The Costa Blanca
The perfect place to live. No matter what area on the Costa Blanca you choose you will have a huge range of things to do and coast to explore. The Costa Blanca has a year round climate of over 330 days of sunshine.
From Dénia to Pilar de la Horadada, from Orihuela to the valleys of the Marina Alta, including Villena and Alcoi, the Mediterranean breeze fills this land with light, enveloping the entire region in its exceptionally attractive climate. With complete tourist facilities, spectacular scenery and an extensive culinary palette, with exciting popular festivities, and sports, cultural and entertainment opportunities galore, the Costa Blanca is one of the most cosmopolitan sites in Europe, where cultures from abroad fuse with local traditions in perfect harmony.
Altea
From the “punta del Mascarat” set in a bay, Altea has found a nook between the sea and the mountains, granting an almost symbolic image of the Costa Blanca. With the blue and white dome of its Parochial Church, the municipality spreads down to the Mediterranean Sea. Small and beautiful coves and beaches extend along a littoral riddled with the same captivating white charm held by the town itself.
Calp
Under the attentive gaze of the highest cliff on the Mediterranean, the Peñón de Ifach, Calp has grown on both sides of the Great Rock, symbol and image of the Costa Blanca. It has been a tourist destination since the 30s due, especially, to the quality of its beaches, their fine sand and the cleanliness of their waters. The municipality preserves vestiges of the past in its old town, and curiosities such as the ruins of the Baños de la Reina, and some abandoned salt mines. Its fishing port is full of vitality, where restaurants serve the local fish and seafood.
Benissa
Although the town has had to adapt itself towards the tourist demand, it has not lost any of its’ personality. Situated between the green of the mountains and the blue of the sea, the town has preserved its marked medieval flavour. This, combined with the beauty of its’ beaches, coves and countryside create a beautiful scene, further enhanced by cliffs and jagged rocks.
Alicante
By road, boat or plane. Any means of transport is suitable to get to this city called “City of light”. With more than 3,000 years of history, patent in the remains left by different civilizations, the capital of the Costa Blanca offers the most varied landscapes and the most enviable contrasts. A cultural city with wide parks, gardens and a city centre with lots of businesses, Alicante also enjoys night-life. Furthermore, its fine sand beaches count with multiple services. And it goes on impoving! Alicante keeps up its efforts in order to increase the number of projects held and the ilusion to maintain itself, as always, as a tourist destination par excellence.
Denia
Twenty kilometres of coastline, rocky coves and big extensions of sand, solitary beaches and beaches with both sports and playful activities. Dénia has a wonderful climate, whilst its landscape, is an added plus to its blue waters. The nature reserve of el Montgó, rising up, as Blasco Ibáñez said, like “a giant hand”, has served as a watchtower for a littoral which has been inhabited for over 4.000 years. Nevertheless, this out-standing enclave of the Costa Blanca has more: Its patrimony gives a good account of the historical brilliance of what it was once protagonist to, and its gradual conversion into a modern city, in which leisure occupies an out-standing position.
El Campello
El Campello was chosen as a good site for a settlement back in the Bronze Age. After many centuries, and despite the modernization of the heart of the Costa Blanca, El Campello inhabitants have preserved and provided their town with a dual character, both rural and cosmopolitan. The remains left by various civilizations that have passed through the town can be seen even now along with the excellent beaches of this beautiful and contrasting landscape.
El Campello has a varied and attractive coastline of 23km in length. At the extreme north, next to the Coveta Fuma, there are cliffs and small coves of sand, gravel and rocks with clear water that are celebrated nudist beaches. Alongside the Port and the fishing area there is an urban beach that runs parallel to the to the seaside promenade and that is connected to another small cove that makes a perfect inlet for first- time sailors. Finally, there is the beach of Mutxavista, made up of fine sand and with all types of facilities, which runs for 3km to the south. There is a diving club that organises dives at various points of the Costa Blanca and, on a curious note, a fishing village has been built amongst the cliffs that recreates the image of a traditional Mediterranean village.
