This is the name of an area of many cliffs located between the towns of Benirrama, Benialí and Benitaia. A difficult zone to reach, the area was declared a flora microreserve by Generalitat Valenciana on the 6th of November, 2000, due to the rich variety of flora growing there. The protected area covers 4,456 hectares. The main protected species are Arenaria valentina, Geranium sanguineum, Biscutella montana, Lathyrus pulcher, Centaurea segariensis and Teucrium flavum ssp. glaucum, although the importance of rupicolous communities with Hippocrepis valentina, Scabiosa saxatilis ssp. saxatilis, Teucrium buxifolium and Saxifraga cossoniana is also relevant as a protection factor, due to the fact that these plants can not survive outside of their context and therefore the purpose of the microreserve is to protect entire plant communities or ecosystems. There is also an area at the foot of the cliffs with dryland terraces, which are being cultivated or have been abandoned depending on the ease of access. In uncultivated areas, ash (Fraxinus ornus), laurustine (Viburnum tinus), terebinth (Pistachia terebinthus), Portuguese oak (Quercus faginea), strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) and maple (Acer opalus ssp Granatense) grow, amongst many other trees and shrubs, forming a mixed forest that is evidence of the existence of a subhumid microclimate in the Valencian territory.

The Xap viewpoint is a very suitable place to get an idea of what the whole valley looks like, to search for the villages, looking down on them from the sky, and to see at a glance all the highest peaks of the surrounding area, or to trace the winding riverbed of the Gallinera River.

To get to the Xap viewpoint it is necessary to use the paved forest track following the signposts from Benialí or Benissivà. It is possible to take an alternative section of the track, ascending or descending, called Camí de la Marquesa. This variant starts at the crossroads where the roads that come from the two villages meet and it can easily be identified because it is not paved. This track goes to the convent of Benitaia.

PLACES OF INTEREST

• Benissivà.
• Benitaia.
• Font de l’Ombria.
• Mirador del Xap.