Ibi is the toy capital of Spain, a fact that surprises everyone who rides through this mountain town in the hills of Alicante. Since the early twentieth century, workshops here have produced dolls, tin toys and plastic figures, and the Valencian Toy Museum tells the story. The rock shelter named Barranc de les Coves Abric I lies in the hills between Ibi and Alcoy, in a ravine whose name simply means the gully of the caves.
The hills around Ibi and Alcoy are among the greenest in Alicante, thanks to higher rainfall and altitude. The Font Roja natural park, between the two towns, protects a forest of holm oak, maple, ash and yew on the slopes of the Carrasqueta range, unusual in this dry region, and there is a sanctuary with a spring at the top. Alcoy, about nine kilometres away, is a former textile town built on steep ravines crossed by bridges, with modernist buildings and the most famous Moors and Christians festival in Spain, held in April with spectacular parades.
The riding here is excellent. The N-340 between Alcoy and Xixona, over the Puerto de la Carrasqueta, is a classic: a long, winding climb with hairpins, sweeping bends and views down to the coast and Alicante, popular with riders and cyclists alike. The roads around Ibi, Onil and Castalla wind through pine forests and almond groves, and the climb to the Font Roja sanctuary is short but steep. Surfaces are generally good, but watch for gravel and cyclists, especially on weekends. Winters can be cold, with occasional snow; spring and autumn are perfect.
Ibi has fuel, shops and restaurants, and Alcoy has a full range of services. Local specialities include olleta alcoyana, a hearty stew of beans and pork, and the coffee liqueur called licor café de Alcoy. Xixona, at the bottom of the Carrasqueta, is famous for turrón, the almond nougat eaten at Christmas throughout Spain, and you can visit factories and museums to see how it is made.