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PLACES TO VISIT NEARBY
Calpe -
Noted for the Peñon de Ifach, which
sits out on the coastline like a small version of Gibraltar, it has long beaches
of soft, clean sand (Levante Beach especially, on the north side of the Peñon).
It also has an interesting fishing harbour and fish market - located slightly
away from the holiday town - (with a number of Restaurants close by which
specialize in sea food.). Large shopping area with extensive range of
shops/stores/bars/ restaurants.
Altea
- An old style Spanish town, right on the coast. It has a large street market
and a good shopping centre. There is a long promenade lined with
bars/restaurants, but the beach is shingly and shelves very steeply. The old
town is fascinating, with the streets often being 'stepped' and winding up
through overhanging 'Spanish' houses with balconies, until you emerge into the
big square in front of the domed Basilica. The views along the coast from there
are breathtaking. Scattered about along the winding streets are a number of
charming old restaurants, which often don't look much from the front, but have
courtyard gardens or splendid balconies (with the same stunning views) at the
rear. Altea also has a golf course and several very interesting marina
developments, just outside the town to the north.
Javea
- Another resort popular with English tourists and residents. Comprises an "old
town" and a newer holiday development along the coast. Yacht marina and fine
promenade, long beaches, but mainly of shingle and inclined to shelve somewhat.
Faces slightly east and therefore tends to lose the sun behind the mountains
comparatively early in the evening.
Benissa
- Again a small, old-style Spanish market town, strung along the main 'A' class
road to Alicante/Valencia. A splendid Cathedral with charming squares and shops.
Denia
- Once a thriving commercial port for the coastal trade in raisins, currants,
sultanas etc. Now that these all whizz up the motorway in container trucks, it
has had to realign itself to the Tourist, Yacht-Marina and 'ex-pat' residents
trade. More “Spanish” than many coastal resorts.
Quite a large shopping centre, an old castle dominating the town from the
hilltop, splendid promenades, some fine beaches, but these are a little way
'out-of-town'. You can take a Hydrofoil trip from here to Ibiza (90 mins
journey) either for the day, or for a few days break.
Gata de Gorgos -
An old Spanish town strung along the main 'A' class road to Valencia. Famous for
its basket and cane ware sold in virtually every shop.
Guadalest
- An ancient fortified town perched
high on a cliff top, it is now entirely tourist with little shops along the
steep, stepped, winding streets selling souvenirs, leather goods, local weave
material, glassware and the like. There is a steep winding path up the rocky
pinnacle which dominates the town, with stations of the cross on the way and a
little open chapel at the top.
If you take the route through Callosa d'en Sarria, you will pass through some
splendid mountain country. Guadalest also has a splendid lake (really a
reservoir). You can drive right around it by taking the turning just before the
town (-marked "Embalse de Guadalest"), crossing the dam and arriving at the town
from the back end via a couple of other villages. Well worth a visit.
Jalón Valley
- Famous for its groves of Citrus and Almond trees - is littered with ancient
Spanish villages where you can find the really 'old-style' Spanish restaurants,
which still serve the genuine fare (like paella) cooked over wood fires at
incredibly low prices.
Ondara
– Ondara is great during fiesta time, with stallholders dressed in period
costume. Very colourful and full of atmosphere, with everyone in the town
enjoying themselves.Now home to the new
MARINA shopping centre
(actually just off the AP7 Denia exit) Great for all usual Spanish retailers
plus some fabulous independently owned shoe shops.
Benidorm -
Spain's biggest holiday resort with two very long smooth sandy beaches (but
often solid with bodies at peak times). Almost every form of Bar, Restaurant,
Disco, Night Club, Dancing and Floor Shows, Theme Parks, Slot-machine arcades; -
you name it - Benidorm has it! The kaleidoscope of fun, entertainment and
nightlife continues 24 hours a day.
Terra Mitica theme park
is just 25 minutes from Moraira , close to Benidorm. It’s a real
magnet for children of about 8 and over. Little ones will be
disappointed that many of the rides are out of bounds to them. Look
on the website to see what it has to offer.
Alicante
- The provincial capital
and a fine seaport and city of about 350,000 population, it has a
splendid seafront with a fine promenade, and Paseo Maritimo paved
with beautiful local marble and lined with Palm-trees.Although a
major city, there are excellent beaches quite close to the centre,
and it is possible to conclude a shopping or sightseeing expedition
with a visit to a beach-side bar. The annexed towns of SAN JUAN and
CAMPELLO also have excellent sandy beaches.Alicante
is good for shopping -
with department stores open all day long (no siesta) - and a superb
selection of fashion boutiques.
There are also many speciality shops (jewellery, patisseries, fine
leather-work, crystal, ceramics etc.). The splendid Santa Barbara
castle is on a hill, dominating the city (Cliff railway runs up to
castle). Many fine public buildings often set in squares with
fountains or along wide avenues lined with palm-trees and
subtropical plants. A magnificent old cathedral and fine traditional
bullring (often open to visitors when no bullfights are scheduled)
are further attractions of this great city.
Valencia
- Spain's third City and
the impact of the vast 'Birmingham' size commercial, trading and
seaport metropolis can be stunning.
The old quarter , behind the Cathedral in The Plaza de la Reine is
so very charming, you won’t want to leave it. Small individual bars
and restaurants are found in small plazas. Most are inexpensive and
very good quality. Barrio de Carmen is the nightlife area of the
city.
This is the ancient bastion from which "El Cid" rode forth to turn
back the Moslem hordes, and the old City centre contains many
treasures of that historic past - as well as one of Spain's largest
and oldest Cathedrals, and a truly superb bullring ranked as one of
the foremost in Spain.
The city centre is very large, with a great many stores and
specialty shops. Recently opened is a large U.S. style shopping mall
with three major department stores and some 217 shops all in the one
air-conditioned building. The Oceanographic is a must see if in
Valencia. Simply stunning modern architecture combined with fabulous
& colourful collection of fish you have ever seen. I would suggest
you take a city bus tour from Plaza de la Reine to make sure you
don’t miss any of the interesting parts of this lovely city.
Other attractions nearby
There are many places of interest to see on day excursions, apart
from the other coastal resorts there is also the spectacular scenery
to see inland including the wonderful mountain-top fortress of
Guadalest, the
Vergal Safari Park
near Denia, Europe's largest palm forest at Elche and the ancient
city of Murcia. Valencia (third largest city in Spain) is one and a
half hours away and Barcelona (second largest) and the capital
Madrid are four and a half hours away, all reached by motorway.
Spains answer to Euro Disney, Port Adventura near Barcelona, is
about four and a half ours away
The famous `Lemon
train
has also to be experienced as it has been described as one of the
great train journeys of Europe, running between Alicante and Denia,
along the Costa Blanca. It offers a five-hours journey through
Benidorm, Altea, Rock of Ifach and Teulada and other places you
can't otherwise reach. The old tourist train stops in Gata de Gorgos
where passengers visit a guitar factory and are shown typical
handicraft. On the way back, going South, passengers can enjoy the
wonderful west Mediterranean landscape from heights of this coast
while sparkling wine is served.
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