ALICANTE PROVINCE, Spain. Travel guide and travel information for the province of ALICANTE, Spain. SOL Spain On Line.

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ALICANTE Province

Alicante - Costa Blanca (White Coast)

The coast of Alicante province is part of Costa Blanca and has about 160 km of beaches to enjoy the sea and landscape. The Alicante coast offers extensive beaches of sand for the swimmers who prefer to sunbath and take an occasional dip in the water. However, it also allows you to discover incredible rocky coves for scuba diving, dunes covered with pinewood forests, beaches with boulders and many other corners where it is possible to anchor small boats and have an unforgettable day.

From Alicante capital you may choose between 2 coastal itineraries:
- travel north to Denia
- travel south to Pilar de Horadada, neighbouring town with Murcia.

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From Alicante north to Denia

El Campello, Puerto Deportivo y Torre Vigía. (Photo By Timón)

From Alicante capital towards Denia there is about 100 km of coast. About 12 km north of Alicante is El Campello. It is a town resting on a small mountain from where you can see 23 km of all different types of beaches. Its characteristic monument is a lighthouse constructed in 1554 to alert for pirate raids. In the area of Illeta is found Greek archaeological sites. The main beach is called Muchavista, but it is also possible to choose rocky coves to swim at such as La Cova del Llop and Cala de Morro Blanco. In this area is also found Paraje Natural de la Lloma de Reixes. More information about Alicante capital.

Villajoyosa

The arid landscape of the Alicante countryside slowly disappears as you enter the region of Marina Baja and start to see the peaks of the Aitana Mountains and Puig Campana Mountains. The capital of this region is Villajoyosa . Located 32 km from Alicante, it is town with a long marine tradition and has hosted many travellers. The fortified historical downtown, near to the Amadoiro River, has houses with eye-catching coastal facades, painted with colors used since the marine embarkations. Enjoy the 3,5 km of beach at “La Vila”, the closest to downtown and Paradis, or choose between other clear water beaches.

Benidorm

41 km north of Alicante you enter Benidorm, a town of leisure time and vacations with the capacity to accommodate 300,000 tourists during peak season. This is the main tourist center of Costa Blanca with two main beaches, Levante and Poniente. Both offer quality service, crystal water and fine sand. Here is found Terra Mítica, one of the best theme parks in Spain. Don’t forget to visit Fuentes de Algar (Watefalls of Algar) in Callosa de Sarrià, 15 km from Benidorm.

L'Alfás del Pi and Altea

Farther north is foundL’Alfás del Pi and Altea, which have 6 km of beaches alternating between boulders and small coves with cliffs.

Calpe

After cross the Bernia Mountains through the Mascarat tunnels and enter the region of Marina Alta, which receives the impressive Peñón de Ifach from theCalpe municipality. The principal monument is the XV century temple. By foot in Peñón you find the Baños de la Reina, an ancient Roman salt factory. This municipality has 11 km of coast with beaches of fine sand (Levante and Arenal) and picturesque coves such as (lManzanera and Urques).

Moraira

Moraira has a harbor protected by the prominent Cap Blanc and Punta de Moraira. The coast has 8 km of beautiful rocky beaches, with Ampolla being the most convenient and extensive.
About 10 km inland is found Teulada, surrounded with a countryside of vineyards where is cultivated the Moscatel grape. The Santa Catalina Church (late Gothic) is a monumental architectural building of the region.

Jávea (Xábia)

Continuing north, 92 km from Alicante, is foundJávea (Xábia), a town with 2 km. of coast. In this town you can see the Gothic style church-fortress dedicated to Saint Bartolomé. It has various lighthouses to watch for the arrival of foreign ships. The 20 km of coast of this municipal cherishes beaches of all different types: fine sand (Arenal), pines and rocks. Go scuba diving in Granadella, small coves in Portichol…etc.

Denia

The itinerary concludes with Denia 100 km north of Alicante. It is characterized by the harbor (from here boats leave for the Baleares Islands) and for the well conserved Muslim castle. Denia has 20 km of coast, with fine sand to the north (Les Marines) and a rocky and sharp landscape to the south (Les Rotes).

From Alicante south to Pilar de Horadada

Salinas de Santa Pola (photo by Francisca Rivera).

The first important costal town to the south of Alicante is Santa Pola, 20 km from the capital. It has a IV century salt factory, but the part of special interest is its salt marsh conserved as a natural park, which serves as a refuge for flamencos and other types of birds. Santa Pola has a castle ordered to be constructed by Felipe II for a front against pirate raids. From this harbor you can travel to The Island of Tabarca, which is a special marine reserve and also has an ancient wall that was once used to fortify the island.

Guardamar de Segura

The next tourist town is Guardamar de Segura, 35 km form Alicante with beautiful natural spaces of pines, dunes, and extensive beaches. An old village was settled on top of a hill where still remains the castle and other testimonies of when it was a Greek harbor. Also visit the Parque de las Dunas Reina Sofía (Reina Sofia Dune Park) with many types of plant species.

