Costa Blanca

Spain’s Costa Blanca has developed into one of the country’s most sought after sun holiday destinations. And its coastline stretches south for 167 mile from Valencia to Mar Menor, with the resorts between Gandia and Benidorm laying claim to having some of the best beaches on the coast.



Costa Blanca’s fame as a popular ‘sunshine coast’ has resulted in claims that ‘mass tourism’ can damage the environment. But, while at the height of the holiday season the population in some of the most popular beach resorts rise tenfold, it’s also claimed that environmental issues become a prime priority, with hygienic issues being strictly adhered to, and with both sand and water and living conditions being maintained at a high level of cleanliness.

Valencia itself is an interesting city in its own right. Bathed in soft sunlight during the summer months, the Gothic splendour of the ‘old town’ is particularly appealing. The city of Valencia is situated slightly inland, and its harbour and its beach lie about four miles away from the ‘old town’.

Considered to be the ‘star attraction’ of the ‘old town’ is its cathedral, the ‘Catedral de Santa Maria, which is said to exhibit a variety of styles. The building of the cathedral was started in the year 1262 – in Gothic form. And it was erected on the site of an Arab mosque. The arched main portal, known as Puerta de los Hierros, however, was designed in the early 18th century, and is pure Baroque, while the side chapels are dominated by late 18th century classical elements.

Magnificent panoramic views of Valencia can be obtained from the viewing terrace that is located on the summit of the octagonal Miguelete Bell Tower, which stands at a height of 167 feet, and can be accessed by climbing up a narrow spiral staircase, consisting of a total of 207 steps. North of the cathedral lies the Plaza de la Virgen square, which is considered to be a traditional meeting place for Valencians. A number of outdoor cafes encircle the square, in the centre of which stands the picturesque Riu Turia fountain, with its cascading flow of frothing white water.

The Palau del Marques de Dos Aigues, a late-Baroque palace built in 1740, which has a highly ornate façade, is another ‘must see’ sight for anyone visiting Valencia. Valencia has a number of museums. And these include Museu de Belles Arts, which houses a collection of works by Velazquez, Goya, El Greco, Hieronymus Bosch, and also Valencian masters such as Ribalta and Ribera.

Other museums within Valencia also include Museu Nacional de Ceramica, Museu Historic Municipal, Museu Taurino, and the Museu de la Catedral. And a new art gallery was opened in Valencia in the year 1989, which is known as Institut Valencia d’Arte Modern. In addition, to mark the beginning of the Millennium, the city acquired a new symbol, namely ‘Ciutat de les Arts i de les Ciences’ – the ‘City of Arts and Sciences’.

Valencia is, in fact, Spain’s third largest city, and it has a population of about 800,000. And it’s claimed that its commercial importance as the third force after Madrid and Barcelona is continuing to increase. Certainly, it’s well worth spending several hours exploring its interesting confines.

The best beach resort near Valencia is La Malvarrosa, which lies half a mile north of the city’s harbour – known as El Grao harbour. A beach known as El Saler lies to the south of Valencia, but it’s claimed that it tends to become very crowded during the week-ends – being a favourite haunt of local Spanish family sun-seekers.

At La Malvarrosa there are numerous beach restaurants where reasonably priced seafood is available. Heading southwards from Valencia via El Saler, one reaches the beachside resort of Cullera, considered to be a mainly Spanish holiday resort, and which lies beside a wide sandy beach. And many popular fish restaurants line the long promenade. Visitors are also recommended to wend their way up a steep hill to the ruins of an 8th century Moorish ‘castillo’ from where there are some spectacular views to be seen.

From Cullera one heads further south to Gandia, a town that’s dominated by a magnificent 14th century palace known as Palacio Ducal de los Borja, once the home of the Borja family – who once ruled a duchy whose capital was Gandia. A two and a half mile road leads to Platja de Gandia, where there are attractive beaches and a variety of facilities for holidaymakers. The town of Denia lies at the northern end of Costa Blanca, and it can trace its roots back thousands of years. And the old town’s quarters remain clustered around the castle rock.

