North of Yecla, where the Murcia region meets Albacete, the land rises into a series of isolated limestone hills above a wide, dry plain of vineyards and almond groves. The rock shelters scattered through this country, including the Abrigo del Mediodía, are part of the UNESCO listing of Mediterranean Iberian rock art. The best known cluster is on Monte Arabí, a striking, isolated rock mountain north of the town, whose Cantos de la Visera shelters hold both Levantine and schematic paintings.
The plain here is high, around six hundred metres or more, and winters are cold and dry while summers are hot. It is wine country, and Yecla has its own denomination of origin, built largely around the Monastrell grape, producing deep red wines. The town is also known as a centre of furniture making, with factories on its outskirts.
The riding is a mix of long, empty straights across the plain and more interesting roads where they climb into the hills toward Montealegre del Castillo and Fuente-Álamo. Traffic is very light, surfaces are generally good, and you can see weather coming from a long way off. Wind can be strong. The road from Yecla toward Jumilla, another wine town, runs through vineyards and offers a good loop.
Montealegre del Castillo is a small village with a castle on the hill above it, while Fuente-Álamo is slightly bigger. Neither offers much in the way of services beyond a bar and a shop, so plan fuel accordingly. Yecla, seventeen kilometres away and with about thirty five thousand people, is the place for fuel, food and lodging. Try the local gazpacho, again the hearty game and flatbread version, and a glass of Monastrell.
Visiting the shelters usually involves a walk on rough tracks, and many are protected by fences; some guided visits are organised from Yecla. Bring water, sun protection and good boots. In late afternoon the low sun brings out the colour of the rock and makes the paintings easier to read.