Ontinyent and Bocairent sit close together in the southern part of Valencia province, in the upper valley of the Clariano river, surrounded by the mountains of the Serra de Mariola and the Serra Grossa. Ontinyent is a textile town with a fine old quarter on a hill above the river, crowned by the tall bell tower of the church of Santa Maria. Bocairent, a few kilometres away, is a medieval village perched on a rocky outcrop above a ravine. The Abric de la Creu, the shelter of the cross, lies in the hills between the two.
The mountains around Ontinyent and Bocairent hold many painted shelters, with Levantine and schematic art, part of the UNESCO-listed group. The Abric de la Creu is one of them, a small, protected site. Bocairent also has a stranger site: the Covetes dels Moros, a series of artificial caves carved into a cliff face, accessible only by climbing, whose origin and purpose are still debated, perhaps granaries or refuges. The village also has a bullring carved out of the rock and an old snow well.
The Serra de Mariola, to the south, is a natural park known for its aromatic plants, which have been used for centuries in medicine and to make herbal liqueurs. The mountain is also the source of several rivers, and its springs and fountains are a feature of the landscape. Ontinyent is known for its Moors and Christians festival in August.
The riding around Ontinyent and Bocairent is excellent. The roads through the Serra de Mariola, toward Banyeres, Alcoy and Agres, are twisty and scenic, through pine forest and over passes, with little traffic. The road from Bocairent toward Banyeres climbs gently through the mountains. The road from Ontinyent toward the Vall d'Albaida and the Benicadell is also good. The surfaces are generally good, but watch for gravel and cyclists.
Ontinyent, about three kilometres away, has fuel and all services. Local food includes the rice dishes of the area, and the herbal liqueur of the Mariola, the herbero. Spring and autumn are the best seasons.