Visitors are encouraged to walk through the narrow lanes of the former fishing quarter known as ‘Baix la Mar’, which is situated between the fortress and the sea, and to walk to the top of the Castle Hill, where one not only obtains a panoramic view of the town and coastline, but where one can also visit the Museu Archeologic, where the history of the area is fully recorded. Denia’s best beaches are to be found to the south of the town. However, to the north of the town the seabed is more sandy and the water is more shallow.

The town of Denia extends to the foot of Mount Montgo, which is a nature reserve. A climb up Mount Montgo is estimated to take about five hours, and is considered to be quite demanding. Many country farmhouses in the area set up vine covered pergolas in front of their doors. And the muscatel grapes are left to ripen and then sold as raisins!

Beyond Denia lies Xabia, which is located between two rocky capes, namely the capes of San Antonio and San Martin. And between the two capes are a number of bays which are the favourite destinations of not only sun-seeker but also divers and nature lovers. The old town of Xabia is a fascinating place to explore, the 15th century fortress-like parish church of San Bartolome being particularly interesting – having been created in this style as a place of refuge for the villagers when pirates were seen approaching the coast in the past. The town also has a museum, known as Museo Arqueologico y Etnografico, which is situated near the church, and has archaeological finds on display that date back to Phoenician, Iberian and Roman times.

To the south of Xabia a winding road leads to the Cap de la Nau, from where there is a fine view out to sea, and where there is a cliff top restaurant that overlooks the same spectacular view.

Moving southwards down the coast one comes to Calp, whose main attraction is ‘Penyal d’Ifac’, claimed to be ‘a huge, craggy outcrop 1,089 feet high, perched on a peninsula connected to the island by a sandy isthmus’. The rock itself is of volcanic origin and is under a conservation order.

It’s said that a tunnel leads to a staircase, where one can climb to the top in about an hour, and from the summit of which a magnificent vista can be viewed.

The next resort one comes to is Altea, which is described as a ‘pretty village’. It now also has a number of foreign residents. Placa de la Esglesia (Virgen del Consuelo church with a blue dome) offers a fine view over the sea, and a craft market takes place in front of the church on summer evenings. The best beaches in the resort are known as Cap Negret, Playa del Albir and La Roda. From Altea it is possible to make day trips inland to the rural mountain village of Callosa d’Ensarria, and also to the Sierra de Aitana and the Sierra de Bernia.

And a 50 foot tunnel that has been carved out of the limestone offers access to a tiny fortified village known as Guadalest. Guadalest is said to have a population of about 177, and lays claim to at least two million visitors each year. And it is claimed that ‘the panoramic view from the plaza of terraced fields, imposing sierras and gleaming green reservoir’ is unique. Likewise, Guadalest’s ‘La Asuncion’s bell tower’ , which is precariously balanced on the summit of a spectacular rock is considered to be a remarkable sight, and is said to be a symbol for the Alicante province.

From Altea one travels to the well known resort of Benidorm. It has a population of 54,000 – a figure that rises to 350,000 in the summer. The resort has two long sandy beaches and about 150 hotels. It’s said that tourist brochures describe Benidorm as ‘Spain’s perfect holiday resort’. And it’s claimed that if one goes on holiday ‘for entertainment, then Benidorm can supply it round-the-clock, seven days a week’! It’s said that Benidorm’s panoramic sky line can be best admired from the Rincon de Loix viewpoint, which is a rocky cape situated above the Playa Levante.

South of Benidorm lies La Vila Joiosa – which, translated means ‘Happy Town’. The town’s old fishing quarter features brightly coloured cube shaped houses, which are enclosed by the ruins of the old town walls. The town is considered to be ‘highly photogenic’, and is also referred to as ‘a chocolate town’, and even lays claim to a Museo de Chocolate. Its best beaches are known as Playa Parais, Bol Nou and La Caleta. Further down the Costa Blanca Coast and south of the Alicante province one comes to the resort of Santa Pola.