Alfaz del Pi
L’Alfás del Pi is a small town with a fortress that was built for protection against Berber pirate attacks. The name Alfás del Pí, sown land, appropriately describes the area, characterized by residential zones, with an active cultural activity. Its character owes much to the beach on the Mediterranean Sea, which can be reached by footpath, and its lighthouse.
In July, the town is illuminated for the celebration of its famous film festival.
Elche
The flat plains of Vinalopó have one exceptional city. A select group exists in the world, formed by cities that hold more than one recognised Treasure to humanity. Elx is part of this collective. However, the Palmeral and the Misteri, in all their greatness, beauty and originality, don't stand alone. The city accompanies its treasures, exalting its' two thousand year history, combining modernity with dynamism. Ilicitanos (Elx inhabitants) conserve the natural coastline, which closes an imaginary circle that makes up the territory.
Jalon
Located in the beautiful Pop valley, as the only exception in a rough terrain, is Xaló. Its township spreads between the Sierra de la Solana and the Sierra de Bèrnia, on the boundary of the Marina Baixa.
Although the urban nucleus is fully situated in a valley the majority of the municipal term is spread among the mountains, the highest of which is the Serra de Bèrnia. Other peaks are the Solana, the Sierra del Ferrer and the Penyó de la Mica. Between mountains and caves, it is a municipality that has adapted to the conditions imposed upon it throughout history. Today it sits happily, shining and laborious between modernity and tradition. Always welcoming visitors who come from all around to visit the village of Xaló/Jalón, especially on Saturdays when, next to the river Xaló, one of the most popular antique markets of the Costa Blanca is held.
Javea
Xàbia is situated between two points, the “La Nao” Cape and the “San Antonio” Cape. In all its extension and in each one of its three environments: the villa, the port and the sandy area, the population maintains a balance between the important traces of the civilisations that chose the area for a settlement, and the modernity of a contemporary tourist destination. In the old town are narrow streets of whitewashed houses with windows, stone doorways and balconies. The littoral is made up of, beaches, coves and select housing estates, joined together by a string of viewing-points.
Teulada - Moraira
Teulada-Moraira has the good fortune of having two urban centres that double the area’s history, traditions and customs. Located in the Marina Alta, its enchantment lies in its spectacular growth, while preserving is privileged environment. Teulada-Moraira is a tourism centre that is well-known for its lovely beaches, its interesting historical centre, the quality of its wines and its fantastic fish auction. Its coastal orientation and the mountains surrounding it from behind provide a microclimate with an average annual temperature of 18 degrees, guaranteeing that its charm can be enjoyed most of the year. Teulada-Moraira is committed in the present and the future to preserving the environment and serving its residents and visitors. It seeks to preserve the local natural resources, traditions and customs for tomorrow, by maintaining sustainable development today.
Villena
Villena is an old city crowned by its most symbolic characteristic: an old castle of Arabic origin. At the foot of this fortress was the primitive urban nucleus and around it the town has grown up, surrounded by extensive agricultural fields. After the Reconquest its lords were the males of illustrious lineage, from the Manuel, Aragón and the Pacheco families; and for many years Villena was the capital of an extensive marquessate that had great influence on the national history.
This is a border city, portal between the luminous east and the austere plateau; and at the same time linguistic border for its Castilian condition in the line of the ancient Kingdom of Aragon. Geographically, Villena is situated in the North-west of the province of Alicante, occupying adjoining zone with the provinces of Valencia, Albacete (Autonomous Community of Castilla la Mancha) and the Region of Murcia. Head of the judicial area and of the administrative area of the Alto Vinalopó region, it has a population of 33,455 inhabitants. Villena is situated at an altitude of 504 metres above sea level and its municipal area covers an extension of 344.2 Km².
In the urban complex, the severe and graceful temples, the secular stones of the old castle, do not contradict the audacities of the modern architecture: progress gives a hand here and unites together with the ancient traditions.
