Casa Sicilia 1707 and Novelda

Itinerary:

Casa Cesilia is a well-known top class restaurant and winery in Novelda, where a guided tour with wine tasting awaits, followed by a full 3 course lunch with various mouth watering options. The visit lasts approx. 3,5h. You can also buy products at the winery shop. After a delicious meal you will be driven to the nearby Santa Maria Magdalena church “a mini Sagrada Familia” and a visit to Novelda Castle.

Restaurant Casa Sicilia 1707 & Bodegas Cesilia

The winery, where Casa Secilia wines are currently made originates from the mansion built by the Marquis of La Romana in 1707: heretat de Cesilia. King Jaume I ordered the “heretats” system to repopulate conquered lands. Heretat was a group of countries united by certain exploitation criteria. It basically consisted of a house, an orchard, and a piece of land intended for the cultivation of grain and vineyards.

In the early 1700’s, the port of Alicante was considered the most strategic commercial point in the region. Wines from this region, which were increasingly prestigious and in demand by the European elite, and therefore were exported in large quantities everywhere . Novelda was the most important city in the region, and the wines of the Vinalopó valley were among the most outstanding wines produced in Alicante.

This country house was bought by the Arias family in 1984, who now have an ambitious winemaking project. Casa Sicilia wines have become a symbol of the Mediterranean, thanks to an interesting combination of tradition, modernity and highly qualified professionals.

Casa Sicilia’s country house, is still located outside the city of Novelda, in the same place where the Marquis of La Romana saw the birth of his “heretat”. It stretches over four areas of Novelda: Alcaydías, Ledua, La Mola and Sicilia, in a valley a short distance from La Mola hill.

Santuario de Santa Maria Magdalena and La Mola castle

The church was designed by the local José Sala Sala and is clearly influenced by La Sagrada Familia (Barcelona), designed by Antonio Gaudí, which is the most spectacular church in Spain and perhaps in the whole world. The medieval castle of La Mola is right next to the cathedral on top of the mountain and you can go up the triangular tower to admire the scenery.