Are you staying at the Grand Luxor and love nougat? Then there is nothing better than eating Jijona nougat in the place it gets its name from, where you will undoubtedly find the most authentic and highest quality nougat. Today we’ve got a guide for you to enjoy this town in Alicante. You’ll feel like a real master nougat maker!
How to arrive
Jijona is only 50 km from Benidorm and can be easily reached by car, tram (which takes a little longer), bus or taxi.
Jijona nougat: a sweet with a long history
It is of Arab origin, but is first documented in Jijona in the 16th century. It became popular from the 1940s onwards by the people who came to Jijona for tourism and industrialisation. In fact, its consumption quickly spread throughout Spain and beyond our borders.
When do we recommend going to Jijona if you like turrón?
Of course, you can buy and taste turrón in Jijona all year round, but we recommend choosing a few special dates to do so:
World Nougat Day
It is celebrated on 7 November and is perfect if you are looking for things to see in Jijona with children. There are a wide range of activities for the whole family such as guided and/or dramatised tours, visits to nougat factories, tastings, exhibitions, nativity scene displays, painting workshops for children and even some sporting activities.
Christmas Fair
In December, you can also visit the Jijona Christmas market, where you can buy turrón and much more. it’s the perfect place to buy a gift for true gourmets!
Tapas with nougat week
It takes place from 29 October to 7 November and culminates with Nougat Day. Throughout this week, different restaurants and bars offer turrón-based tapas. However, bear in mind, especially if you go by car, that on Tuesday mornings there is a street market right in the heart of Jijona.
Nougat Route in Jijona
Start your route by learning all about turrón. How? With a visit to the Museo del Turrón, located on the outskirts of Jijona, in Polígono Industrial Ciudad del Turrón, specifically in Polígono Espartal II, Carretera Busot km1.
It is highly educational and shows the traditional machinery used to make Jijona nougat, Alicante nougat and marzipan. It also has a section devoted to raw materials: sugar, honey and almonds. The museum is even worth a visit for the place itself, an old traditional house.
This industrial estate has several nougat factories that you can visit and buy nougat, such as Almendras y Miel, SA (El Lobo and 1880), Artesanías Jijonencas S.L. – Rodríguez Sirvent Artesanías, Industrias Jijonencas, SA; Turrones Garrigós; Turrones Picó or Turrones El Artesano. As well as these factories, there are others on the outskirts of Jijona, such as Turrones Pablo Garrigós Ibánez S.L. or El Abuelo.
If you head towards the town of Jijona, you will see that there is no bell tower. However, it has two churches (Santa Maria and the Archpriestly Church of the Virgin of the Assumption), with their “hidden” bell towers. There are also several chapels in the surrounding area.
We recommend visiting La Plaza, with its 19th century modernist houses built for the master turroneros (turrón makers) and amazing ice-cream parlours. In fact, ice cream is the other most popular sweet in Jijona due to the existence of its snow wells in the XIII century. And don’t forget the beer gardens.
Nearby is the Turrones Coloma S.A. factory and shop, on Calle Marcelo Mira, 26. Take advantage of the fact that our hotel Grand Luxor Hotel & Village is so close to go and eat Jijona turrón right where it is made. This experience is a must!