Famorca is a tiny village in the mountains above the Guadalest valley, and the ravine below it, the Barranc de Famorca, has several painted shelters among its rocks. Abric VI is one of them, a small overhang with red Levantine paintings that form part of the UNESCO-listed rock art of the Mediterranean basin. The nearest places with more than a few hundred people are Castell de Castells and Benimantell, and for anything resembling a proper town you have to go to Pego.
The mountains here are the Serra d'Aitana and its neighbours, the highest range in Alicante province, with the main peak a little over fifteen hundred metres. They are surprisingly wild for a place so close to the Costa Blanca. Goats graze on the slopes, griffon vultures circle above the cliffs, and almond trees fill the valleys with blossom in late winter. The terraces were built by Moorish farmers who worked this country for centuries, and some are still tended.
The road to Castell de Castells and beyond is one of the best short rides in the region. It winds up through pine and terraces with hairpins, narrow sections and views of the long blue line of the Mediterranean in the distance. The surface is variable, generally decent but with the odd patch where winter rain has chewed the edge. Traffic is light, apart from cycling groups at weekends. The village of Guadalest, not far away, has a castle perched on a rock and is the busiest tourist stop in the area, so go early or late in the day if you want peace.
A few bars serve lunch, and the local speciality is a hearty stew that suits a cold day in the mountains. The seasons are straightforward: spring and autumn are lovely, summer is hot and busy near the coast, winter can bring frost and occasionally snow on the high ground.