Steve's World Blog Information and articles on cities, towns and villages around the world.

August 26, 2011

La Mata Costa Blanca

Filed under: Costa Blanca,Spain — Tags: , , , , — needahand @ 1:52 pm

La Mata Costa Blanca – A small town and coastal resort located between Torrevieja and Guardamar del Segura, La Mata has become increasingly popular in recent years, as a holiday destination. Long popular with the Spanish themselves, La Mata has now been discovered by International tourists, and has also attracted those seeking to buy holiday homes in the sun. Backed by a large salt lake and natural park (The Parque Natural de La Mata y Torrevieja), La Mata has some fine sandy beaches and an attractive coastline, in the town are a good range of shops, together with cafes, bars and restaurants. La Mata enjoys sunny weather conditions most of the year making it a truly all year round resort, it is easily reached from the N-332 and is just a couple of miles from the town of Torrevieja.

La Mata Street Map.

July 29, 2011

Guardamar del Segura Spain

Filed under: Costa Brava,Spain — Tags: — needahand @ 9:53 am
Guardamar del Segura Park

One of Guardamar del Segura’s Parks

Guardamar del Segura Spain – Located to the north of Torrevieja on the Costa Blanca coastline of Spain, is one of the most popular resorts in this region. Boasting miles of fine sandy beaches, shady parks and excellent facilities, Guardamar del Segura has everything you would expect of a modern holiday resort. Also a desirable area for the purchase of holiday homes, or even for those wishing to relocate, Guardamar del Segura has its fair share of International residents, who live happily alongside its traditional Spanish citizens. Property development has become a major industry for the town, and thousands of properties have sprung up over the last twenty years or so. The three parks for which Guardamar is well known were created when the moving sands of this coast threatened to engulf the town, and a project was undertaken to plant thousands of trees and cacti, to anchor down the sand and protect the town, the resulting woodlands were subsequently turned into parks for everyone to use. The sunny weather is of course another big attraction for visitors, who make the most of its two thousand eight hundred hours of annual sunshine. Easily reached from Alicante airport, which is just twenty five minutes north of the resort, Guardamar del Segura is a good choice of resort if you are heading to this part of Spain.

Guardamar del Segura Street Map.

May 10, 2010

Santa Pola Alicante

Filed under: Costa Blanca,History,Holidays,Spain — Tags: , , , — needahand @ 11:19 am
The Port at Santa Pola

The Port at Santa Pola

A popular coastal town located to the south of Alicante on the Costa Blanca, Spain, Santa Pola has a population of around 30,000 and a municipal area of 58 square kilometres. Possibly visited by Greeks and Phoenicians even before the arrival of the Romans, it later became Portus Ilicitanus under the Romans. Important over the centuries for fishing and salt production, Santa Pola saw the arrival of tourism in the second half of the 20th century, this added with property development saw the town grow in size to its present dimensions. Attracting mostly Spanish holidaymakers, Santa Pola has miles of sandy beaches and a large marina and port, the southern beach areas are especially popular for kitesurfing and windsurfing, with weather conditions ideal for these sports. From the port you can take a boat trip to the nearby island of Tabarca where there are some great opportunities for scuba diving or just simply enjoying the beaches and the sunshine in tranquil conditions. Santa Pola is situated just off the N-332 between Alicante and Guardamar del Segura.

October 7, 2009

Algorfa Costa Blanca

Filed under: Costa Blanca,History,Spain — Tags: , , , , , — needahand @ 2:46 pm

Situated between Almoradi and Rojales in the Vega Baja region of the Costa Blanca, Spain is the tiny citrus farming village of Algorfa. Located on the banks of the River Segura, Algorfa lies on rich and fertile land, its surrounding countryside is full of orange and lemon groves. Algorfa enjoys spectacular views both to the mountains and to the azure blue Mediterranean Sea.

A Jesuit archaeologist from Orihuela made an interesting discovery in 1903 in the area of Algorfa which gives evidence of settlers as long ago as 3,000 BC. The remains of twelve humans and some tools and implements are all that is left of Algorfa’s early inhabitants.

When a privilege was granted by king Alfonso II in 1328 the municipality of Algorfa officially came into being and the village consisted of 15 homes and 15 families. After the War of Spanish Succession (1701-1714) Felipe V withdrew the privilege, though it was later restored king Carlos IV towards the end of the 18th Century.

Modern day village life in Algorfa centres mostly around the pretty village square, this is where most of the traditional local fiestas take place and also other activities and celebrations. The square is also where the Town Hall is located, together with the church and the police station. The village square is a popular place to enjoy a quiet drink or a snack. Algorfa is an exceptionally friendy place and visitors are always welcomed with a smile.

Sunshine is the order of the day in Algorfa and its inhabitants can expect to see over 300 days of it during an average year. Rain is scarce and usually limited to the cooler winter months (the most common months for rain being February and November), and an average yearly temperature of about 19 degrees centigrade is normal.

Also worth seeing whilst in Algorfa are the quaint cave dwellings at nearby Rojales, the Parque Natural de La Mata y Torrevieja (a fine Natural Park with walking routes and rich wildlife), the substantial gardens at the Palace of the Marquis de Fontabla at Jacarilla and the 19th C neo-gothic church on the road to Benejuzar.

Algorfa is an excellent location for sports and leisure pursuits, there are some fine walking and cycling routes in the area, superb water sports facilities in the coastal towns and a beautiful golf course nearby. There is a fine recreation centre in the village offering various sporting facilities such as tennis, swimming, squash and five-a-side football. The golf course is at La Finca Golf Club, an excellent 18 hole, par 72 course set in wonderful surroundings with stunning views of the surrounding countryside.

For those who like the beach and the sea, the coastal town of Guardamar del Segura is just a short drive away. Guardamar has some beautiful sandy beaches which are very popular during the summer months.

Thus ends our little trip to Algorfa – the tiny Costa Blanca village with a big heart.

Algorfa Street Map.

Get more information on Algorfa here: http://www.algorfa.my-costa-blanca.co.uk

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