Requena is a town of 20,000 people (2018) in the west of Valencia province. It is dominated by the ancient citadel of the Moors, and still has traces of the original town walls. There are three ancient parish churches. Near the town are the sulphurous springs of Fuentepodrida. It is known for its excellent wines.

Understand

Requena (from Arabic rakka'na – 'strong') was established by the Iberians in the 7th century BCE, and was later occupied by the Romans. During the Moorish period it was part of the Muslim kingdom of Valencia, but after the Christian reconquista in the 13th century it became part of the kingdom of Castille, to which it belonged until the mid-19th century when it rejoined Valencia. Largely for this reason the principal language spoken here is Spanish, not Valencian as in other parts of the province.

In the Middle Ages the town grew wealthy from the silk trade. Following the collapse of the silk economy in the 19th century it became more known for its excellent wines, a reputation which continues to the present.

• 1 Tourist Info, C/ García Montés, s/n, ☏ 34 962 303 851, [email protected]. Tu-Sa 10:00-14:00 17:00-20:00, Su 10:00-14:00; closed 6, 24, 25 Jan and 31 Dec. (updated Sep 2017)

Get in

By train

• 1 Estación de Tren de Requena (Requena Train Station). From Valencia's Estació de València Nord, Renfe regional train line C3 departs several times a day. Has an onsite cafeteria. (updated Aug 2017)
• 2 Estación de Tren de Requena-Utiel (Requena-Utiel Train Station), Autovia A3, exit 285, ☏ 34 912 432 343 (station info), 34 912 320 320 (tickets). Ticket office: M-F 06:30-22:45, Sa Su and holidays 07:45-22:45. High-speed trains between Valencia and Madrid stop at this station, which is inconveniently located several kilometres outside of town. Has an onsite cafeteria. (updated Aug 2017)

By bus

Monbus (☏ 34 902 292 900) operates routes from Valencia, Cuenca, and nearby Utiel, with buses stopping at the 3 parada de autobuses, a block away from the regional train station. Avanza (☏ 34 902 020 052) runs a line between Madrid and Valencia, with buses stopping near 1 Bar Puerta de Alcalá on C/ Desvío Carretera, 46.

Get around

The old centre of Requena is quite small, and if you're reasonably fit you can get around just fine by foot. To visit any of the nearby wineries, though, you'll need a set of wheels.

See

Most sights are clustered in the Barrio de la Villa (aka Recena Medieval), the former Muslim quarter in the heart of town which is still enclosed by the surviving remnants of the medieval city wall.

Monuments

Torre del Homenaje

Iglesia de Santa María

• 1 Torre del Homenaje (Tribute Tower), C/ Castillo s/n, ☏ 34 962 303 851, [email protected]. Tu-Su 10:30-12:00 19:00-20:00. The only remaining portion of the Moorish castle, built around the 10th century as a border fortification and later modified by during the Christian era. €2 (adults), €1 (concessions). (updated Aug 2017)
• 2 Cuevas de la Villa (La Villa Caves), Plaza de Albornoz, 6, ☏ 34 962 306 018, [email protected]. Tu-F 12:00-14:00 17:00-19:00, Sa 12:00-14:00 17:00-20:00, Su 12:00-14:00 17:00-19:00. Built by the Arabs, the maze of caves and tunnels run underneath almost the entirety of La Villa. At various times they were used as granaries, war-time shelters, wine cellars, and an ossuary. €4 (adults), €3 (seniors/youth/students). (updated Aug 2017)
• 3 Iglesia de San Nicolás (Church of St. Nicholas), C/ San Nicolás, 9, ☏ 34 962 303 851. Tu-Su 10:30-14:00 17:00-20:00. First built in the 13th century, the church was modified and rebuilt several times, most recently in the early 18th century. Free. (updated Aug 2017)
• 4 Iglesia de Santa María (Church of St. Mary), C/ Santa María, s/n. F-Su 11:00-14:00 16:00-19:00. Construction of this church began in the 14th century and was completed in the 18th century. Especially noteworthy is the Flamboyant Gothic portal of the Annunciation; the interior is mostly Baroque. Free. (updated Aug 2017)
• 5 Iglesia del Salvador (Church of el Salvador), Plaza del Salvador, s/n. This 15th-century church was extensively remodeled in the 18th century, but the Flamboyant Gothic portal has survived. It is the only church in La Villa still used for worship. (updated Aug 2017)
• 6 Túneles (Tunnels), C/ García Montes, 1 (entrance near the tourist office). M-Sa 10:30-14:00 17:00-20:00, Su 10:30-14:00. Excavated during the Spanish War of Succession in the early 18th century, the tunnels were used as a bomb shelter during the Civil War, and most recently for growing mushrooms. The city has now opened them to visitors. €2 (adult), €1.50 (concession). (updated Aug 2017)
• 7 Ermita de San Sebastián (Hermitage of San Sebastian), Plaza de San Sebastián s/n (Las Peñas). The small chapel was built in the mid- to late 14th century to convert Moors to Christianity. Despite a number of later alterations, the Mudejár ceiling has been restored. (updated Aug 2017)

