A few days ago we spent the day in nature, in the mountains. To reach it, we have to drive about half an hour inland from the coast. It's really not far away, and whenever I can and feel that call from pure nature I opt to go there. It doesn't matter I already know the terrain very well, it is just that beautiful area where I charge my mood and energy batteries that will never become boring.
The beautiful landscape from the edge of the village Banimantell.
The landscape from the edge of the village Banimantell, looking towards the mountain Aitana.
I do like to live by the sea, of course, and my work, friends and everything we are used to now are here, but sometimes I ask myself if would be good to live in a small inland Spanish village. Exactly here, in the valley, between the mountains. Would I get used to it?
The view towards the other village, Baniardá.
During the summer it's a blessing. Although the temperatures also go high, the woods give a different fresh feeling. And the evenings and early mornings are colder than by the coast. The winter is tricky though, as heating is needed here. And there are years that the peaks of the mountains receive snow, and that is something that I very much like to see and feel.
Also, I like hiking here, so that is actually how it happened that I got up to this village. We were based down, by the lake and I climbed the route that led to Benimantell. The first facility I found at the entrance to it, from the path that came from the forest was a cemetery.
{A small interlude about the name of the village. In this area, there are so many villages whose names start with the prefix Beni. It was so confusing to get used to it, but in the end, we found out why does it happen. That word, beni, has Arabic origins and means son of, or descendants of the father of the person that founded the tribe or the settlement. So, that is why we have those towns and villages around like Benidorm, Benimantell, Beniardá, Benicassim, Benilloba etc...}
A few minutes later the streets also appeared and the school. It is a small one, as the village is also small. I guess there are not many children around.
The same school, captured from another street.
Here you can already see that the streets are narrow. This is a common thing in the majority of small Spanish villages. The tall, stone houses give shadow one to another and there is no need to build here wide streets as in bigger cities.
Isn't it just charming to walk between those houses, where barely one car (a smaller one) can pass?
So, that charm is what attracts me to walk around and get lost. (Take with a reserve the get lost part, as it would be difficult... there are just a few streets in total here, so in a few minutes you can already find the main street or a familiar little square or street.) I am very sure that the same feeling attracts tourists too or those who want to spend here a few days.
Just look at all those plants and flowers that are decorating the entrances of the houses and the street right in front of the houses. It is so nice to see, at least for me. It gives a feeling that the owners of the houses care about the village and how the streets will look.
Plants and flowers, yes. And not just that. On many of the balconies, artworks were hanging. Seems that is a new trend now, as it is not the first time I see this. Last Saturday, when I visited the old part of the town of Calpe, I saw a similar thing, but not as much as here in Benimantell.
So many different paintings, all making this strolling experience more colourful. If I was not enough happy already hahaha, but surely these details made me even more amazed by the whole day and this village. Let's see a few of those paintings. (all the descriptions will be just my perception of the paintings, maybe not the real intention of the artist! :D )
A naked woman in a garden:
City life, looking from some colourful glasses:
Life in the countryside:
A view from your dreamhouse's window:
Happiness while dancing:
Loving the whole world:
Winter vacations in Spain? Forget the snowman 😂
Summer would be nice by the sea:
I do have more photos with the painting but then this post will be totally congested by art. And this is not the only thing that makes the villages cosy and charming.
What else could make you come here? Maybe a super tiny main square with a church?
The narrow but clean streets and nicely decorated houses?
The town hall, which is not much bigger than any other house in the surrounding streets is also nice.
The main street of Benimantell. You can find here one bakery, two bars and two restaurants and a small healthcare centre.
The village itself is tiny, as you can see. I walked through the majority of the streets, and all seemed this cool. The main street is a bit different as it is wider and offers some basic services. But is it enough for someone to decide to live here, to buy a property? The houses are a bit cheaper than in the bigger centres and those that are close to the sea, but I am sure that they can give some benefits. If not to live, then to have a house to rent out to visitors. I saw several houses that were available to rent out for days or a week. Why not chose this place as a vacation destination? Just ring this bell and you already found the accommodation for yourself - if the rooms are available :))
In any case, having a place to come for a few days to unwind the mind or rent it out for the rest of the year is a cool thing. With these thoughts, I finished my walk through Benimantell, but I am more than sure that it was not the last time I visited it. In one or another way, it will count on my presence again.
Great, free art exhibition outside!
I love these beautiful places.
Hehe, yes, free art exhibition :D
Maybe there are works by professional and amateur artist among these paintings, but it's doesn't matter. The point is creating art 😊
I know this is in spain.. But somehow the cramped up buildings remind me of Sicily!
However it's insanely beautiful 😍😍
I hope you had an amazing time there and that the adventures lasted long and were beyond joyful!!
