Tapas, wine tasting, honey and history: The 5 Yecla companies just added to the list for quality tourist experiences
The annual tourism board meeting welcomes five new names to Yecla’s growing network of certified attractions
Five Yecla businesses have just been recognised for offering top-notch visitor experiences – and it’s all thanks to their commitment to quality and a local project that’s raising the bar for tourism across the municipality.At its latest annual meeting, Yecla’s SICTED Tourism Quality Committee gave the green light for Bodegas Señorío de Barahonda, Restaurante Estirpe, La Tapeoteca, Mieles de Yakka and the Cayetano de Mergelina Municipal Archaeological Museum to join the municipality’s list of accredited services. Each one reflects something special about Yecla, from its wine and food culture to its rich heritage and natural products.
The new additions bring the total number of local businesses proposed for national recognition this year to 19. They will now be submitted to Spain’s National SICTED Committee, which meets in Madrid on Sunday June 15, 2025, where their awards will (hopefully!) be confirmed.
This recognition doesn’t come easily. All five companies took part in training sessions and one-on-one support, and passed detailed audits looking at everything from customer service and facilities, to legal compliance and sustainability. Their efforts are now paying off.
The Integral System of Tourist Quality in Destinations (SICTED) is a national project led by the Spanish State Secretariat for Tourism, with support from the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP). It’s all about improving the overall quality of tourist destinations, making sure visitors can expect the same high standards across every stop on their trip, while encouraging continuous improvement along the way.
The annual meeting was attended by Councillor for Economic Development and Tourism Isabel Pérez, alongside representatives from the Yecla Wine Route, local accommodations, the General Director of Competitiveness and Tourism Quality, Eva Reverte, and Inmaculada Rubio from the town’s Tourist Office.
Councillor Pérez said she was proud of the progress made so far. “Our local tourism businesses have understood this system as a way to improve the management and competitiveness of our town’s tourism sector, because they are convinced of the benefits it brings to the entire population of Yecla, and of course, to visitors and tourists who come to discover Yecla,” she said.
Support for the SICTED initiative in Yecla has been made possible by funding from the Region of Murcia’s Directorate General for Competitiveness and Tourism Quality, allowing the Town Hall to run training, consultancy and audits for both new and returning participants.
A public event will be held in Yecla in the coming weeks to celebrate the recognised businesses, where they’ll be awarded their official diplomas and SICTED certification badges. The event will also help raise awareness of the programme and encourage more local tourism providers to get involved.
For more local news, events and visitor information, go to the home page of Yecla Today
Image: Jep Gambardella/Pexels
Address
Plaza Mayor, Casa de los Arcos, s/n 30510 YECLATel: 968 754 104
Oficina de Turismo de Yecla
In early 2025, due to renovation work at the usual office, the service is located on the other side of the Plaza Mayor at Calle Epifanio Ibáñez nº 2 (click for map).
Yecla is a large municipality in the north of the Region of Murcia, home to just under 35,000 people, and these days is best known for its wines, which enjoy Denomination of Origin status, and its furniture production, which has its origins in the abundance of pine trees on the mountainsides and the high plateaux.
While visitors in the 21st century may be attracted primarily by wine tourism, the town (or city, as it was proclaimed in 1878) also has a wide historical, cultural and natural heritage, and an identity quite different from the coastal areas of the Region of Murcia. For this reason it is often grouped together with its neighbour and fellow wine-producing area Jumilla as part of the Altiplano area.
Yecla borders with Castilla-La Mancha and the Region of Valencia and is closer to Alicante coastal areas than much of Murcia. These visitors come to see the historic old town itself - an atmospheric and interesting place, crammed full of history - the natural beauty of Monte Arabí, with stunning views for those who enjoy the outdoors, the gastonomy and of course the wine route.
Yecla boasts cave paintings from 10,000 years ago in Monte Arabí, a Bronze Age settlement at El Arabilejo, Iberian remains in El Pulpillo and a Roman administrative centre at Los Torrejones as well as the remnants of the 11th century Moorish castle on the hill behind the town. More modern (and complete) testimony to the past are the buildings in the town centre, which include the grandiose Basílica de la Purísima, with its striking blue dome, the archaeological museum and the attractive Plaza Mayor, where the 16th century Town Hall stands alongside the Renaissance Casa de los Alarcos, the clock tower and the old grain store.
The tourist office holds a full selection of leaflets, maps, pre-planned routes, accommodation and restaurant options and information about visiting Yecla for both individuals and groups.
There is parking close to the tourist office, although those driving to Yecla for the first time are advised to park in Calle Perales.
For further information go to the home page of Yecla Today.
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Friday 8.00 to 15.00
Saturdays 10.30 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 19.30.
Public holidays 10.30 to 14.00
Click for map, Yecla tourist office
