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Callosa
d'En Sarriá's curious name comes from Bernat d'En Sarriá, the first
Christian feudal lord of Boronía, an area of Moorish influences and
agriculture. He subsequently transferred ownership to the Bou family
and the village eventually became the property of Conde Orgaz, a
descendant of the famous protagonist of the burial painted by El Greco
that hangs in the Church of St Thomas in Toledo. The historical
disputes regarding its ownership and the limits of its borders are due
to its privileged access to water - Callosa is situated between the
Guadalest and Algar Rivers, and is 3 km from the impressive springs
and waterfalls of the Algar River. The Aitana Sierra (1,558 m), the
Sierra de Bernia (1,360) and the Ponoch Sierra (1,100) are further up
the valley. The great abundance of water and the mild climate have
enabled Mediterranean produce such as almonds and vines to be
cultivated in traditional terraces. Tropical produce such as kiwis,
mangoes and especially medlar are also grown. Callosa produces more
than half of the total national production of medlar and a Denominación
de Origen (label of origin) applies to the entire area. Today Callosa
is closely involved in the tourist market due to its proximity to
Benidorm and Altea. It is a beautiful white and ochre coloured town
with an old town centre where visitors can see the Iglesia de San Juan
Bautista (Church of St John the Baptist), designed by Antonio Gilabert
Fornés, and an Old Quarter surrounding a unique church in whose
vestibule the medieval arch providing access to the interior is still
visible. The remnants of the medieval walls can be seen, especially in
the Plaça del Castell, where the residence of the feudal lord is
located. The well known and much visited Fuentes del Algar is located
3 kilometres away and visits can be made to the various waterfalls and
the Environmental Museum.
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