An agricultural village located in the Vega Baja region of the Alicante province, Dolores is situated to the east of Catral, just inland from the Costa Blanca coastline of Spain. Established as a result of a plan to drain the marshy land of the region by the Cardinal of Cartagena-Murcia, Dolores grew and survived through the growing of fruit and vegetables and especially artichokes for which the village is well known. An opportunity to purchase the produce of the village comes every Friday, when Dolores holds its weekly street market. Life in Dolores mostly revolves around the attractive town square, here you will also find the local church displaying some fine art works by Salcillo. Also renowned in the area for cattle rearing, Dolores holds its annual Livestock Fair (Feria Granadera) attracting cattle owners from far and wide. Dolores Map.
September 4, 2009
September 2, 2009
History of Denia Spain
Though today a popular and modern resort, Denia, located on the Costa Blanca, Spain has a long and turbulent history. Thought to be named after the Roman temple of Diana, remnants of which were unearthed near the town, Denia is overlooked by its 16th century castle, built on an earlier 11th century Moorish fortress. These days the castle serves a more peaceful purpose and acts as the Archaeological Museum for the town, well worth a visit in order to delve deeper into the area’s history. Denia is also a busy port and for centuries survived by its fishing industry, there are still parts of its old fishing quarter, and wandering its narrow streets and alleys, whisks one back to simpler times. Settled over the centuries by Greeks, Romans and Moors, it was the Moors who built the first castle and held on to the town from the 8th to the 13th century. Taken back by the Christians in 1244, Denia became a marquisate in the 15th century, it joined the losing side in the War of Succession, which resulted in great hardship for the town. A thriving grape and raisin industry developed during the late 18th and early 19th centuries brought wealth and prosperity to Denia once more, though this was ruined by an outbreak of Phylloxera, which destroyed this industry and caused the decline of the town once again. Only the arrival of tourism during the 20th century allowed Denia to once again become prosperous. Denia Map.
Crevillente Costa Blanca
One of the Costa Blanca’s inland towns, Crevillente is a modern industrial town which at first glance would seem not worthy of a visit. However on inspection visitors will find that Crevillente has a long and interesting history and was in fact occupied even before the arrival of the Romans in Spain some 2,000 years ago. Early settlements were established by the Iberians, and these were extended somewhat when the Romans arrived, though the town did not really develop until the Moorish occupation when agricultural methods enabled the area to be cultivated. During the 18th century a carpet industry emerged turning into a significant earner for the town, early carpets were made from esparto grass and were mostly exported. In the town today you can visit the old Town Hall and take a look at the oldest church the Nuestra Senora de Belen, nature lovers can visit the El Hondo Nature Reserve which is close to the town, some nearby villages which may be of interest are Cox, Albatera, Aspe, Callosa de Segura and Hondon de los Frailes, a trip into the city of Elche would also be well rewarded. Crevillente Map.
August 31, 2009
Callosa de Segura Costa Blanca
The traditional Spanish town of Callosa de Segura lays at the foot of the Sierra de Callosa just back from the Costa Blanca coastline of south-eastern Spain. Having a population of around 17,000 it is a medium sized town with an interesting history. Above the town stands the Sant Roque Hermitage and way above that the ruins of an ancient castle in a seemingly inaccessible place, the hermitage is built on the spot where Saint Roque supposedy appeared. Amongst surrounding buildings but easy to spot from the hermitage is the large Saint Martin’s church, built between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries and containing some significant gold pieces by Miguel de Vera. Other interesting places to visit include the Archaeological Museum, the Hemp and Agricultural Museum, the Holy Week Museum and the Fiesta Museum. Callosa de Segura can be accessed from the AP-7 motorway junction 733.
