Until the 20th century just a small fishing village in Andalucia, Estepona has now grown into a sizeable resort popular with holidaymakers, especially the Spanish themselves. Attracted by the fine climate, excellent beaches and pretty harbour, tourists arrive in their thousands in July and August, but also throughout the year as the town experiences a unique micro-climate giving Estepona some of the best weather in the region or in fact the whole of Spain. The old town still retains much of its traditional charm and it is a pleasure to stroll through the narrow cobbled streets and shaded squares. For a welcome breeze and a relaxed coffee, head for Estepona harbour where luxury yachts sit beside traditional fishing boats, try one of the harbourside restaurants for fresh fish dishes and local delicacies. For beach lovers there are miles of beaches around the town (some 21 km in all), with water sports on offer and the usual facilities. There is plenty of golf to be had around Estepona with 4 excellent courses to the south-west of the town. Map of Estepona.
September 8, 2009
September 7, 2009
Gran Alacant Costa Blanca
Located between Alicante and Santa Pola on the Costa Blanca, Spain, the new development and resort of Gran Alacant is ideally situated for holidays and holiday homes. If you are thinking of resettling in the area then Gran Alacant may be just the place for you. Overlooking the azure blue Mediterranean Sea it is located beside the sand dunes of Santa Pola and Los Arenales del Sol and is just 4 km from the airport at Alicante. Great as a base for touring the Costa Blanca, as it located centrally and you can soon be in the mountainous area to the north where you can visit such picturesque places as Guadalest and the Fuentes de Algar waterfall, or head south for the flat plains of the Vega Baja and some interesting towns such as Torrevieja and Orihuela.
Guatiza Lanzarote
A northeastern Canarian community in the Teguise municipality of Lanzarote, Guatiza has a population of around 800 and is well known for its cactus garden and cactus plantations. The cactus garden is located in an old volcanic hollow and was designed by Lanzarote architect César Manrique, it contains over 1,500 species of cactus. The large cactus plantations are grown to attract the cochineal beetle which lives on the prickly pear cactus, and the resulting cochineal has been an important product for the village for many centuries. The old village of Guatiza was sacked several times by the Moors and was moved to a safer location. Guatiza is situated 2 kilometres from the coast about nine kilometres north of Costa Teguise and Tahiche.
Guadalest Costa Blanca
Guadalest Castle
One of the most visited locations on the Costa Blanca, Castell de Guadalest is an amazing place with a long history. Overlooked by its 12th century castle, built by the Moors in an inaccessible location atop a steep mountain, Guadalest is a picture postcard village with a resident population of just a couple of hundred. The upper town and castle can only be reached by entering a 15 metre long tunnel, carved from solid rock, and the streets below and above are lined with tiny souvenir shops selling mementos and local products. From the village square at the top there is a spectacular view of the Embalse de Guadalest reservoir, way below in the valley. The castle of Guadalest gave refuge to the Moors in their struggle for control of the area when besieged by the reconquering Christians, and held out here long after much of Spain had fallen, a picture of the castle can be seen above, showing how inaccessible this place is.
Catral Spain
One of the many Vega Baja villages of the Alicante province of Spain, Catral is spread over a wide area with numerous detached villas on large plots of land, suggesting that maybe this is a new place. Far from it however as the village existed way back in Moorish times when it was known as Al-Quatrullat. The surrounding area became important for agriculture during the 18th century when the nearby marshes were drained for this purpose, Catral thus became more prosperous and it gained its independence from Orihuela in 1741. Life in Catral these days revolves around the village square, where you will find the ubiquitous church and of course the Town Hall (Ayuntamiento), from here a maze of quaint streets wind into shopping then residencial areas. One of the biggest days of the year in Catral takes place on June 24th, when the village celebrates its patron saint San Juan, an event which attracts visitors from far and wide as well as local residents of the village.
View a property for sale in Catral here: Catral Property
See a villa for sale in Catral here: Catral Villa
Get a location map here: Map of Catral.
September 6, 2009
Gandia Spain
The northernmost town on the Costa Blanca or the southernmost on the Costa del Azahar (depending on your allegiance) is the industrial town of Gandia, I am calling it a town but it is generally regarded as a city. With a population of around 77,000, Gandia sits on the River Serpis about 65 kilometres south of Valencia, and has two separate areas – the town and the beach. Not so well known to International tourists, the wonderful sandy beaches of Gandia have long been popular with the Spanish who flock there in their thousands each year. The town itself does not have much appeal as a holiday destination, being more of a working town, but it does have an interesting history and a number of fascinating places to visit, the best known being the Palau Ducal former home of the Borja family. Gandia was originally settled by Iberians and later by Romans and Moors and was later a university town, becoming an important cultural and commercial centre in the 15th and 16th centuries. One of Gandia’s famous residents was Ausiàs March born in 1397 and considered by many the finest Valencian poet. The port of Gandia was founded in 1886, the railway line to Alcoy in 1893. These days Gandia is a bustling, modern city surrounded by orange groves and still sporting a considerable fishing fleet. Gandia Map.