A small village situated near to El Campello and Alicante on the Costa Blanca, Spain, Busot has a population of just over 3,000 and is a traditional Spanish village with an old world charm. Its biggest event of the year is its Moros y Cristianos festival which takes place on the weekend after Easter, the entire village is included in the celebrations. Most visitors to Busot will pass only on their way to the well known local attraction – the Cuevas del Canelobre, a system of caves which occur half way up a mountain rather than underground, as you would expect. The Cuevas del Canelobre, feature a huge main cavern with stalagmites and stalagtites which have been formed over millions of years and take on various shapes including one like a candelabra (canelobre). Busot is well signposted from El Campello, finding the caves from Busot is a little more tricky.
October 25, 2009
October 18, 2009
The Weather on the Costa Blanca Spain
Enjoying one of the finest climates in all of Spain, the Costa Blanca attracts holidaymakers all year round. Boasting over 300 days of sunshine every year and having some towns with unique micro-climates, such as Torrevieja, Santa Pola and Calpe, which are listed amongst the healthiest places on earth to live, the Costa Blanca weather making it a popular area for relocation, especially for north Europeans, attempting to escape the dismal, wet climates of their own countries. The summer months June to September are especially hot and very little rainfall is experienced during these times, the worst months to visit are generally November, February and March, the most pleasant months to visit being May and October, when nice weather can be expected without the high temperatures. Map of Costa Blanca.
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.
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
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Get a location map here: Map of Catral.
September 5, 2009
Elche Spain
Renowned for its huge palm tree forest, the city of Elche in the province of Alicante, Spain, is the 3rd largest city in the Comunidad de Valencia. Well woth a visit if you are in the Costa Blanca area, Elche has a history going back to the times of the ancient Iberians, who built a city called Helike. The palm trees were introduced by the Phoenicians and over 200,000 specimens surround and invade the city. Elche is also famous for its shoe industry, the largest in Spain, don’t buy your shoes anywhere else, get them during a trip to Elche. The region enjoys a superb climate and is attractive to both holidaymakers and those wishing to relocate, with a good selection of Elche property being available. The beaches of Santa Pola and La Marina are nearby, with the usual range of facilities on hand. Elche Map.
September 4, 2009
Dolores Costa Blanca
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.
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.
August 26, 2009
Biar Onil Castalla and Agost Costa Blanca
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 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.
July 28, 2009
The Spanish Town of Yecla
The town of Yecla lies on the borders of the provinces of Murcia, Alicante and Albacete amidst mountainous countryside, in south-eastern Spain. The town and municipality with its population of around 30,000 is actually within the Comunidad de Murcia and is a modern industrial town but with a long and interesting history, much of the old town still remains. While there is evidence that there may have been settlements in and around Yecla as long ago as the Upper Palaeolithic Era (30,000 BC) the main human activity appears to have begun during the Bronze Age, probably around the 2nd to 3rd Centuries BC. These early settlers were followed by the ancient Iberians and a little later by the Romans who introduced grape growing and wine production to the area and established the first civilised society. Little else is known of the history of the town until the Arab occupation when a defensive fortress was built (probably during the 11th Century) and the town took on its name ‘Yakka’. The Arabs remained until the Christian re-conquest in the 13th Century when Alfonso the Wise took control of the town in 1243, after which it came under the control of the Marquisate of Villena. The population of the town grew steadily up until the mid-fifteenth Century, when there appears to have been increased urban development in the town and something of a population explosion during the 16th Century. This was followed by a period of decline during the 17th Century when constant wars, epidemics and emigration led to a decline in both the economy and population of the town. Recovery began in the 18th Century and continued in the 19th Century when grape growing and wine production were further developed by French wine merchants following an outbreak of Phylloxera in France. Besides grape growing Yecla is well known for the production of furniture and this has become important for the economy of the town, where you will find numerous factories and furniture outlets. There are some interesting places to visit in Yecla and a good place to start would be the Plaza Mayor where you will find the Town Hall and Tower Prison (Torre de la Cárcel – 16th-18th C), the Palacio de los Alarcos (16th Century), the Clock Tower (17th Century) and the Guildhall (19th Century). Other places to visit include the ruined 11th Century castle, the Arciprestal Basilica (built between 1775 and 1868), the Francisan Church of San Francisco from the 16th Century and the Church of the Assumption also from the 16th Century, there are also a number of museums and other churches to see. Yecla celebrates a number of fiestas and festivals including the San Blas in February, the Romeria de San Marcos in April, the Fiesta de los Judas in May and the Feria de Septiembre in September coinciding with the Feast of St. Martin. Yecla holds its weekly market on Wednesdays and also hold a large Furniture Fair in September. Yecla is located on the N-344 west of Villena.
Learn even more about Yecla here: http://www.needahandspanishproperties.com/yecla.html