I guess because many places are similar in the Mediterranean ;)
When I see some posts here on hive from the south of Italy or Greece, there are places that remind me of our small Spanish villages.
I did have a great time and my mind was more than happy ( well, still is 😄 )
Everything looks perfectly, but too intimate, so nope, village falls off even tho those art pieces are amazing idea.
Valley looks like addiction, having a morning coffee with that view, daaaaaj!
Hahahah, yeah, in a small village the neighbours know more about you than you know about yourself 😂
But having property there, and converting it to a rural accommodation?
Then those who like to take the morning coffee with that view can enjoy :D
Give me the property, I'll take care of accommodation. :D
Every place that counts less than 50k has the same politic. :D
I agree with you!
It seems to me that among the paintings there are no works of professional artists, judging by the work.
I am not sure, there were some nice ones but as we concluded, the creation and expression are the points that count :)
It looks like some art exhibition. Nice idea.
Whole little villages and towns converted into art exhibitions. It really became a trend in the area, well, at least something nice that is adopted as a habit. 😇
I really like such cities with such narrow streets, it's like you are free to explore it.
I saw an interesting way to display a painting on your balcony.
Have a wonderful weekend.
That exploration part is what I also like. Drop me in a new place and I am happy :D
The paintings on the balconies. It must be an organized thing by the artists' associations or similar, but I don't know how they chose the house to display the art. Maybe the house owners apply for it, I am not sure. Anyway, the house receives an artistic detail and the artist is happy with his showcased work :)
Thank you, and may you have a great weekend too! 😀
Beautiful natural scenery, the weather there also looks very sunny, in contrast to the weather where I am now, thick fog enveloped our mountain when I visited it😁
I also love to see the design of the building you shared, a beautiful weekend ma'am
Fog at your place? Then there is just one solution :) I have to bring more sun to Hive 🌞
Although fog can be nice too, it gives some mysterious feeling to any place ;)
Thanks @roronoa46, hope you have a great weekend too! 👋
Yes, we always have the opposite weather, that's why I want to exchange countries with you😅
Really? Exchange countries?
I think it would be nice to explore a bit of new territory but then we should exchange back our places :)
I like this sunny place 😃
Lol, what a description you wrote under your avatar. Hahaha Talk less do more 😂
Well, the "talk" part should not be diminished. What if we learn to combine talk while working haha?
Hahaa, Good idea ma'am, I'll replace it with "expand the style and stay desperate." 🤣
But you will definitely not be able to stand it if the dry season is later, the temperature in my country is slightly different from the temperature in the desert😁, Your smooth skin will be charred ma'am
Inland mountain/ valley villages are so cool and charming.
What a cute place. The streets and tiny plaza. Than all the art works, how cool is that. Nature at your doorstep. It can be wonderful.
When I moved to Spain in 2015 I started in a village like that. A bit further inland. Iznájar it is about 1,5 hour drive with my car to Málaga city. I moved around a lot in Spain.mostly along the coast, but also 4 times inland in a village or even rural with nobody around.
It is so different living than along the coast.
But wherever you are. You still can visit the other place. Both have + and - points.
And yes… for going there a few times a year, than rent out the rest. Is a good investment. But the other way around too 😉🤓 oh sweet decisions hehehe 🤭
Thanks for sharing your beautiful captures with us @mipiano 😊😎
Have a great evening. Good night 👋🏻😴
Such a great resume you have given about the village, I think one should use it when advertising the village ;) Nature at your doorstep - that sounds perfect as a description!
So you lived both inland and on the coast. Well, you moved so many times that I am not surprised hahah. Yeah, both have pros and cons and depend on the needs of one. Where you have your workplace, and social circles, do you prefer the sea or it is just nicer to see the greenery... Working online is a benefit in these situations, so one can shift places easily and enjoy both the sea and the mountain :D It can be a very nice investment - so daydreaming atm 😅
Have a great Sunday @littlebee4 😀
Hahaha who knows. But yes, it looked like that to me 😊
Yep… almost loosing track of all my moves around Andalusia. 🤓
You are right there. It all depends on your own needs. The remote working options nowadays do show a shift… more people are going towards nature. We will do the same, one day soon 🤞🏻🍀 things are finally moving. Just the country where to, has changed due to company changes.
And continue to daydream… you never know where it will take you next 😊😎
Thanks a lot @mipiano 🤗 enjoy your Sunday too 👋🏻☀️
I'll write down the name of Benimantell for when I'll go back to the Valencian Community, to visit it. It is a cozy and pretty village. Very good photos😄
You will not be disappointed if you visit it, and also Guadalest is there, just a few minutes by car, which was declared one of the most charming and most visited villages in the area. 😍
It looks a great place to visit, I like these quiet towns.
