History of the Valley

The Gallinera Valley is full of history. José Lull has written a book about its most important historical figure, the vizier Al-Azraq (13th century), and also about the now-vanished Franciscan Convent of San Andrés del Monte de Benitaia, founded in 1611. In the valley, we can visit two of the main castles of Al-Azraq, the castle of Alcalà de Gallinera (Benissili) and the castle of Gallinera (Benirrama).

The valley and its immediate surroundings also offer a very important set of cave paintings and remains from the Iberian era, the Arab period and the Moorish depopulation. A group of historic farmhouses, agricultural structures and churches also define the passage of different cultures and the work of their inhabitants.