Route 99 is a project launched by the Generalitat Valenciana to promote the municipalities that currently own it. With populations under 100, these towns are part of the Valencian community. Today there are 24 municipalities on this route, four of which come from Alicante. In these towns, visitors can explore their culinary and cultural offerings and uncover the unique curiosities tucked away in these small, remote places across the Valencia region. Similar to the Camino de Santiago, travelers can stamp an identity document at each town along the route, confirming each visit. A different plan for a weekend in Alicante could be to visit one of these tiny towns and discover its beauty.
The hero town today is Tollos, a municipality in Comtat holding the record for the smallest population in the province, with only 56 residents. It lies in the Seta river valley, near the Sierra de Alfaro. To reach it, one can hike a route of about 20 kilometers, taking more than five hours. The ascent climbs from the Sierra de Alfaro and the descent brings travelers into the Malafí valley. By car, the route begins on CV-720 and then continues on CV-713.
Explore Famorca, one of the four Alicante towns on Route 99
Feasts for the patron saints are celebrated from July 25 in honor of San Antonio de Padua and the Virgen del Rosario. The local economy relies mainly on the service sector, particularly restaurants and services for the elderly, though agriculture and livestock have historically been the backbone. The most common crops include olive trees and cherry trees.
What to do in Tollos?
In Tollos, visitors have multiple avenues to enjoy the town and its culture:
- Visit the San Antonio de Padua church. The parish church is notable not only for its age but also because it was built on Islamic ruins from the reconquest era. The bell tower with Serrella in the background offers a striking sunset view over Vall de Seta.
- Stay in a rural house in the area. Experiencing a night at a nearby country inn can be a relaxing retreat from city life, with a peaceful sunrise to wake up to.
- Enjoy local gastronomy. Two distinctive Tollos dishes stand out. Mintxos, a meatball shredder, is a ratatouille-like dish that can feature salted cod, a delicious combination. Blat contains shredded wheat instead of rice and is a local favorite.
- Join the Tollos trail. For runners and hikers, the Tollos route offers a spectacular experience. Tollos has also become part of the Vuelta a España by bike, drawing professional teams to train on these roads.