The Port de Penàguila is a mountain pass in the interior of Alicante province, on the road between Alcoy and the Vall de Guadalest, where the hills of the Comtat rise toward the Serra d'Aitana, the highest range in the province. The village of Penàguila, below the pass, is a small, ancient place huddled beneath a castle on a rocky crest, and Benilloba, Cocentaina and Alcoy are all close. The second shelter of the Port de Penàguila is one of several painted sites in the area.
The mountains around Penàguila hold numerous rock shelters with Levantine, schematic and Macro-schematic paintings, part of the UNESCO-listed group. The Macro-schematic style, with its large symbolic human figures, is unique to this part of Alicante and dates from the arrival of the first farmers, around seven thousand years ago. The shelters are protected and visits require a guide.
Penàguila is a surprise. Apart from its castle ruins and medieval streets, it has a romantic nineteenth-century garden, the Jardí de Santos, laid out by a wealthy family with fountains, statues and a labyrinth of hedges, an unexpected oasis in the dry mountains. The village is also known for its sausages and cured meats. The Serra d'Aitana, to the south, rises to over fifteen hundred metres, with the summit occupied by a military installation, but the slopes are open and the views are huge.
The riding here is excellent. The road over the Port de Penàguila, from Alcoy toward Benasau and the Vall de Guadalest, is a classic, with tight bends, steep climbs and views over the mountains. The roads toward Benifallim, Alcolecha and the Port de Tudons, the high pass over the Aitana, are some of the best in the region, with little traffic and great scenery. Surfaces are generally good, though there is gravel in places and cyclists are common. In winter, the higher roads can be cold and icy.
Cocentaina, about ten kilometres away, has fuel and all services, as does Alcoy. Penàguila and Benilloba have bars. Local food includes the mountain sausages, rice dishes and the pericana. Spring and autumn are perfect for riding.