The best beaches in the area lie to the south of the coast, behind what is known as La Marina sand dunes. And at half hourly intervals boat trips leave for the island of Isla Tabarca, which lies just offshore of Santa Pola. The resort itself has a long history. In Roman times it was the port for nearby Elx and was known as Portus Illicitanus. A 16th century fortress overlooks Plaza del Castillo, and it is now the venue for the Museo Arqueologico, Pesquero y Acuario.

The museum contains many historical artefacts, and also has displays depicting the town’s fishing industry and other aspects of its history. And ‘the remains of a Roman house with a restored floor mosaic’ is also on view at the resort. Continuing in a southerly direction down the Costa Blanca Coast one reaches the resort of Guardamar del Segura, which is situated at the mouth of the River Segura. Following an earthquake that took place in 1829 the town had to be rebuilt, but it continued to have problems due to ‘shifting sand dunes’. In a bid to protect the terrain a pine forest was planted at the beginning of the 20th century. And it’s claimed that this pine forest has provided Guardamar with a ‘special appeal’ as a favoured tourist site.

South of Guardamar one reaches the resort of Torrevela. Here an annual music festival is staged during the summer which is known as ‘Certamen Internacional de Habaneras y Polifonia’ – International Contest of ‘Habaneras’ and Polyphony. The concert is staged in order to strengthen the links between Spain’s former colonies in the Caribbean, which came about because of their trade in salt.

Prior to the 1960s tourist boom the main source of income in this particular area was ‘salt’. And some companies continue to trade in salt by utilising the ‘salt flats’. However, two nearby natural lagoons, known as La Mata and Torrevella have been accorded ‘conservation status’, being the habitat of some rare aquatic bird breeds – the pink flamingo in particular. And biologists organise ‘guided tours’ of the area, and describe their research into the ‘ecology of the salt marshes’.

At the southern resort of San Pedro del Pinatar there are more salt flats, and also what is described as some of the most popular beaches on the Mediterranean Coast – known as El Mojon and Punta de Algas. Further along the southbound coast road just beyond San Pedro, lies Santiago de la Ribiera, which has an attractively lined palm promenade and a club called ‘Club Nautico’. And its claimed that sailing and windsurfing schools, and yachting clubs, along with holiday complexes tend to dominate the scene.

As one continues south to Los Urrutias along the ‘lakeside shoreline’ one is accorded a wonderful view that extends over the reed beds as far as the skyline of the famed La Manga. Before continuing to La Manga, however, one is recommended to make a detour to a headland that juts out into the Mediterranean where one can locate a fishing port known as Cabo de Palos. Here fish restaurants abound, and it’s claimed that the high salt and iodine content of the Mar Menor’s warm sheltered waters give the fish a special flavour.

The saltwater lagoon that constitutes Mar Menor could probably be described as the southernmost ‘final frontier’ of the Costa Blanca Coast. And it’s rated as a ‘star attraction’, comprising an area of 65 square miles, and separated from the sea by a strip of land that is 14 miles long and only one mile wide. And the strip of land is known as ‘La Manga’ – The Sleeve.

The ‘inland lake’ receives fresh water via narrow channels, with man-made cuttings increasing its salt content, and in consequence affecting its eco-system. In consequence, in summer the lagoon water can be warmer than the Mediterranean. There are five small volcanic islands situated in the middle of the lake, namely Isla Mayor, La Perdiguera, El Ciervo, El Sujeto, and La Redondela. Boat trips are made to La Perdiguera , while El Ciervo has a road link with La Manga. Costa Blanca’s 167 mile coastline would appear to incorporate a wide variety of myriad attractions, and it continues to draw tourists in their thousands during the summer months………

Roberta Crookes has worked as a newspaper journalist throughout most of her life, writing news stories, editorial features, advertisement supplements, and reviews. And in the course of her work she has interviewed many famous people from all walks of life. She has also managed to combine parallel careers in both journalism and acting, and, being Welsh speaking from North Wales, her main television featured parts have been Welsh language roles with BBC Wales.