Waterfalls of Algar
Puerto de Denia
Blue Flag Beach at Moraira
Old Fort at Moroira
Marching Band in Denia
View from Guadalest
Cuevas del Canelobre/Busot
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Casita Tranquila
Places to Visit There are many area's of interest to visit that are within easy access from the villa. Listed below is a selection of places that you may want to visit on your stay. Altea The dome of Altea's church, blue with a white geometrical design, is one of the symbolic images of the Costa Blanca. Altea is situated on a hill whose peak rises above the white-tiled parish church. The magnificently jumbled and cluttered centre of the Old Town provides Altea with a special charm. Located outside the Church of the Virgen del Consuelo (Our Lady of Solcace) is the Plaza del Convento which forms the cultural and leisure centre of Altea. There a many restaurants and bars located in the warren of winding cobbled streets where you will find many of the locals go to eat. Altea's peacefulness and tranquillity have made it a paradise for artists and craftsmen and their shops and stalls are scattered throughout the Old Town Centre. There are often open air markets held in the main Plaza during the summer months. At the foot of the hill lies the wide sea promenade and the commercial street, the Avenida del Rey Jaime I. Altea has a 6 kilometre beach, with cliffs alternating with shingled bathing areas. Benidorm
Benidorm's long sandy beaches and range of leisure amenities explain why has it has become Costa Blanca's main tourist area. Benidorm has some of the best beaches in the world. The fine sand, cleaned daily, the quality of the services and the transparency of the water are the main reasons given by Benidorm's many visitors. Surrounded by up to 1558 m high mountains, Benidorm is perfectly protected against the sometimes cold north winds. Therefore the Benidorm weather does not even go below 19° C in Winter. The Playa de Levante, where most bathers gather, is located 2 kilometres from the old town centre. The Playa de Poniente is located on the edges of the old town centre, near the Finestrat cove. The Playa de Poniente resembles the Playa de Levante, though it is more peaceful. Another interesting tourist attraction apart of Benidorm nightlife, are the different holiday and theme parks around Benidorm. Even without speaking any spanish words this is real fun. Starting from Terra Mitica to Mundomar and Aqualandia, all parks offer a variety of attractions especially if you are on holidays with kids. Benissa
Benissa is located on the windy coastal road between Valencia and Alicante, and has a white church similar to the churches painted by Constable. The Church, called the 'Cathedral of the Marina Alta', was constructed in the 'twenties by pious masons from Benissa who used their own physical strength and monetary contributions to build it. Although the town has had to adapt itself towards the tourist demand, it has not lost any of it’s’ 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. Calpe/Calp
This sizable seaside town manages to preserve the vestiges of the past of its old town and its many archaeological sites, and combine it with the lively contemporary town centre with its wide selection of shops, bars, restaurants and nightlife. Its fishing port is full of vitality, where restaurants serve the local fish and seafood. Above the contemporary town centre and to the left of the main street you will find the lovely old town with cobbled streets and many interesting murals painted on the walls. There are two churches in Calpe which are certainly worth a visit. Close to each other the Iglesia Antigua and the church Senora de las Nieves are both located in the old town in the center of Calpe. The two long sandy beaches with promenades sit either side of the giant rock outcrop called Peńon de Ifach with a height of over 1000 feet. You can walk to the top of this nature reserve by a gentle winding path which will take you through a tunnel carved into the rock. There is a more challenging walk to the top after you pass through the tunnel which will require some stamina. However, the nearly perfect view around the bays and the Costa Blanca is worth the effort. Moraira
Moraira lies in a pretty bay below beautiful mountains. This popular tourist town has grown from a small fishing village and although fishing still remains, the town now boasts an impressive marina and gently-shelving clean sandy beaches. Awarded the prestigious EEC Blue Flags for cleanliness, the beaches are well tended and very safe for family bathing. There are plenty of bars, shops and good restaurants in the old town plus there is an up-to-date shopping parade backing the beach. Although Moraira has recently been through an expansion program it still retains it's modest Spanish integrity and attracts visitors from all over Europe, being particularly popular with Spanish from Madrid and Valencia. Dénia
