To the north of Alicante on the Costa Blanca, Spain, there are quite a number of interesting little towns to visit that are not so well known to visitors to the area but are worth a visit nonetheless. Amongst the most interesting of these are Castalla, Biar, Agost and Onil. Castalla is a town of around 8,000 and is well known for the production of toys, as are other towns in this region, its most important historic monument is its 11th century Moorish castle. Another town dominated by its castle is Biar, completely unspoilt by tourism Biar also boasts a charismatic church with a tall attractive bell tower. Agost has a population of just under 5,000 and is the smallest of our towns, Agost is best known for its pottery, with 11 potteries still operating in the town, many in the traditional style. Our final town is Onil, a pretty little town also well known for the production of toys, in Onil you will find a 17th century palace-fortress and the 18th century church of Santiago Apostle.
August 26, 2009
Benissa, Teulada, Benitachell and Cumbre del Sol
Surrounding the northern Costa Blanca resort of Moraira there are a number of interesting little towns which are less well known than this more popular coastal town, these include the towns of Benissa, Teulada, Benitachell and Cumbre del Sol. Benissa is an interesting town with a history going back to the times of the Moors (the name is from the Arabic Banu-Issa), the old town is well preserved and has some important historic monuments. Equally old is Teulada, with its narrow winding streets and “Sea Doorway” an ancient part of the old medieval walls which protected the town. The small town of Benitachell is between Moraira and Javea and has a number of new developments surrounding it including the largest, Cumbre del Sol which also has its own small beach and enjoys wonderful panoramic sea views.
August 25, 2009
Benifallim Costa Blanca
Well worth a visit when travelling in the northern Costa Blanca, is the delightful little mountain village of Benifallim, located in the Sierra del Rontonar. Having less than two hundred inhabitants, Benifallim really is a tiny place, but its narrow streets and alleyways and charming white-washed houses take visitors back to the times of the Moors, when they battled for control of the village with the Christian forces. Benifallim can be accessed from the CV785. Benifallim Map.
August 20, 2009
Towns of Alicante Province – Torrevieja and La Mata
Located to the south of Alicante on the southern Costa Blanca, surrounded by 2 huge salt lakes, the coastal towns of Torrevieja and La Mata are growing resorts with a huge range of facilities and some fabulous sandy beaches. Torrevieja has had some bad press in recent years but much of it has been an exaggeration and the town has continued to flourish despite this criticism. There has been an enormous amount of development in recent years and Torrevieja has grown from a small fishing village to a huge resort. It has been a popular location along with La Mata and the Orihuela Costa, for the purchasing of second holiday homes and a large number of Brits and other North European nationalities have chosen to buy holiday homes there, a large majority choosing to plump for a Torrevieja apartment as these are at the cheaper end of the market. La Mata is a very Spanish resort and attracts a huge number of Spanish tourists during the summer season. Again many Brits have chosen to buy property here and there is a growing ex-pat community. The beaches at La Mata are amongst the finest in the region.The wonderful weather is one of the main reasons for its popularity and Torrevieja and La Mata enjoy a unique micro-climate with over 300 days of sunshine every year. Torrevieja also has some fine beaches, especially to the south of the town and these can get very packed during the summer season. Golfers head to this area in large numbers, as there are some excellent golf courses within easy driving distance of both Torrevieja and La Mata, the closest are the 3 golf courses of the Orihuela Costa, and also nearby are La Finca and La Marquesa golf courses. Torrevieja has some excellent facilities including the water park Aquopolis, a bowling alley, a fine marina and an excellent new shopping centre. Behind both Torrevieja and La Mata lie the enormous salt lakes which have been important for the economy of both towns over the centuries, they now form part of a protected Natural Park which is important for wildlife.
August 17, 2009
Altea Part 2
One of the prettiest towns on the northern Costa Blanca, Spain, Altea tumbles down a hill towards the sea, in a maze of narrow winding streets and alleyways. Altea’s blue domed church is one of the landmarks of the Costa Blanca, and in the areas around the church you will find countless little workshops and galleries, belonging to the artists and craftsmen who have made this charming town their home. Mostly unspoilt by tourism, Altea retains much of its old world charm, reminding visitors of its long history going back to the Moorish occupation and beyond. Despite all this Altea has grown into a popular holiday resort with a sizeable expat community, its fine beach and artistic heritage are two of its main attractions. The superb climate of the town is another factor in its success with Altea weather normally expected to be dry and sunny most days of the year. No doubt another of its attractions is its proximity to the resort of Benidorm with its many fine facilities, in fact it is an ideal base for exploring Benidorm, whilst being accommodated in a charming Spanish town. Altea has a decent selection of hotels for you stay in the resort, among them the popular Negret Hotel Altea with its 250 rooms. Apart from Benidorm, there are numerous other places worth visiting in the area, you could take a trip to other fine seaside resorts such as Calpe, Albir, Moraira or Javea, head to the city of Alicante for some retail therapy, or venture inland to the likes of Guadalest, Alcoy or the Gallinera Valley.
Costa Blanca Resorts – Altea
One of the prettiest towns on the Costa Blanca, Spain, Altea old town is perched on a hilltop, overlooking the sea close to the huge resort of Benidorm. Separated from Benidorm by the Sierra Helada, Altea could hardly be more different, as yet unspoilt by mass tourism and over development, it still retains much of its old Spanish character. Altea has one or two decent hotels, but a better option for a holiday, might be to rent out a holiday villa and enjoy a bit of luxury during your stay. The town boasts a super climate and the weather in Altea is pretty reliable all year round, Altea is just 45 minutes drive from Alicante airport and is easily reached via the N-332 or the AP-7 motorway. Altea Map.