It was 1921 when a Royal Order was published granting a significant state budget for the construction of the Port of Burriana, promoted by the politician Jaime Chicharro. To carry out such an important undertaking, it was decided to create a quarry in the nearby town of La Vilavella, right in the area where the San Sebastián hermitage stood, regardless of its eventual destruction. After several years of extracting stone, activity was suspended with the arrival of the Civil War. Once the conflict ended, the port was finished using concrete blocks, leaving the quarry completely abandoned.
In the late 70s, the adjacent space was used to create a sports area with a trinquete (handball court), football field, and gym. however, with the arrival of the new century, rockfall problems began, forcing various cleaning and protection measures. It was during the latest of these interventions that it was decided to take advantage of the rock sanitation to build a via ferrata to add value to the area. A via ferrata is a sporting itinerary through rocky massifs equipped with steps, cables, and various artificial elements to facilitate progression, usually allowing access to summits or high-altitude sites.
The La Vilavella or “La Cantera” ferrata, with its more than 130 meters of length and 100 meters of height, offers incredible views of the Plana area. The first section runs through a path protected by a lifeline that leads to the wall; from here, a series of steps allow you to gain height until reaching a short but exciting Tibetan bridge. Next, a lateral traverse and a wooden plank bridge allow you to contemplate the great void beneath your feet—perhaps the most exciting part of the route. Once the traverse is finished, you can choose to complete the ascent through a vertical section with small overhangs, or descend to a 25-meter abseil (rappel) station.
Finishing the ferrata at its highest point allows you to see the thousand-year-old castle presiding over the hill and then descend along a pleasant path that connects with the town’s historic center, featuring narrow streets of Muslim origin and the “new” San Sebastián hermitage, built after the original was demolished in 1934.
Access to the ferrata is public, but to face this challenge, one must have the proper knowledge of progression and the necessary equipment: harness, helmet, energy absorber, safety rope, etc. With Nucs’ certified instructors, you can discover this and other via ferratas in the province of Castellón in a fun and safe way.