What ’ s On
A busy month for the craft people of Amata
The time in which almost all craft fairs were being cancelled ( more than a year now !), seems to have come to an end . Although there are still limitations to what is allowed , there is plenty of scope for organisers like craft association Amata , to turn their craft fairs into interesting events . As is the case in La Nucía , Benidorm and Denia .
Craft Market in La Nucia – 8 , 9 and 10 July On the 9th of July in the Year of our Lord 1705 an official document was signed that established La Nucia as an independent settlement . In 2005 the town decided to celebrate the event with a Medieval Market , and since then has done so every year ... up until last year , when the market was cancelled . This year there will be a market again , but the Town Hall has decided to spend the money on lots of craft demonstrations , rather than on big shows and performances .
Once more Amata has been asked to organise the event . This regional association interested in maintaining and improving craft standards , only admits products of good quality and made by the craftsmen and women themselves . Nothing from big or little factories , nothing imported - it ’ s all original , which is why Amata uses the slogan “ Artesanía de Autor ®”.
To guarantee a safe environment , the market will be a bit smaller than in previous years , but will still have about 40 stalls . And there is lots to see : you can watch many craftsmen and women at work : a blacksmith , a potter and a wood sculptor . You can see all the different processes through which wool passes , from the sheep until it is turned into a beautiful shawl : cleaning , carding , dyeing , spinning and weaving . Other artisans will be making shoes , painting ceramic tiles and plates , silver-smithing and working with macramé . In fact , many of the people in this market can add an extra touch on the spot , or take orders for some special design . After all , these are craftsmen and women - and you can help them keep their craft alive .
After wandering around the market , visitors can enjoy a beer or some roast meat at the tavern , a glass of tea in the Arab tea tent or try out traditional boiled " pulpo " ( octopus ) served with potatoes on wooden platters . Other stalls sell cheese , freshly ground coffee , pressed fig bread and there is even a baker selling bread straight from his wood-fired oven . And the event is enlivened by three or four musicians walking around the fair .
Children can make their own piece of art in one of the workshops , have a ride on an old fashioned merry-goround , or play table games . You will find the market in La Nucia in the old centre , around the Town Hall ( Plaza Mayor ) and it opens on Thursday 8 , Friday 9 and Saturday 10 July from 6 pm till midnight ( or perhaps a little later ).
Weekly craft fair in Meliã Villaitana On another scale and in another setting , a dozen or so craft stalls of Amata will be set up every Wednesday evening in the square in front of the Reception of hotel Meliã Villaitana in Benidorm . This small fair has been going on since May , not only for the guests of the hotel , but also for visitors from outside . Till the end of June it was held on Saturday nights , but from July this changed to Wednesday evenings . It has been very successful , mainly because every stall offers something different . Meliã Villaitana is situated in the Avenida Alcalde Eduardo Zaplana , which is near Terra Mítica . It boasts 4 and 5 star hotels , two golf courses , a spa , bars , restaurants , swimming pools and sports accomodation . You can visit the fair on 26 June and , starting on the 7th of July , every Wednesday from 6 pm till midnight . There is plenty of free parking space near the fair .
Crafts and gastronomy in Betibo Perhaps the most adventurous project of Amata is the one set up on the grounds of Betibo , a well known place on the coastal road between Denia and Jávea , ideal to spend an agreeable evening in the middle of nature . Every Friday , Saturday and Sunday evening from 5 o ' clock till after midnight , you can walk around the gardens of Betibo , buy craft work , take part in workshops , play table games , listen to music and try all sorts of interesting food and drinks . For this event Amata has created a special web page with information about activities , menus , workshops and how to get there : https :// www . puebloartesano . es / betibo . html .
For more information about any of these fairs , ring 639 979 678 ( in English ). And if you can ’ t visit any of this markets , you can still visit their Virtual Craft Village http :// www . puebloartesano . es .
27