Jalón Market

Most visitors to the Costa Blanca don't tend to venture inland, preferring to stick to the towns and holiday resorts along the coast, but if you are keen on wine or interested in antiques and collectables, a visit to Jalón Market is a must. The charming town of Jalón is the capital of the Jalón Valley wine growing region and about 20 minutes drive from the coastal town of Calpe. The many bodegas (wineries) and vineyards of the area are its biggest tourist attraction, most offering tours and wine tasting, but on Saturday mornings it's all about the Jalón Market.

Jalon Market
Source: Flickr / Ryan Milani

Enjoying a shady setting in the car park next to the Rui Xaló-Gorgos river, Jalón Market receives thousands of visitors each Saturday morning, most just there to browse the superb stalls, but some avid collectors in search of that rare hidden antique. Here some items can go for thousands of euros so if you are serious about buying anything then practice your bartering skills, as some stall holders will drop their price quite substantially if an item has been taking up space in their house or garage for too long.

Among the market stalls you will find a good assortment of antiques and collectables including furniture, porcelain, ceramics, pottery, ornaments, paintings, handicrafts and jewellery. There are also rugs, cushions, embroidery, clothing, leather goods, traditional Spanish costumes, books and a small selection of food stalls. Jalón Market really is a place where you can take your time to browse the stalls thoroughly, and if lucky you may just find that rare gem.

After working up a thirst you don't have far to go to sample some of Spain's best wines. Just across the road from the market is one of Jalón Valley's most famous wineries, Bodegas Xaló. Here you can try as many of the wines as you like and also take home a few bottles at prices far cheaper than more inferior wines would cost you in a supermarket.