"Sunday in Aledo" Aledo by VinceW

Aledo sits on a buttress of the Sierra Espuna. Narrow streets pick their way between picturesque houses to the square beneath the medieval tower. The tower overlooks the Murcian plain, Totana and the mountains all about. The statue of Christ above Totana at La Santa can be seen on the next hill, and both Aledo and the statue are impressive at night. Sunday dinnertime, the local bar was packed with villagers catching up on the weeks gossip and the ice cool beer was a welcome refreshment. We lunched at a restaurant halfway between Aledo and La Santa. The food is most certainly for carnivores, of the highest quality and accompanied by home made wine of the highest caliber, a very satifying experience. Finish the day with a drive into the Sierra Espuna, and you will have seen another facet of Spain above and beyond beaches, bars and nightlife!

The Statue of Christ above La Santa

I ascended the Via de la Rosa alone one Thursday in August, in the middle of the afternoon siesta. As soon as the car engine cut, I heard the marvelous sound of chicadas singing loudly in all the trees on the hillside. It was magical. Later, towards the end of the holiday we walked up the Via de la Rosa in the moonlight to see the floodlit statue at night. It took about fifteen minutes, and the ascent is pleasant in the evening cool. The view rewards the effort once you arrive at the top.

Looking south from the Sierra Espuna

Take one of the roads that twists and turns between the coniferous trees and up the side of the Sierra Espuna and you will be rewarded with spectacular scenery and splendid views of the surrounding Murcian countryside. Wildlife abounds in these mountains and there are footpaths that will take you into the mountains and closer to the natural life of the park. The roads are relatively empty, just as well considering the space availabe for passing onoming vehicles in severely limited, but keep stopping to admire the view, it's a fine place and will offer a different perspective on southern Spain.