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Located to the south of the border between the provinces of Valencia and Alicante in the Valencian Community in Spain, and running approximately 40 kilometres between the towns of Gandia and Muro de Alcoy, the Serpis Greenway (la Vía Verde del Serpis, in Spanish) follows part of the route of the Alcoy-Gandia railway line along the course of the River Serpis as it passes through the landscape of "el Raco del Duc", also known by the Valencian name of el barranc de l’infern (“Hell’s gorge”).

Pending the establishment of the necessary cooperation agreements between the various municipalities through which the greenway passes, it currently unofficially forms part of Spain's 2,700 kilometre "Via Verde" rail trail network, which is coordinated and promoted by the Spanish Railways Foundation (Fundación de los ferrocarriles españoles).

In Muro de Alcoy it connects with the Xixarra Greenway, which extends to Cieza in the Region of Murcia, and with the Alcoy/Ibi/Maigmó Greenways, which form part of the original route of the planned Alcoy-Alicante railway.

History
As occurred in other areas of Spain, for example Ojos Negros in Teruel and Rio Tinto in Huelva, in the late 19th-century the inland region around the city of Alcoy responded to its growing industrial development with the construction of a railway, in this case operated by the British company Alcoy and Gandia Railway and Harbour Co. Ltd. and linking the city to the port of Gandia on the Mediterranean coast. Given the popular name of the “English railway” (el tren dels anglesos in Valencian), it was used for the transportation of coal and other materials employed by the Alcoy industrial sector, and for the exportation of finished industrial products such as textile, paper and olive oil via Gandia.

The railway's construction of the railway was subject to physical and to political conditions: in the stretch between the towns of Lorcha and Villalonga, the River Serpis passes through mountainous terrain and a narrow gorge known as el barranc de l’infern (“Hell’s gorge” in Valencian), requiring the construction of various tunnels and bridges, whilst local authorities insisted on the creation of stations in Alcoy, Muro de Alcoy, Villalonga and Gandia as a means of ensuring that the new infrastructure would improve the fragile communications between the coastal and the inland areas. Further stations were later added in Gandia port, Beniarrés, Cocentaina, Beniarjó, l’Orxa and Gaianes.

The new line was also planned in such a manner as to facilitate its connection to subsidiary lines running to Cullera, to the north of Gandia, and to Dénia, to the south. Both of these towns lies on the Mediterranean coast. There was also a connection to the Alcoy-Villena-Yecla line (part of which has been reconverted into the Xixarra Greenway) at Muro de Alcoy.

The line was frequently subject to episodes of financial turmoil during its operation and was the recipient of State subsidies from the 1940s onwards before its eventual closure in 1969.

Conversion into rail trail (greenway)
In 2018, the Valencian Regional Government tooks the first steps towards preparing the tender for the conversion of the route between Gandia and Alcoy into a greenway and its subsequent inclusion in the Vías Verdes network.

Geography
The original railway started around 550 m.a.s.l. in the city of Alcoy, in the comarca of Alcoià, travelling north along the foot of the Sierra Mariola range to the nearby towns of Cocentaina and Muro de Alcoy. At this point, the line turned west, following the River Serpis as it crossed the Perputxent Valley and passed along the foot of the Sierra de Benicadell range through the municipalities of Gaianes, Beniarrés and Lorcha, before entering the gorge known as el Racó del Duc or, more dramatically, el Barranc de l'Infern (Hell's Ravine, in Valencian) and finally emerging in the town of Villalonga in the Mediterranean comarca of la Safor. The final stage of the line crossed the flat plain separating Villalonga from Gandia, before terminating in the town's port.

Route
On the whole, the route of the Serpis Greenway follows the former railway quite faithfully in its entirety, although the removal of several bridges and the construction of different road infrastructure since the closure of the original line have given rise to certain minor deviations.

The existing route starts in the town of Muro de Alcoy in the province of Alicante, where it crosses the course of the River Agres by means of an asphalt track, a consequence of the demolition of the original railway bridge.

From here, the greenway follows the original railway track across the A7/E15 Motorway and through the villages of Gaianes and Beniarrés to the original, disused station at Lorcha. With the exception of the villages crossed en route and a ravine where the original railway bridge is missing, the route follows the original track and is mostly asphalted.

From the station at Lorcha, which is located around 1.5 kilometres from the town, the greenway follows the River Serpis through el Barranc de l'Infern ravine to the village of Villalonga, in the province of Valencia. This stretch of the route, which passes through an area of outstanding natural beauty, is unpaved.

As the route leaves the ravine, and before entering Villalonga, it crosses the River Serpis. At the current time, the crossing is effected by means of a temporary footbridge, as the original bridge is missing. There is an alternative route along minor roads at the point which connect to Villalonga and avoid the need to use the temporary footbridge.