August 28, 2009
Terra Mitica Aqualandia Mundomar Benidorm
The undisputed holiday capital of Spain is without doubt the resort of Benidorm, located in the Costa Blanca region about 30 minutes drive from Alicante airport. What makes Benidorm so special? Is it the wonderful beaches, Benidorm has two main beaches Playa Poinente and Playa Levante, and these stretch for many kilometres of unbroken sand? Is it the vibrant and exciting night life, Benidorm has hundreds of bars, restaurants, clubs and discos? Is it the wonderful climate, everybody enjoys the weather Benidorm has to offer with over 300 days of sunshine each year? Or is it the great range of theme parks, Benidorm is second to none with the famous Terra Mitica with its unique civilization zones and great rides, the exciting Aqualandia with its super slides, wave machine and range of pools, the fascinating Mundomar Marina and Exotic Animal Park, the inspiring Terra Natura Safari Park? Who knows exactly what it is that attracts visitors to Benidorm, but attract them it does and in fine style with over 4 million visitors per year.
August 27, 2009
Costa Blanca Resort of Cabo Roig
Located on the Southern Costa Blanca coastline is the popular and delightful seaside resort of Cabo Roig. Well loved for its superb sandy “blue flag” beaches, its stunning views of the sparkling blue Mediterranean sea, its picturesque cliff walks and its busy nightlife, Cabo Roig has plenty to offer the discerning holidaymaker. Generally quiet during the winter months, Cabo Roig comes to life around May time and is often busy right through to November. Cabo Roig attracts holidaymakers from all over the world but primarily English, Irish and Spanish (particularly those from the city of Murcia who love this stretch of the coast). The busiest months are July and August, the quietest January and February. The eye-catching 16th century watchtower, around which Cabo Roig originally grew, is now part of a restaurant complex which overlooks the recently modernised marina. An estimated 2 million euros was spent on the refurbishment of what is now one of the Costa Blanca’s most desirable mooring spots. There are a number of excellent beaches to visit whilst on a trip to Cabo Roig. The main beaches are Cala Caleta and Cala Capitan both very popular with holidaymakers. Also within easy reach are the beaches at Campoamor, La Zenia and Playa Flamenca. All of these beaches are kept very clean and are usually raked every day, they are also safe for children. Whilst on a trip to Cabo Roig do not miss the cliff walk to La Zenia, this walk takes you along the back of Cala Caleta beach, above the marina and onwards to Cala Capitan and then to La Zenia beach. This is a very enjoyable walk and offers some exceptional views of the surrounding coastline, don’t forget to take your camera or you will miss some great photo opportunities. You will spot La Manga in the distance and on a clear day you can pick out the towering apartment blocks of this up and coming resort. Cabo Roig has a wonderful climate and the sun shines on over three hundred days per year, the mean temperature being about 20 degrees C. You can usually expect to see little rainfall between May and October and the days are generally long and sunny. When rain does fall it is usually during the winter months, November and February being the most common months for rain. December and January are usually sunny and pleasant but with cold nights. After a day in the sun most visitors head for the bustling Cabo Roig strip with its ever increasing selection of bars and restaurants offering food, fun and frolics to suit every taste. There are some excellent restaurants providing dishes from around the world including Spanish, Italian, Indian, Chinese, Mexican, Hungarian, German, English and Irish. During your visit you may want to venture out from Cabo Roig and enjoy some of the other attractions on offer. A trip to the Rio Safari at Elche is a very rewarding experience and the kids will love feeding the animals and riding on the “train” through the park. Perhaps a round of golf is more your “thing”, there are three excellent golf courses nearby at Villamartin, Campoamor and Las Ramblas. Maybe you could take a coach trip to Benidorm (if you haven’t hired a car) and marvel at the busiest seaside resort in Europe, or visit one of the regions historical cities, Cartagena, Murcia or Alicante have plenty of interesting sight to see. There you have it – Cabo Roig, “the jewel of the Costa Blanca”, the seaside resort with something for everybody. There are plenty of Cabo Roig holiday rentals available in the area should you wish to visit. Be sure to visit Cabo Roig sometime soon.