Famorca is one of the smallest municipalities in the province of Alicante, a few dozen houses clinging to a slope in the mountains of the Marina Alta, and the ravine named after it is a deep cut in the limestone that holds several rock shelters with painted art. Abric III is one of them, in the Levantine tradition, small red figures that UNESCO protects with other sites across the eastern side of the country as the Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula. The nearest village, Castell de Castells, two kilometres away, has a famous neighbour: the Pla de Petracos, a major painted shelter with a visitor trail, which shows what the area offers at its best.
The country here is a surprise to anyone who knows Alicante only from the coast. A short distance inland from the resorts, the land rises into a maze of ridges and valleys, with terraced slopes of almonds, olives and cherry trees, small villages whose names still reflect Moorish origins, and big views toward the Serrella and the Sierra de Aitana, the highest peak in the province. In February, the almond blossom looks like a light fall of snow, and in autumn, the air is gloriously clear.
Riding here is a treat. The roads wind through the Vall de Castells and into neighbouring valleys in long climbing sweeps and tight switchbacks, with sudden views down gorges and over terraces. They are narrow, sometimes rough at the edges, and lightly used by anyone except local farmers and cyclists. Watch for gravel and for rocks that fall from the cuttings after heavy rain. The best seasons are spring and autumn. Summer is hot, and the roads can be busy near the beach-bound areas.
Do not expect fuel in Castell de Castells, which has fewer than five hundred people. The nearest place with more services is Pego, on the plain inland from Denia, about fifteen kilometres away, or the towns of the Guadalest valley and the coast. Plan ahead, carry water and enjoy the quiet.