Torrevieja

Next in the itinerary is to discover the enormous salt marsh of Mata-Torrevieja, the urban expansion, and the downtown of Torrevieja (48 km form Alicante). This town seems to live for the ocean and salt. The salt of Torrevieja is exported all over the world from this harbor.

Pilar de Horadada
The last town, 67 km. south of Alicante, is Pilar de Horadada with 4 km of beach and a characteristic lighthouse. The orchards produce excellent fruit and vegetables that are export to many European countries.

Map of ALICANTE Province

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Accommodations in Alicante

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Festival and Food in Alicante

Of the many festivals in the province of Alicante, you may be the most interested in the ones that have gained international recognition:

- Las Hogueras de San Juan (The Bonfire of Saint John) in Alicante (July),
-Las Fiestas de Moros y Cristianos (The Festival of Moors and Christians) in Alcoy (April),
- El Misterio in August and la Procesión del Domingo de Ramos in April (The Mystery and the Procession of Palm Sunday) in Elche.
- Moros y Cristianos (Moors and Christians) in Villajoyosa (July)
- El Certamen Internacional de Habaneras (The International Competition of Habaneras) in Torrevieja (July).

A visit to Alicante would be incomplete if you do not try the excellent rice, which is cooked in a variety of ways with different types of rice: banda rice (rice with fish), black rice (with cuttlefish), baked rice, etc... Furthermore, there are a fresh fish and shellfish. For dessert there is nothing better than fig bread, nougat candy, or ice cream from Jijona. This food can be enjoyed with the famous vines of the Alicante region such as Fondillón of Alicante.

Castels in the Province of Alicante

The sun and beach tourism that Alicante coast habitually receives could make you think that it is a flat province. However, only the narrow strip along the Mediterranean Sea has these characteristics.

The inland of the province of Alicante

The rest of the mountainous province has many important medieval castles, some of them the typical beautiful fairytale castles. Among these fortresses discover the castles of Villena, Biar, Petrer and Elda, Bañeres or Banyeres of Mariola, Castalla, Novelda and Elche. In reality, most of the province of Alicante is filled with castles that it would be near impossible to enjoy all of them in one visit.

Also to mention is the grand Alcazaba or Castle of Denia. Although the hill in Denia was occupied since the time of the Romans, it was the Arabs who built the grand complex of walls and fortifications. Also is the important castle of Santa Bárbara which ruled the city of Alicante.

Alcoyana Mountain:

Start this travel in Alcoy, 45 km from the city of Alicante. It is a town known for its numerous bridges, its rivers and the homogeneity of the urban area. We recommended visiting the local museums in the medieval district: the archaeology and the Fiesta de Moros y Cristianos (Festival of Moors and Christians).

Very close to Alcoy is the city of Cocentaina which conserves the medieval nucleus most important to this area. The palace fortress of the Condes and the old convent of the Clarisas constitute an interesting collection for people to enjoy.

Nature and Active Tourism:

In Alicante there are many natural treasures worth visiting. Between Alcoi and Ibi, in the Sierra del Menejedor, is Carrascal de la Font Roja Natural Park of great ecological importance as well as El Fondo Natural Park, Lagunas de la Mata y Torrevieja, Montgó, Penyal d’Ifac, Isla de Tabarca, Salinas de Santa Pola and Marjal de Pego-Oliva. In the inland of the province discover the town of Elche with its beautiful palm trees, declared Patrimony of Humanity.

The nature of Alicante also offers a tranquil setting for those who enjoy active tourism: hiking, biking, horseback riding, kayaking, repelling, bungee jumping ,paragliding, windsurf... These activities can alternate with ecotourism and cultural tourism that teach consciousness, conservation and respect for nature.

Elche and Orihuela

Imagen de la Dama de Elche, descubierta en Alcudia (Elche)

The town of Elche, 23 km south of Alicante, is the commercial capital of Bajo Binalopó and an important reference for the province. The original center of the city is located in the L’Alcudia archaeological site where was found the Iberian bust of la Dama de Elche, now displayed in an archaeological museum in Madrid.

In the 10th century the city moved from its current location to a new location, surrounding the new city with thousands of palm trees to make it look like an inspiration from holy city of Islam.
El Palmeral a city with an area more than 5.000 km2 and 200, 000 palm trees, has recently been declared PATRIMONIO DE LA HUMANIDAD by UNESCO.

Orihuela

59 km south of Alicante is found Orihuela with an important architectural patrimony. The Segura River channel separates the historical district from the modern district. A walk the historical district, entering through the Crevillente main entrance, allows you to discover the museum house of Miguel Hernández, the Cathedral of Salvador, and the churches of Saint Justa, Saint Rufina and Santiago.

Sand and small cliffs close to urbanization create quality tourist areas. Punta Prima, Playa Flamenca, La Zenia, Cabo Roig and Dehesa de Campoamor are some of these tourist enclaves. Golf is a popular sport in this area with a variety of excellent golf courses.