This route begins at the halt of Las Virtudes, a hamlet in the Villena area from where you can see Sanctuario de las Virtudes, a sanctuary devoted to Our Lady that is very popular in the region. The legend relates the desire of the people of Villena to build a temple to a patron saint who would protect them from the plague that devastated the population. In this way, Our Lady of Virtues received the title of defender against the plague and patron saint of Villena. 

Two km further on from the halt we arrive at the building of Las Virtudes Station, where the route joins the road that connects the sanctuary with Villena. Next to it we arrive, at km 3, at Salinas de Peñalva. In this place, a branch of the road gave access to a salt loading bay, an installation of which no remains are preserved. At the entrance to the salt flats area, the bridges (the railway bridge and the road bridge) cross the Acequia del Rey, a very straight channel between these salt flats and those of La Fortuna and La Redonda, located 4 km further north.

Shortly after passing the Chapel of San Bartolomé (km 4), the track crosses the road, following the old railway line –once again surrounded by vineyards – the shortest route to Villena. This town is reached by a section converted into an access road. Our route generally runs parallel to the active railway tracks, arriving after km 6 at Villena Station, the most important on this line. There, in front of the active station, the passenger building, the freight docks and the workshops of the old Xixarra railway still stand. We have to cross the tracks and, on the other side of the station, follow the street parallel to the active tracks (to the right), a street that, after a  bend to the left, occupies the route of the narrow-gauge railway. Next to this street, the presence of a small railway pontoon will dispel any lingering doubts we may have. 

But before continuing, a visit to the city of Villena and its castle, as well as tasting some of the wines belonging to its designation of origin is a must. The spectacular fortress was built by the Almohad Empire at the end of the 12th century, as a refuge for the Muslim population of Villena. The inner wall and the first two floors of the keep date from this time with its imposing vaults, unique among the castles of Spain along with the fortress of Biar, to which our steps along the greenway are directed.

Along Rosalía de Castro Street, the greenway heads towards the underpass (under the A-3 Levante motorway) of the Biar road (km 8). Together with the cars (be very careful since they drive really fast!) we will reach the municipal sports centre at the foot of the Sierra de la Villa. In this place we abandon the cars to their fate and continue along the road, which has now become a comfortable trail surrounded by crops. Little by little we will approach the spectacular gorge that the Vinalopó River, almost always dry, has carved in these soft lands. After a sharp bend we find the elegant bridge (km 12) replaced at the end of 2005 according to its original design, 33 years after its dismantling. 

We go back to the road to Biar, a section that is in excellent condition. A kilometre further on, the route has been asphalted to improve its traffic conditions for rural vehicles. At km 16 we arrive at Biar Station, which has been refurbished as a house, from where you can get a magnificent perspective of the town presided over by its imposing Templar castle. As a final point of the route, we suggest going to the magnificent town centre located just over a kilometre from the station and visiting, in addition to the 12th-century castle, the Biar Sanctuary, the ogival aqueduct, or its ethnographic museum. 

If you have not enough, from here you can link up with the Southeast Camino de Santiago and cross, by bike, the entire country.

From Biar the route continues, but in worse conditions, to Alcoy, a place that can be reached after overcoming several difficulties, so we advise you to inform yourself very well about the conditions of the route before starting out. 

It is worth mentioning that since the end of 2019, the Xixarra (or Chicharra) Railway is preparing a new section in the Murcian town of Cieza as a greenway. This action is expected to be followed by two others, to Jumilla and then to Yecla. The ultimate goal, when the three sections are complete, is to have a 71-km-long itinerary that will be integrated into the network of Murcia Region Greenways. Hopefully, it will link with the Xixarra Greenway in Villena sooner rather than later.