How to arrive:
The A-3 motorway links Requena with Valencia (64 km) and Madrid (275 km).
The N-330 Almansa-Alicante-Teruel and the N-322 communicate with the city with Albacete.
Another way to reach Requena is via train on the Valencia- Cuenca-Madrid line or the AVE Madrid-Valencia Region.
Contact telephone numbers:
Train station information: 902 432 343
Renfe: 902 320 320
Information, bookings, sale, changes and cancellation of tickets: 902 240 505
Gastronomy:
Requena’s traditional dishes are rich in proteins and calories, as well as being varied and very tasty. Examples include: rice with pork, potatoes in broth, rice and beans, rice casserole, gazpacho manchego, “ajoarriero”, “morteruelo” and “cachuli”, without forgetting the typical buns with sliced ham and sardines, and sausages. A typical sweet is “el turroncillo”.
Requena’s cured meat products are made from the very best raw materials, and special care is invested in their preparation and drying processes. The Geographical Indication protects the following products: sausages, “chorizo”, “güeña”, “spicy sausage”, “salchichón”, “perro” and “morcilla”. Two of these products, “El Perro” and “La Güeña”, are registered in the list of handicraft products of the European Union.
February sees the celebration of the Artisan Quality Cured Sausage Fair, which is organized by Requena City Council, with the collaboration of the Governing Body of the “Embutido de Requena” P.G.I, and which was declared of Regional Tourist Interest in December, 2009.
Requena has an old tradition in winemaking, as evidenced by the countless wineries located in the La Villa and Las Peñas neighbourhoods in the old part of the city. It currently has more than 18,000 hectares of vineyards registered with the Regulatory Council’s vineyard register. It is the largest wine-producing municipality in the administrative region, producing a range of white, rosé and red wines, as well as white and rosé “cava” of proven quality, proof of which is evidenced by the numerous Spanish and international prizes and awards received in recent years.
Places of interest:
The City Caves
The 22 caves located under the town square date from the Muslim period (9th- to 13th-centuries). The transit of carts was prohibited in the City in the 15th century in order to avoid the sinking of the roads due to the existence of the caves. They were in use until the 17th century, when the private houses and public buildings in the square were demolished and they caves were semi-filled with debris. As of 1972-1973, they were cleared of debris and subsequently conditioned.
Some caves have vats, others have wells. Those corresponding to the former ossuary that was reused as a mass grave are located on the highest level. Two of them are vessel-shaped, from which it may be deduced that they were used as silos. Some still retain remains of their stairs and vents. The most common use was that of a space for the storage and conservation of wine, which was stored in large vats, accompanied by complementary wine-making elements, such as tanks, teals for treading the grapes, barrels and tanks for decanting must.
Below the caves there is a network of tunnels that run throughout the Villa neighbourhood. There construction lasted from 1706 until recent times.
Price: € 4 / Reduced: € 3 prices and passes
More information: Requena Tourist Info. Tel.: (+34) 962303851.
Keep
The keep of the castle of Requena is a huge cube measuring 16.5 m at the base by 23.5 m high. It was constructed in the 15th century as the first element of a reform project that initially included the entire castle, but which was not finished, as can be seen in the form of the powerful, unfinished wall that is embedded in the north corner of the tower and which houses the only original entrance to the tower via a narrow staircase that led to the walkway and the top floor of the fortification.
The visit to the site includes the three floors of the tower and the upper section, the parapet, the towers and the inside of the citadel. An audiovisual display on the lower floor presents a synthesis of the history of Requena and its region; the second floor contains information on Requena’s medieval urban development and its fortification techniques; an audiovisual installation on the third floor recreates some of the main vicissitudes of the Torre and the Villa, especially the siege of the War of Succession (1706). The upper section offers a magnificent view of the medieval town of Requena.
Opening Hours: Open Tuesday to Sunday.
Temple of Saint Mary
The church of Saint Mary of Requena, in addition to being one of the most important historical monuments in Requena’s old centre, is today one of the city’s most important cultural centres.
It was declared a national monument on 3rd July 1931. Its celebrated façade, a magnificent example of florid Elizabethan gothic art (even more detailed than that of El Salvador), bears three archivolts decorated with delicious angelic figures and whimsical designs. The Annunciation in the tympanum. The interior suffered heavy damage during the Spanish Civil War of 1936, with the loss of its imagery, ornaments and a valuable organ. At a later date, among apathy and neglect, the ceramic work that decorated the lower part of the walls was lost.
It is used for large format exhibitions and concerts throughout the year, with special mention of the Sacred Music Week, which takes places during Easter.
Church of the Saviour
Declared a national monument on 3rd July 1931. Its celebrated portico, an example of florid Elizabethan Gothic style, was built in the second half of the 15th century. Valencian architects were responsible for chiselling the door, which has a double archivolt covered with angelic figures and whimsical designs; true filigree stonework. It is the only catholic church currently open in the La Villa neighbourhood. Its construction as a Romanesque temple was begun in 1380 (there was subsequent work carried out in 1779 following the collapse of its majestic, 40m tower following a heavy snowfall) and lasted until 1533. The result was a large church with three naves. In 1601, the Church of “El Salvador” was declared the “main parish church”, and in 1649 it was awarded the title of archpriest church.
The Utiel-Requena D.O. wine routes include visits to wineries covered by the Utiel-Requena D.O., with wine tastings led by wine experts, tours of scenic and monumental environments and sampling of the local gastronomy. Visitors can choose between accommodation in hotels or in charming country bed and breakfast houses. Visits to wineries which produce cava are also available.