Museums

Museo del Vino in the Palacio del Cid

• 8 Museo de Arte Contemporáneo 'Florencio de la Fuente' (Florencio de la Fuente Contemporary Art Museum), C/ Cuesta del Ángel, 2, ☏ 34 962 303 032, [email protected]. Tu-Su 10:30-14:00 17:00-20:00. €2 (adults), €1.50 (concessions). (updated Aug 2017)
• 9 Museo del Vino (Palacio del Cid / Wine Museum), C/ Somera, 13 (Palacio del Cid), ☏ 34 962 303 281, [email protected]. W-F 12:00-14:00, Sa 10:30-14:00 17:00-19:00, Su 17:00-20:00. So named in reference to the 11th-century mercenary Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, the well-preserved 15th-century palace now houses a museum showcasing to the history and process of wine-making in Requena. €2 (adults), €1.50 (concessions). (updated Aug 2017)
• 10 Casa-Museo de la Seda (House of Silk), C/ Castillo, 5, ☏ 34 639 619 607, [email protected]. M-Sa 11:00-14:00 17:30-20:30, Su 11:00-14:00. Formerly the seat of the Silk-Weavers Guild, the museum is dedicated to illustrating the history of silk production in Requena, which stretched from the 17th century to collapse of the silk trade at the end of the 19th century. €2 (adults). (updated Aug 2017)
• 11 Museo Municipal (City Museum), C/ del Carmen, 15, ☏ 34 697 104 540, [email protected]. W-Sa 10:30-12:00. Located in a former royal convent, the museum showcases archaeological finds from the region. €2 (adults), €1.50 (concessions). (updated Aug 2017)
• 12 Sala Antiguo Mercado (Municipal Market Exhibit Hall), Avda Arrabal, 7, ☏ 34 697 104 700. Tu-Su 17:00-20:00. Hosts temporary art exhibits. Free. (updated Aug 2017)
• 13 Museo de Fotografía (FOCAM / Photography Museum), C/ Piñuelo, 9, [email protected]. First Sa of the month: 11:30-13:30; other times by appt only. The small museum is dedicated to the history of photography, from its invention in 1839 to the current era. Free. (updated Aug 2017)

Do

Mountain biking along the Río Magre

Festivals

• 1 Fiesta de la Vendimia (Wine Harvest Festival). Late August to early September. Celebrated annually since 1948, this is the oldest wine harvest festival in Spain. Activities include numerous parades, fireworks and mascletás (gunpowder demonstrations), bullfights, and of course wine tastings.
  Wine tastings are held M-Th at 12:30 in a 2 pavilion behind the Sala Antiguo Mercado (entrance through the mercado), and include four glasses of wine, a four-course meal, and a souvenir wine glass. Entry tickets are sold beginning at noon, but people usually start queuing about 20-30 min beforehand as seats are limited. €10 (wine tastings). (updated Sep 2018)
• 3 Muestra del Embutido de Requena (Requena Sausage Festival), C/ Desvío Carretera, 152 (Recinto Ferial Requena / Requena Fairground). Mid-February: F 12:00-21:00, Sa 10:00-21, Su 10:00-19:00. This annual three-day festival is devoted to local artisanal sausages, as well as other regional specialties including cheeses and olive oils. Visitors arriving by train can present their train ticket for an additional 10% discount on purchases, and for this weekend the high-speed AVE train offers discounts 70% for travel between Madrid/Cuenca/Valencia and Requena-Utiel. A full schedule of tastings and other events (Spanish only) can be downloaded from the website. F €8, Sa Su €10; ticket includes sausage and wine tastings, a serving of roasted ham and a traditional dish, and free admission to a museum/monument. (updated Dec 2017)

Hiking and biking

The surrounding area offers a number of opportunities for hiking and mountain biking. The tourist office has an online list of hiking trails with trail descriptions in English.