Santa Pola
The first settlers inhabited the “Cueva de las Arañas” (the cave of spiders) in the third and fourth Millennium BC. In the first century AC., with the arrival of the Romans, the area became known as “Portus Illicitanus”, developing into one of the key ports for maritime commerce. From this period there are many archaeological remains. After the fall of the Roman Empire, and during the medieval era the area suffered a fall into general decline, largely due to the plundering of Pirates. This motivated the building, in the XVI century, of the Castle-Fortress and the “Torres Vigía” (vigilance towers). From the XVIII century onwards the town was concentrated around the Castle, the nucleus from which the development of the settlement evolved. Nowadays, Santa Pola is a tourist municipality with the most important fishing fleet in the Spanish Mediterranean.
Torrevieja
Amongst lagoons, on a great plain, Torrevieja is located, a destination of great importance. The current municipality grew next to a tower (Torre), the old one (la Vieja), which gave it its name along with some natural characteristics that have marked its history and its daily life. The area boasts some splendid beaches, with which it has developed its tourist capacity in combination with its seafaring and salt-making tradition. Today, also, the production of Salt, one of the main European producers, has a competitor in international recognition, the Cuban dances and its International contest, declared as being of International tourist interest, which celebrates in homage to the “Torrevejeneses” that traded with Cuba, colony from which they brought these melodies.
Orihuela
Historical artistic monuments, sixteen kilometres of coastline, six museums, more than ten thousand palm trees, thirty pasos procesionales (processional sculptures) and a poet. These figures give a notion of attractive nature of Orihuela. Besides which, this information is accompanied by quality, and is brought together in a term of long beaches and hidden coves steeped in history. A municipality, su pueblo y el mío, that gave form to the first poems of Miguel Hernández, who shaped his memories of the surrounding fertile land.
Villajoyosa
Villajoyosa has something special that makes all those who visit want to return. The light of a Mediterranean locality, the configuration of the old town, with its small streets that reminisce of the past, its houses close to the port painted in the purest of Mediterranean styles, in bright luminous colours, are the biggest attractions for tourists. Besides which the town enjoys an excellent climate, thatmakes it a recommended destination any time of the year.
Finestrat
Situated at the foot of Puig Campana – a majestic rock that towers over the Alicante coast – Finestrat, with its privileged setting offers us an extraordinary viewpoint from which to contrast the marvels that nature has presented us with. The town is in keeping with its natural surroundings while retaining the identity of its architecture as well as the affability of its people of always. As we meander along its steep streets we can savour the many possibilities that the town delights us with as well as its landscapes, traditions, history and fiestas.
Crevillent
Located at the foot of a sierra, halfway along a valley, Crevillente maintains the typically complex urban layout of its Islamic origins. The neighbourhood of cave dwellings contrast with the modernity of the newer districts. Surrounded by greenery, it is proud of its traditions, and culture, making its principal activity an art form. Crevillent belongs to the region of the Baix Vinalopó together with Elche and Santa Pola. Six separate community entities or "pedanías": are included within its territory San Felipe Neri, The Realengo, The Barrio de la Estación, The Casicas, El Rincón de los Pablos and the Barranco de San Cayetano.
Its territory of 103,29 square kilometres, is situated to the south of the province, beneath the Sierra de Crevillent, which makes up the Subbética Mountain. The maximum heights of the region can be found separating Cuenca del Segura and the coastal plain of the South of the Hondones and the Vinalopó Valley to the North, the district is furrowed by several ravines such as The Castellar, San Cayetano and The Barranc Fort.
Guadalest
Guadalest is located on a high peak, built-into a rocky outcrop which is traversed by a man made tunnel excavated into the rock. The peculiar nature of the municipality is apparent from afar, whilst its heart holds even more surprises, ranging from a neighbourhood that shows vestiges and remains from a good part of the of the local history, to a complete and varied selection of museums. The enclave, is both surprising and spectacular, besides which, it is surrounded by the “Sierra de Aitana”, the “Sierra de Serrella” and the “Sierra de Xortà”.