Yecla is a town with
a singular spirit, due mainly to its enclave situation, and is the
living image of ´Castilian´ Murcia, the area of transition between
the coastal zone and the plains of La Mancha. Preceded by the fame
of its inhabitants, it is naturally a town of enormous character which
has impressed such writers as Azorín or Pío Baroja.
The town is watched
over by the Castle and the Sanctuary of La Purísima, which locals
troop up to every 7th December ´the day of the Alborada´ firing volleys
of gunpowder with their ancient harquebuses. Yecla
has some rather unique sights, such as the Church of La Purísima or
the Plaza Mayor; others of great beauty, like the Church of El Salvador,
the Marketplace and the Clock Tower.
This region offers
a number of hiking, cycling and potholing alternatives. Take a bike
along the track that leads to Monte Arabí (a mountain propitious for
fables and legends) to see the Neolithic rock paintings that decorate
the caves of the Canto de la Visera and Mediodía. A long-distance
hiking trail (the GR7), which comes down from the North of Spain to
the Levant, passes through the region.
Aside from these attractions,
Yecla has a very intense economic activity, based mainly on the manufacture
of furniture, which is the object of an important world-famous fair.
Also of note are the local wines, which have their own Denominación
de Origen and have won numerous awards in competitions both in Spain
and abroad.