Buy

Requena mercadillo

• 1 Carnicería Emília 'La Villa' (Emília 'La Villa' Butchershop), C/ Fortaleza, 10 (across from the Torre del Homenaje), ☏ 34 962 303 410. Daily 10:00-15:00, including Su and holidays. Well-known for its artisanal sausages. (updated Sep 2017)
• 2 Ferevin (Feria Requenense del Vino), C/ Cuenta de las Carnicerías, s/n, ☏ 34 962 305 706, [email protected]. M-F 11:00-14:00 16:00-19:00, Sa 11:00-14:30 16:00-19:00, Su 11:00-14:30. The local wine cooperative is a good place to pick up some of the award-winning regional wines, and also holds frequent wine-tastings. (updated Sep 2017)
• 3 Mercadillo (street market), Avda del Arrabal. Saturday mornings. Requena's lively street market is a good place to pick up fresh produce and locally-produced foods, as well as other miscellaneous items. (updated Sep 2017)

Eat

Requena-style gazpacho manchego

Given Requena's inland location, local cuisine unsurprisingly is more meat-based, with influences from the neighbouring region of Castile-La Mancha. Typical dishes include gazpacho manchego, a warm soup with bread (not to be confused with Andalusian-style cold gazpacho), morteruelo, a meat paté with breadcrumbs, and a wide variety of dried sausages.

• 2 Mesón La Villa, Plaza de Albornoz, 13, ☏ 34 962 302 132. Serves traditional Requena dishes including morteruelo and grilled meats and sausages. (updated Sep 2017)
• 3 Mesón del Vino, Avda de Arrabal, 11, ☏ 962 300 001. Th-Su 09:30-24:00, M 09:30-18:00, W 09:30-12:00. One of the oldest restaurants in Requena, it serves typical regional cuisine using ingredients from the local market. (updated Sep 2017)
• 4 La Posada de Águeda, Carretera Nacional III, km 282, ☏ 34 962 301 418. Hours vary by season. A highly-regarded restaurant, it serves Mediterranean cuisine with creative flair in an elegant setting. Reservations recommended. Set menu €24. (updated Sep 2017)

Drink

Winery in Utiel

Explanation of the distillation process during a wine-tasting tour

Requena, along with neighbouring Utiel, is a part of the Requena-Utiel wine-producing region, designated as a Spanish Denominación de Origen. Red wines are especially highly-regarded; the red Bobal grape which makes up nearly 80% of production is native to the region. Since the early 2000s the region has also become noted for its sparkling white and rosado wines.

• 1 Bodegas Murviedro, Ampliación Polígono El Romeral, s/n (take exit 285 off the Valencia-Madrid motorway), ☏ 34 962 329 003, fax: 34 962 329 002, [email protected]. One of the larger wineries in the Requena-Utiel region; offers a tour and wine-tastings. (updated Sep 2017)
• 2 Bodegas Torre Oria, Crta Pontón, km 3 (Utiel), ☏ 34 962 320 289, [email protected]. M-F 09:00-18:00. Another large winery with wine-tastings and tours. (updated Sep 2017)
• 3 Dominio de la Vega, Ctra Madrid-Valencia, km 270 (San Antonio), ☏ 34 962 320 570, [email protected]. Shop: M-F 09:00-14:00 15:30-18:00, Sa Su 10:00-14:00; tours Mar-Dec: Sa 10:00-14:00. Known for its cavas and rosados, the winery also has an English-speaking guide. Wine tastings and tours €9-35; reservations can be made online. (updated Dec 2017)
• 4 Pago de Tharsys, Ctra Nacional III, km 274, ☏ 34 962 303 354, fax: 34 962 329 000, [email protected]. Shop: M-F 09:00-14:00 16:00-19:00, Sa 10:30-14:00 16:00-19:00, Su and holidays 10:30-14:00. The small family-run operation produced good cavas and rosados, and practices vendimia nocturna (night harvest) of its grapes. The vineyard also operates a small hotel rural with 8 rooms. English spoken. Wine tour with tasting €7, by prior reservation. (updated Aug 2018)
• 5 Vera de Estenas (Finca Casa Don Angel), Ctra Nacional III, km 266 (Utiel), ☏ 34 962 171 141, [email protected]. M-Sa 10:00-18:00. The smaller family-run winery has some especially good Bobal wines. Wine tours (Spanish only) must be booked in advance. (updated Oct 2017)

Sleep

• 1 Hotel Doña Anita, Plaza de Albornóz, 15 (Bajo Requena), ☏ 34 962 305 347, fax: 34 962 323 070, [email protected]. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Facilities include an onsite bar-restaurant, nonsmoking rooms, and free Wi-Fi. Pets permitted on request for no extra charge, and free nearby parking is available. Doubles €62-79, breakfast €7. (updated Sep 2017)
• 2 Hotel Patilla Ciudad de Requena, Ctra Nacional III, km 277 (take exit 291), ☏ 34 962 301 021, fax: 34 962 302 055, [email protected]. Check-in: 15:00-24:00, check-out: 08:00-12:00. Facilities include an onsite bar, nonsmoking rooms, a terrace, and free Wi-Fi. Pets permitted on request for no extra charge, and free onsite parking is available. Doubles €60. (updated Sep 2017)