The word barranc means a ravine, and the Barranc de les Coves is exactly that, one of the many steep valleys that cut into the limestone mountains of the Comtat and Alcoià in the interior of Alicante province. This is a green country compared with the dry plains farther south, with forests of pine and holm oak, terraced slopes of cherry, almond and olive, and clear streams in the bottom of the gorges. Roads in the area link small villages such as Beniarrés, Ráfol de Salem and Castelló de Rugat, each with a church tower and a cluster of white houses.
The shelters in these ravines belong to the Levantine rock art tradition, in which small human and animal figures were painted in red on the walls of rock shelters, possibly between six and ten thousand years ago, though dating is debated. The area around the Valls d'Alcoi has several important sites, and they are part of the group listed by UNESCO in 1998. As with other sites, the shelters are small, delicate and often closed, so check with the local museum in Alcoy or the nearest tourist office before planning a visit.
Alcoy itself is worth a visit. The industrial town, in a valley surrounded by hills, was a centre of paper and textile manufacture in the nineteenth century, and the modernist buildings from those days still stand. Every April it holds a festival of Moors and Christians, one of the largest in Spain, with mock battles and elaborate costumes. The nearby Sierra de Mariola, a natural park, is full of aromatic herbs, and a herbal liqueur called herbero is made from them.
The riding here is some of the best in the province, with twisting roads through the mountains, climbs with hairpins and long views. Surface quality varies, and in winter there can be ice on the higher roads. Muro d'Alcoi, about 10 km away with almost 8,000 people, has fuel and shops, and Alcoy is larger. Try olleta, a rich vegetable and bean stew, or a slice of coca, a flatbread with toppings, and finish with a café bombón, coffee with condensed milk. Spring and autumn are best, as summers get hot and winters can be chilly.