The small town of Sella, with approximately 500 inhabitants, on the slopes of the Sierra de Aitana Mountain, is 15 km from Villajoyosa and 23 km from Benidorm, Despite its proximity to the major tourist areas, it has retained its eminently rural feel.The climate, is noticeably cooler than on the coast, given its proximity to the Sierra Aitana mountain, which has not favored overcrowding as in other areas now exploited by tourism.
This, indirectly, has favored the more traditional character of mountain towns such as Sella. The two nearby rivers, the Sella and the Arc, which surround the town, join in its southern part and then enter the River Amadorio, on their way to the sea, near Villajoyosa.
This, indirectly, has favored the more traditional character of mountain towns such as Sella. The two nearby rivers, the Sella and the Arc, which surround the town, join in its southern part and then enter the River Amadorio, on their way to the sea, near Villajoyosa.
The Molí de Baix, is today a relic of the past, one of the many watermills mills that once dotted the area, five of them in the town of Sella. This watermill survived until 1968, when its profitability was practically zero and motors gradually eliminated the hydraulic principle that powered the mill and the traditional activity in the area.
The Moli de Baix watermill was a hydraulic flour mill, also known as a maquila mill, which was used to process the grain that the mill owner received as payment for his work. Today, no longer operational, it retains however, its entire structure and machinery, allowing visitors to see the process by which grain was transformed into flour. The mill retains its centuries old charm, surrounded by water and the with the poplars trees that surround it. These elements, along with the wind blowing from the nearby Aitana, give the mill and its surroundings an unmistakable character.
Not far from the mill and next to the source of the Arc spring, the mountain range adopts magnificent vertical slopes in areas that are easy to access and ideal for climbing. This attracts mountaineering enthusiasts from all over Europe, transforming the area and the shelter built there into a previously nonexistent world of ropes, carabiners, and pegs. All this, just 3 km away. from the mill and the town in a very wooded area of pine, olive, carob, and almond trees.
Today it is the miller's residence, who maintains both the building and the surroundings, maintaining its centuries old charm.
F J Villaplana.
