What's on in Xaló/Jalón

Xaló, known in Spanish as Jalón, is an inland village in a green valley behind the northern Costa Blanca, surrounded by vineyards, almond and citrus groves. This is wine country — the local co-operative presses the muscatel and mistela the valley is known for — and the whole place runs at a slower, rural pace than the coast a half-hour's drive away. In February the valley turns pink and white with almond blossom.

The big draw is the Saturday Rastro, a sprawling antiques and flea market combined with a farmers' market that brings people in from across the area. The harvest is celebrated with grape-picking wine tourism and the Xalónia wine and tapas festival, while Sant Domènec is the village's patron saint fiesta. Here's what's on while you're here.