El Ràfol de Salem

El Ràfol de Salem is the next visit in this route around the Benicadell mountain.

This village was an old Muslim farmstead linked with the nearby town of Castelló de Rugat, as both shared the production of ceramic jugs, very famous throughout the region. In fact, when the Moriscos were expelled from the village in 1609, there were around 53 factories within the town. If we walk through the quiet streets of Ràfol de Salem we will see its most relevant resources. The most important is Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles' Parish Church, in Neoclassic style, which was built towards 1745. Throughout the village we can also find different sundials, ceramic retables and a public washing place.

Finally, we will take the path of the Calvary which leads us to San Blas' Chapel, a building from the 15th century that has suffered important alterations from the 18th century up to now. Especially noteworthy are the surroundings of the chapel, at the feet of the mountain, with carobs, fig trees, pines, cypresses and the Calvary's chapels. All over the municipal area there are many examples of the so-called “water architecture”, such as the wheel of the mill or the “Missena”, the “Molí de Baix”, the “Molí del Ràfol” and the “Molinet de l'Horta”. This type of architecture channelled the water and used it as motive power.

The “pasteles de boniato” (sweet potato pasties) are very famous in this town, for San Blas and Christmas above all.