I like big cities and all the things they offer, but spending time in such calmness is priceless. :))
It sure is.
Banimantell is a cozy place and I was convinced as I read your post. It's definitely a place I want to visit also one day. Thanks for letting us immersed in this simple yet amazing place virtually! 💙
I am glad this little place got some really nice feedback, and although now you got just a glimpse how it looks, I am sure you would like to walk here in real :))
Wow..are all houses there have paintings by the window..such a pretty place, albeit small.. It looks tranquil and a better place to live, especially during holidays 😊..the fact that it is near to a mountain, I want to hike there for sure.
Then we would hike here together 😉
🚶♀️🚶♀️
Tranquility and peace of mind, great gifts we get from nature and this place 😇
That would be fun 😊
I am from a small city and many of these towns preserve the same families and with them their magic✨
Yes, it makes sense, if the place is beautiful then that families want to preserve it for their descendants ;)
Hive based tourism blogging income... + hive based hostels and hive airbnb with resturaunts all taking hive..could save many of these small towns around the world!
ow, that would be good, restaurants and hostels that would accept hive :)
@mipiano In a place like this is named a village, even though this looks like a beautiful city to me, we mention a village, if the condition is very slum and surrounded by large forests, I think that is the advantage of your territory, amazing 👍☺
This place is definitely a village, a charming one :)
But this is very extraordinary, my area in Aceh, this is an urban corner not a rural area.
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Indeed! What a great place to recharge and unwind😍
A perfect one, for sure :))
It's a very lovely village and the people seem like lovely people too. I like how they gave visitors lovely art to view as they walk past.
The streets are also very rural and simple, looks like they were made for strolling through.
Nice post I really enjoyed taking this journey with you
Yeah, it's nice from the owners of the houses to allow those paintings to hang from their balconies.
Simple and calm, indeed a perfect place to visit and stroll around ;)
Yeah. If I every see life taking me to there I'll visit too
In this Village, Everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they're still beautiful.
Nothing motivates you to spend more time outside and enjoy it more on a leisurely day like a nice nature caption!
If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.
I am glad you also liked this place!
wow do you live there? your village is so quite and very clean. are there no people around?
No, I don't live there, as I wrote, I was just hiking there are went up to the village form the forest. No people as it was a holiday and also not many people live there.
@mipiano,In my opinion, living in a village in the interior is very pleasant, because for me, when we try to adapt to the environment around the village, we will feel exciting.
Let's see around the housing you pass by, they care about the environment.
And while we're there, we can see beautiful landscapes that are like the pictures you're showing.
What a beautiful nature this isn't it.
It has its benefits, of course, and the key is in adaptation. Who likes to adapt to a different lifestyle can test itself by living in a small place like this, surrounded by beautiful nature. 🍀
Yes, that's right, adaptation is very important, it is very difficult if we are not used to living in a remote village.
A strange place - there are no people at all - it looks like the apocalypse
A calm and nice apocalypse :D
Going through this post made wonder why many struggle to live in the city. Like the village has it all. The peace, the beauty, the originality and the identity. This post and the picture spoke in different tones and dimensions to me
The city offers also a lot of good things, but maybe finding a balance is the best. This village has some basic facilities and services, is not impossible and very difficult to imagine living here, especially as it is such a beautiful spot. I am glad you liked the walk through this village :)
The village trees are attracting me.
🌲🌳yeah, the plants and the trees are an important part of any village or city. 🍀
Hey remember me?! Looks like you are doing well! I had to sell all my Hive for health but I'm better now. Hope all is good with you
Hi there.
Yeah, I do remember you, and your health struggles. And your little son.
Thanks, I am fine, all is good on my side. And I am glad to hear that you are doing better 😃
Have a great Sunday @cryptoknight12
Those narrow streets are indeed lovely. I like how you have captured the soul of the little village; it's quite cute.
Thanks :)
Cute and charming, it is indeed!
This looks like something out of a fantasy book and the streets look so peaceful
hahaha, indeed, like a tale but it is a real beauty :D
The painting of a snowman who's having a summer vacation in Spain looks funny, but cute. 😄 It seems nice and peaceful living there, you could enjoy some peace of mind unlike in the city.
If you ask me, move there! Life in the countryside, in smaller communities is so much more genuine than life in the city. What a beautiful village. Wonderful paintings indeed. Thank you for sharing !
The scenery is nothing short of amazing! This is absolutely beautiful! I would love to visit Banimantell. Thank you for sharing
I agree ;) An amazing place to spend a day, especially in the surrounding nature, and all way down to the lake that can be found there. 😀
Yes... One would feel so refreshed after