Denia is located between Gandia in the north and Javea in the south is one of the most visited cities around this area. With about 29 000 habitants, Denia does not only make their living from tourism. Denia posses one of the most important harbours of the area, with ferry connections to Ibiza, Mallorca and others. This and the huge fishing fleet made Denia a very prosperous city over the past years. The tree lined main avenue of the lovely old town of Denia - Calle de Marques de Campo - leads directly down to the harbour and fish market. This is also the best area for shopping with scattered bars and restaurants to provide welcome breaks during your visit. Make sure you try some of the excellent cakes and sweets of local confectionery and bakery shops, Denia is famous for it. One of the most visited tourist attractions of Denia is the castillo (castle). The castle built in the 11th and 12th century offers a wonderful view around the sea, the city and the surrounding area. Within the castle you will find the Palau del Governador with its museum. Along with the other interesting museum in Denia the Museo Etnologico where you can find further details on the rich history and culture of Denia. Denia is also the railhead for the narrow gauge railway that runs to Alicante through a picturesque landscape including 17 tunnels. A ride on any train on this line is a wonderful journey but the famous 'Lemon train' that runs this route has been described as one of the great train journeys of Europe, and is an experience that should not be missed. The route is fascinating for amateur photographers, particularly the stretch from Moraira to Altea where the railway curves around the rocky coast. Local stations for this line can be found at Teulada and Calpe, and the trip to the Tuesday morning beach market at Altea by train is also not to be missed. El Castell De Guadalest
A beautiful drive through mountain country takes you to the castle, cemetery and picturesque village of Guadalest over 590m up in the mountains. Built like an eyrie by the Moors in 1200 AD, you enter it by passing through a tunnel polished smooth by the hides of packhorses. Once in the village you may visit the craft shops and bars found in the medieval houses, which are partially integrated into the rock. One of the outstanding views for tourists on the Costa Blanca is from the fortifications that look over the emerald green lake far below. One of the most emblematic tourist images of the Costa Blanca is undoubtedly the picture formed by the freestanding elegant bell tower and the tunnel that provides access to the old centre of Castell de Guadalest, both located within a granite mass of striking appearance. Castell de Guadalest is the capital of the valley of the same name. It's bordered by Aitana, Serrella and Xortŕ mountains. The river Guadalest flows through the municipal area, interrupted by a reservoir near the town. The village is unique as its old urban centre is located on the top of an outcrop, which is only accessed via a tunnel hollowed into the side of the rock. The area at the top of the rock includes the ancient city dungeon, the bell tower, Saint Josep castle where the current cemetery is located, and the recently restored Orduńa House. A parish church and the Moorish fortified building called Alcozaiba are also located in this area. A more modern village, "el Arrabal", is located at the foot of the rocky promontory and here you can find many craft shops, museums and restaurants. Tourism has completely transformed Castell de Guadalest and its two hundred inhabitants have devoted themselves entirely to the provision of tourist services; agriculture, the traditional source of income of the village, has become a residual activity. The entire village has become a tourist attraction and there are a large number of gift and craft shops; the most interesting museums of the province are located here and its privileged position offers magnificent views over the valley and Castell de Guadalest's reservoir. Gata De Gorgos  Gata de Gorgos owes its name to the Gorgos River, also called the Jalón, which passes through the village before arriving at Jávea. Gata de Gorgos is located at the crossroads with the N-332 and the regional roads leading to Jávea and Dénia. This inland village is the centre of the local basketware production and is often described as being the bazaar of the Costa Blanca. Home workers produce most of the articles, including baskets, furniture and hats. Crafts shops display their products on the streets, and sometimes the highways, to the surprise of curious visitors, and make a picturesque sight. The houses, white with ivory lintels, give the village its regional character. The Church dates from 1535; the same year the village became an independent municipality from Dénia. Tradition "lives" in Gata, which has been able to overcome adversities without leaving to one side its traditional activities of agriculture and local handicrafts. Jávea/Xŕbia
Jávea (also knows as Xŕbia) lies between Denia and Altea and is accessible from the N-332 trunk road via pretty local roads. Jávea is embedded into two bays - the Cabo San Antonio and the Cabo San Martin. Jávea divided into three areas; approx 20,000 habitants of Jávea live in three different parts of the city. The village of Jávea which lies about 3 km land inward, the port of Javea and the area around the beach of Jávea. The old town of Jávea has still maintained some traditionally built houses with balconies with narrow streets and whitewashed buildings. There is a selection of shops to choose from and you will also find a number of restaurants and bars, particularly along the Avenida del Mediterraneo which runs along the Javea harbor area. Although Jávea has the church of Iglesia de San Bartolome, which was built in the 12th century, and other buildings of interest, the most impressive sightseeing point of Javea are not buildings but the wonderful view from the Cabo de San Martin. Walking up a path from the Javea harbor - the hill of the bay allows an impressive view on the the Cabo de Nao. Some other area's of interest...
Annalisa Campbell-Laing © 2005 |
