The Cholera Walk

Spanish Emergency Services - Tel: +34 112

Sella Town Hall - Tel: +34 965 879 001

POI - Numbered POI (like this one) relate specifically to the walk. Non numbered POI are additional locations and information that may be useful/of interest.

Height Profile - the lowest point on today's walk is 358m (1175ft) and the highest point is 476m (1562ft). For more information see Height Profile Image.

Maps and general information about Sella. From here continue straight on (uphill) along the main road into the village.

Open at lunchtimes only

Speciality - Paella (open at lunchtimes only)

Bar serving food both lunchtimes and evenings.
Closed Monday evening and all day Tuesday.

Small local estate agent. Opening hours not specified.

From here you get a good view of where you are going next - down, towards the bridge (see photo with red dots). So you need to turn left off the main road, go down a few steps and onto a concrete path that will lead you downhill.

Turn right here and walk a short distance along the main road to the bridge - CAUTION TRAFFIC!

Until the arrival of motor cars and the new bridge was built in the 1920's, this ancient bridge was the main route into the village of Sella for anyone coming up from the coast. Also note, as you look down at the bridge from the main road there are the remains of another construction on the right hand side. Two stone archways are clearly visible, this is believed to be all that remains of an ancient watermill that once stood on this site.

From here take the path that leads you down and across the original bridge and back up the other side.

We stood on the new bridge and enjoyed a view of this ancient bridge that we are now standing on, so it only seems right that we should now take a moment to have a look at the new bridge - of course, although I call it the new bridge and compared to the one we are standing on it is, but in fact the new bridge is itself, approaching 100 years old!

Once you have walked up the steps from the original bridge, bear right up the tarmac track (see photo).

Turn right off the track and go up the narrow concrete path (see photo).

Once you arrive at the top of the narrow path, first take a moment to catch your breath and enjoy the view, then turn left onto the track and continue uphill.

At this point bear right off the track onto a narrow path (easy to miss) that leads you up into the pine trees.

From here you get a good views down towards the coast, and on a clear day will have an excellent view of the sea.

We are now at the highest point on the walk - 476m (1562ft) so from here, with one exception it's all down hill! The main track continues uphill to the left and is the route of another local walk over to the neighbouring village of Relleu. However, we are going to continue along the track that bears off to the right (see photo).

From here we get excellent views through the pine trees to the village of Sella and then on to the stunning mountain ranges that line the valley beyond.

You have just crossed a small bridge and at this point you can either turn right and continue with the walk, or you can turn left (recommended) and take a small diversion to explore the tranquil and beautiful picnic area/main spring (Font Mayor).

Maps and general information about Sella. At this point you can either cross the main road to visit the swimming pool and bar (not open all year), or you can continue with the walk by turning right, rejoining the main road and continuing downhill towards the village.

Not open all year round.

As you are approaching the village, you cannot fail to notice the mighty Puig Campana mountain (that's Valencian for Bell Peak) which although some way off, from this angle appears to look down over Sella like some mighty guardian.

Wherever you are in the area is easy to distinguish the Puig Campana, firstly because of its huge mass and secondly because of the notch, which from here is on the top right of the mountain. The notch is called Roldan's Notch and the story (apparently true) is that a giant called Roldan use to live on the mountain. Roldan had a very beautiful wife, in fact she was so beautiful that it angered the Gods and they were so jealous of her beauty that they condemned her to die at sunset! Roldan, who loved his wife very much was furious. As sunset approached, he could no longer control his anger and he kicked the top of the mountain, creating the notch that we see today (the piece of rock that he kicked out landed in the sea and is what we now call Benidorm Island). By creating the notch, it meant that as the sun went down, a ray of sunlight was visible for an extra few minutes, thus giving Roldan and his wife an extra couple of minutes together before she died.

It is possible to walk up onto the summit of the Puig Campana (1408m/4619ft) but you should allow a full day for this little outing and consider a guide.

Historically, the old cross marked the village boundary and therefore any crime committed within that boundary came under the jurisdiction of the village. However, any crime committed the other side of the cross came under the jurisdiction of ??? Now don't go getting any ideas, that law has long since changed!!!

At this point you must cross over the main road (if you haven't already) and fork off left down the minor road (Calle Valencia) that will lead you into the heart of the village.

From here if you look up, crowning the top of the village is the site of the small chapel (Ermita de Santa Barbara). Although from here you cannot actually see the chapel, what you can do from here, is appreciate it's position - it was formerly the site of a moorish castle!

Turn right here where the road narrows and continue along Calle Valencia. This was once the main road through the village, but that was in a time when Mercedes would have been the name of a donkey, not a car!

Fresh bread baked daily in the traditional way in a wood fired oven.
Open every day (mornings only). This bakery is not immediately obvious, but look out for the tiles on the left of the door - 'Forn de Llenya'.

This very appropriately named road was once again in times gone by the main route into/through Sella. It was at this point a traveller could choose whether to continue with their journey, or to stop off in Sella for some refreshment. Carrer les Voltes (Valencian) translates as 'Road of the Turns or Curvey Street' - imagine trying to drive a car up there now!

Accommodation (casa rural) village house available for rent.
www.villagehouseinspain.com

Bear left here up the small incline and into the Plaza Mayor.

The small but beautifully decorated Church of Santa Ana is also in the Plaza Mayor and if the doors are open it warrants a look inside.

The Plaza Mayor (main square) is the heart of the village. This is where the local game, Pelota (handball) is played and also where, during fiestas, most of the celebrations take place.

Here there is a small market on Wednesdays and Fridays as well as 2 Banks (1 ATM), a Small Shop/Butcher, Tobacconist, the Doctors Surgery, the Sella Town Hall, Postbox and a Public Telephone.

Located in the Plaza Mayor Bar Paco is a popular local bar serving drinks and tapas (closed Thursdays)

Turn left here to follow the road back downhill to the village car park (the baker Forn de Secanet is on your right)

Fresh bread baked daily in the traditional way in a wood fired oven.
Open every day (mornings only).

We are now nearing the end of todays walk. From here it is just a few minutes back to the car park.

Thank you for visiting Sella, I hope that you have enjoyed our walk and your time here. If so please tell your friends and take the time to write a few words by clicking on the EveryTrail 'Write A Review' button.

If you have any observations or comments about the walk or general questions about the area, please get in touch.

MHS

Maps and general information about Sella.

Although you do not pass the old wash house on todays walk it is worth having a look if you do have time. This is where in times gone by villagers would have come to do their washing (see video from 1966) and it still gets occasional use today!
There is a second video clip, also taken near the wash house (in 1992) where you can see one of the last working donkeys that resided in Sella.

Hopefully you will have no need to visit the chemist while you are in Sella, but just in case this is where to find it!