others had the same idea as the cafe was crowded by tourists and locals alike - families with kids who found shelter from the rain, like we did, a bunch of agile elder Spanish ladies who came to see the castle, local men who dropped by to have a beer and so many other random visitors. Exactly the kind of a people watching experience I’m always interested to have. We enjoyed our cortado and croissants waiting for the rain to stop. It was interesting to watch the cafe staff behind the bar - the agile elder man and woman serving the customers in haste, the overwhelmed youngster who was chasing his tail to tend to everyone’s orders for drinks and snacks and the female who seemed to temper the emotions of her colleagues and had things under control. None of them seemed to expect the crowd of customers in one place at once, just as no one expected the pouring rain in Spain in April.

As you leave the cafe go to the left and be sure to enter the Casa el Ferrer luxurious craft store. From artisan wall clocks, through glass and ceramic figures or Spanish design dining sets, to jewellery by Spanish authors, fairy tale -like bags, elegantly artsy notebooks and fun postcards, you will leave the Casa with unique pieces of art or an unusual gift from Spain. Go further down and you will spot the Olcina Design concept store. They will take care of the interior design and ambience for you. I fell in love with the double sided carpets by a craftsman from Alicante. I even fell more in love with the price of it, which was surprisingly decent, as for a hand-made carpet. The Olcina Design concept store is an offspring of the bigger local enterprise – the Olcina Apartments – which you can book to spend the nights at the footstep of El Castell de Guadalest.

Ah yes, El Castell.. Announced a historical-artistic complex in the 70s the castle encompasses now the Castle of San Jose, the Alcozaiba Castle, the Orduña House, the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, the prison… and the cemetery on top of the hill. Wander around, up and down, among the sites you chose to see. And don’t worry, there’re plenty of cafes and restaurants so you take a break inbetween.

You need to bear in mind the history that shaped this place. What used to be the Muslim fortress originally, after the Christian conquest in the 13th century, and other significant historical events, including the earthquakes, evolved into the historical heritage and artistic complex the town and the castle present now.

The Casa Orduña takes you back in time to retrospect how rich and noble people in Spain lived for the span of over three hundred years - the Orduña family of Basque origin, for that matter. Sent to Guadalest to watch over the fortress, and to become the governors of marquisate, the Orduña family members lived in the house’s numerous arched rooms celebrating the family descent, including the library, the chapel, the pantry and dining room.

On its top floor the Casa Orduña now offers to artists a temporary showroom for their paintings and sculptures. The Casa top floor also will amaze you with its panoramic view of the Guadalest pueblo and the turquoise lake – the Embassament de Guadalest.

The remaining tower of the Alcozaiba Castle and the ruins of the San Jose Castle perched on a rocky peak can also be seen from the top. Those 11th century Muslim fortress constructions played a strategic role in the Middle Ages and lost its fortification power due to the 1644 and 1748 earthquakes.

In pueblo Guadalest you will also enjoy a lot of peculiar museums. The Museo Microgigante may catch your attention. This museum of miniatures will make you strain your eyes to see through a maginifying glass various miniature nude figures, objects and landscape scenery by local Spanish artist Manuel Ussa. The staircase in the shape of the gigantic shell will take you to the second floor to see more of the miniatures and the sculptures that have their reflection in the floor mirror.

Guadalest pueblo and castle will captivate you with its history and cultural heritage hidden among the fortress buildings, charming streets with local craft shops and peculiar museums, as well as local restaurants and cafes. Perched high in Alicante province, the town will amaze you with the views of the valley and the lake as well.