Bodega Cerro Gallina
Address: Travesía de la Industria, 5. 46352 – Campo Arcís
Telephones: 96 233 81 35 or 676 89 72 51
Email: info@cerrogallina.com
More information: http://www.cerrogallina.com
Bodegas Carlos Cárcel
Address: C/ Bodegas, 5. 46391 – El Rebollar
Telephones: 96 230 36 08 or 616 04 91 17
Email: bodegascarloscarcel@gmail.com
Bodegas Emilio Clemente
Address: Camino de San Blas s/n. 46340 – Requena
Telephones: 96 232 33 91 or 607 574 048 or 678 700 873
Email: bodega@eclemente.es
More information: http://www.eclemente.es
Bodegas Hispano Suizas
Address: Ctra. N 322 km 451.7. 46357 – El Pontón
Telephone: 661 89 42 00
Email: info@bodegashispanosuizas.com
More information: http://www.hispanosuizas.com
Bodegas Mitos
Address: Carretera CV-450 Km 3. 46357 – El Azagador
Telephone: 96 230 07 03
Email: admin.@bodegasmitos.com
More information: http://www.bodegasmitos.com
Bodegas Palmera, S.L.
Address: C/ Bodegas, 11. 46391 – El Rebollar
Telephone: 626 706 394
Email: klauslauerbach@hotmail.com
Bodegas Rebollar Ernesto Cárcel, S.L.
Address: Paraje Santa Ana, s/n. 46391 – El Rebollar
Telephone: 607 436 362
Email: bodegasrebollar@carceldecorpa.es
More information: http://www.carceldecorpa.es
Bodegas Sebiran, S.L.
Address: C/ Pérez Gáldos, 1. 46352 – Campo Arcís
Telephone: 96 230 33 21
Email: info@sebiran.com
More information: http://www.sebiran.es
Bodegas Sisternas
Address: Caserío de Sisternas. 46340 – Requena
Telephone: 96 230 06 07
Email: cabildero@ole.com
More information: http://www.museosisternas.com
Bodegas Vereda Real, S.L.
Address: C/ Vereda Real, 2-A. 46340 – Requena
Telephones: 96 230 36 56 or 651 81 34 11
Email: tecnico@bodegasveredareal.com
More information: http://www.bodegasveredareal.com
Chozas Carrascal, S.L.
Address: Vereda San Antonio. 46390 – San Antonio
Telephone: 96 341 03 95
Email: chozas@chozascarrascal.es
More information: http://www.chozascarrascal.es
Coviñas Coop. Valenciana
Address: Avda. Rafael Duyos s/n. 46340 – Requena
Telephone: 96 230 06 80
Email: covinas@covinas.com
More information: http://www.covinas.com
Cultivo Uvas Ecológicas Vinos y Afines CUEVA
Address: C/ Mayor, 2. 46357 – La Portera
Telephones: 619 390 728
Email: marianotaberner@yahoo.es
More information: http://www.bodegascueva.es
Dominio de la Vega, S.L.
Address: Crta. Madrid-Valencia Km 270. 46390 – San Antonio
Telephone: 96 232 05 70
Email: dv@dominiodelavega.com
More informationhttp://www.dominiodelavega.com
Finca Ardal
Address: Ctra.Nal 322, Km 452. 46357 – El Pontón
Telephone: 96 230 28 35
Email: bodega@fincaardal.com
More information: http://www.fincaardal.com
Finca San Blas- Labor de Almadeque
Address: Finca San Blas. 46340 – Requena
Telephones: 96 230 08 88 or 96 337 56 17
Email: info@fincasanblas.com
More information: http://www.fincasanblas.com
Pago de Tharsys
Address: Paraje Fuencaliente s/n. 46340 – Requena
Telephone: 96 230 33 54
Email: pagodetharsys@pagodetharsys.com
More information: http://www.pagodetharsys.com
Recrire
Address: C/ Santa Ana, 18. 46390 – San Antonio
Telephone: 96 232 06 56
Email: recrire@recrire.com
Torre Oria, S.L.
Address: Crta. Pontón- Utiel Km. 3. 46390 – El Derramador
Telephone: 96 232 02 89
Email: infotorreoria@torreoria.es
More information: http://www.torreoria.com
Viñedos y Bodegas Vegalfaro
Address: Crta. Pontón- Utiel Km. 3. 46390 – El Derramador
Telephones: 96 232 06 80 or 616 445 892 or 608 308 926
Email: info@vegalfaro.com
More information: http://www.vegalfaro.com
Other notable monuments in Requena include:
The Convent of Saint Francis, the Church of Saint Nicholas, the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Church of Saint Sebastian.
Five museums that make up the Requena museum network:
Sisternas Museum – Wine and Rural Life Museum
Silk House Museum
Requena Municipal Museum
El Cid Palace – Requena Wine Museum
Florencio de la Fuente Museum of Contemporary Art
More tourist information about Requena:
www.requena.es
Festivities:
GRAPE HARVESTING FESTIVITY, the oldest of its kind in Spain. Declared of Tourist Interest. The many acts and celebrations include: Treading and Blessing of the first grapes, wine nights, “El Labrador”, Absent “Requenense” Day, Procession, Parade, Bull Fighting, “La Noche de la Zurra”, etc.
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