The original route between Villalonga and Gandia has not survided intact, although some sections are serviceable and can be combined with minor roads and agricultural tracks through the nearby villages of Potries, Beniarjo and Almoines before finally reaching Gandia.

The route's surface alternates between asphalt, compacted gravel and loose earth, and is stoney and weather-damaged in the Barranc de l'Infern section.

Signage
The Serpis Greenway has as yet to be incorporated into Spain's Vías Verdes greenway project, and as such it is not equipped with uniform distance-, direction- and information signs.

Illumination
There are 6 original, unlit tunnels of varying lengths along the Serpis Greenway. As such, it is recommended that users (and especially cyclists) carry their own lights.

Climate
The Valencian coastline enjoys a typical hot-summer Mediterranean climate, classified as Csa under the Köppen climate classification and characterised by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters with infrequent frosts in inland locations.

Muro de Alcoy also enjoy a Mediterrean climate (classified as Csa under the Köppen climate classification) with mild winters and hot summers. Rainfall is concentrated in the autumn months, whilst summer is the driest season. Minimum temperatures in winter range from 4 to 7ºC, with maximums of 14 to 17ºC. Ground frost is relatively uncommon, and the average yearly temperature is 16ºC.

Due to the relatively-high summer temperatures in Valencia and the lower temperatures and occasional snowfall registered in inland Alicante during the winter, the optimum seasons for completing the route are spring and autumn.

Difficulty
The Ojos Negros greenway does not present any great difficulties for most users given that, in common with most railway lines, the average gradient is 3-5%, and is considered suitable for walkers, cyclists, horse riders and those with disabilites

Accommodation
There are numerous accommodation options available along the Via Verde de Ojos Negros greenway, ranging from hostals and hotels to campsites, cabins and private houses.

Acceses
As has been noted, in many stretches the rail trail runs parallel to the main Sagunto - Teruel - Zaragoza railway, which has several stations nearby, including:Sagunto, Segorbe, Barracas, Rubielos de Mora, Mora de Rubielos, Sarrión, La Puebla de Valverde, Puerto de Escandón, Teruel, Cella y Santa Eulalia del Campo.

Additionally, the C-5 line of the Valencia local train service stops in Estivella, Algimia de Alfara, Soneja, Segorbe, Navajas, Jérica and Caudiel, all of which are to be found on the first section of the route. (Cyclists are recommended to consult train operator RENFE about possible restrictions on boarding trains with bicycles to avoid any last minute surprises.)

Similarly, the aforementioned A-23 motorway follows the rail trail closely, allowing access via the many villages and towns along the route (for example, Villa de Altura).

Tourism
The route passes through numerous location of architectural interest, including the city of Segorbe, with its cathedral and medieval walls, Jérica, which is host to a múdejar tower that has been declared a a national historic-artistic monument, Albentosa, Sarrión, la La Puebla de Valverde y Teruel.

The comarcas which the Ojos Negros I crosses or passes include 18 Protected Natural Areas (Espacios Naturales Protegidos), including Sierra Calderona, Sierra del Espadán and Dehesa de Soneja, as well as Mediterranean pine, oak and juniper forests.

Ojos Negros II passes through or within 5 kilometre distance from 9 Protected Natural Areas (Espacios Naturales Protegidos), including Los Sabinares del Puerto de Escadón, Sierra de Javalambre, Estrechos del Río Mijares, Sierra de Javalambre II, Los Yesares and Laguna de Tortajada and Cueva del Húmero, as well as crossing the valleys of Alfambra and Jiloca.

Enlaces externos

 * "Comunitat Valenciana", Valencian Regional Government Tourism Portal. Ojos Negros Greenway. Information on travel options.
 * Guide to Ojos Negros Greenway I, including route information, accommodation, useful contact information, etc.
 * Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fishing and Food. Ojos Negros Greenway
 * Ojos Negros I Greenway: Algimia de Alfara (Valencia) to Barracas (Castellón)
 * Ojos Negros II Greenway: Barracas (Castellón) and Santa Eulalia (Teruel)
 * Fundación de los Ferrocarriles Españoles (Spanish Railways Foundation)
 * UNESCO. Múdejar architecture of Aragón.
 * Cuidad de Teruel. Múdejar art.
 * PREDIF (Plataforma Representativa Estatal de Personas con Discapacidad Física). National body dedicated to the diffusion of information on Spain's Greenways for those with disabilities. (Spanish)
 * Renfe Operadora. Spanish state passenger and freight train operator. (English)
 * La Puebla de Valverde Town Council. What to see. (Spanish)
 * Government of Aragon. Cultural Heritage. Múdejar route. (Spanish)