The Area

In the 2nd century before Christ "Valentia" ("the pretty", "the powerful")
was established by the Romans and was occupied during the time by the
Gothics, the Greeks and even the Arabians. In the year 1021, Valencia with
the entire coast became an independent kingdom. Under the famous "el Cid"
(actually Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar), in 1094 the Christians conquered the city
for a short time. It came under Moorish domination and got re-conquered in
the year 1238 under the Christian King Jacob the 1st. Valencia is famous for its history amongst other things, for example the first hand painted ceramic tiles were

Costa Blanca (The White Coast) is known for its good weather and beauty. Mountains surround the coast, which shield the area from cold Northerly winds going out towards the Mediterranean. During the summer period the area gets an average of 300 hours of sunlight per month with an average temperature of 28-30° C. The winter is mild with an average daytime temperature of 17° C but colder at nights, during the winter month's the many almond trees in the area flower, bringing a soft lavender colour to the area. The area between Alicante and Valencia is known for it's many agricultural goods, e.g. oranges, lemons, almonds and olives.

The food in the Alicante area is very Mediterranean consisting greatly of fish vegetables and various meat dishes, the traditional dish of the area is the paella and is served in most restaurants. Of course the area also hosts many international restaurants.

A little about the towns in the area.

Finestrat is a town that combines agriculture with the service and tourism sector. The town has preserved the traditional features of a Mediterranean town and relaxing walks can be enjoyed in the area around the Church and to the Hermitage of the Remedio, constructed on a former Moorish castle, which provides a magnificent vantage point over the Marina Baixa. The town describes itself as representing both 'sea and mountain' as the main town is up in the mountains while a part of it is located at the beach. In La Cala (Finestrat's costal area) there are 2 18 hole golf courses being constructed and will be finished in spring 2004.

Benidorm's beaches and range of leisure amenities explain why it has become Costa Blanca's main tourist area. Benidorm has some of the best beaches in the world. 7 km of white fine sand beaches, divided between the Levante (Sunrice) and the Poniente (Sunset) beaches with the small fisherman beach Playa del Mal Pas And Canfali hill, where once the castle stood, in between.
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. The Playa de Levante, where most bathers gather, extends from Canfali hill to the Rincon de Loix.
In the middle of the summer the colourful concentration of human bodies is quite impressive. 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.
The historical centre is located around the Canfali vantage point, which is the most emblematic image of Benidorm with a white stone balcony and a vantage point. The neoclassical church dedicated to St. James the Apostle is also located in this area.

Playa del Albir is located two kilometres away from the old town centre of L' Alfàs del Pi to the Sierra Helada. It is a pebbled beach with a range of services and a concentration of leisure amenities, including a free nudist beach near the lighthouse. The Sea promenade is known as the Promenade of Stars as it contains the names of famous actors who have visited L' Alfàs del Pi during the annual Cinema Festival in July.

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. When visiting, start at the Plaza del Convento and take the Pont de Moncau - this leads to the Vellaguarda district, an area of steep narrow cobble-stoned streets with balconies and small glorietas (circular intersections). In the Plaza, the cultural and leisure centre of Altea is the Church of the Virgen del Consuelo (Our Lady of Solace). 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. 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. Playa de la Roda is located adjacent to the old town centre.

Calpe, with its ideal location, near perfect climate and many attractions, Calpe has proved a magnet for foreign tourists and homeowners alike. Thousands of British and German visitors have come here for a short visit.and never returned to their native land!
The town's most famous and distinguishing feature is its mighty Peñon de Ifach - the huge rock which rises 332 metres out of the Mediterranean, reminiscent of the rock of Gibraltar. The Peñon was declared a nature reserve in 1987 and now provides a safe haven for a variety of birds and unusual flora and fauna.
Take a trip to the old town and you'll find ample evidence of Calpe's rich history in murals, monuments and museums which keep alive the town's links with its chequered past. Remains of Iberian tribes, dating back to several hundreds of years BC, have been found around the Peñon de Ifach.