The Costa Blanca is situated on the east coast of the Iberian Peninsula, between the towns of Denia, to the north, and El Pilar de la Horadada, to the south.
Its wonderful geographical, climatic and social characteristics have made it the most attractive coast in the country and of the whole Mediterranean arch.
Due to its superb natural features, outlined in previous sections, the Costa Blanca has evolved in a spectacular way during the past thirty years, the coast being populated with residential villas, hundreds of hotels, thousands of restaurants, hundreds of night clubs, thousands of shops and all kinds of businesses related to tourism and to the improvement of the infrastructure in the area.
It now has two international airports, located in Alicante and Valencia, and further to the south, in San Javier, Murcia’s airport also provides an alternative option for international flights due to its proximity; motorways, roads, hospitals, clinics, churches, schools, universities and yachting harbours.
Industrial activities in all sectors have flourished and farming and fishing has increased, with the existence of a great amount of fish farms off the Alicante coast, breeding species such as sea bream and sea bass, both noted for the delicacy of their flesh and delicious flavour.
The Costa Blanca is surrounded by towns that any self-respecting tourist cannot fail to visit and which constitute obligatory routes for innumerable tourist destinations of any nationality.
Highlighting the towns of Alicante, Campello, Villajoyosa, Benidorm , Altea, Calpe, Benissa, Moraira, Benitachell, Jávea and Dénia, towns where millions of people live and enjoy their holidays.
Because of its warm weather all year round and mild winters La Costa Blanca is classified as enjoying a Mediterranean climate
The magnificent climate with mild temperatures and the influence of the Mediterranean Sea, make the Costa Blanca a place with an ideal climate to live in during any season throughout the year.
The landscape consists of mountains, valleys, cliffs, coastal strips, idyllic beaches and intimate and cosy coves. These beautiful and harmonious whims of nature delight us with their beauty and raise our spirits giving us a different perspective of life.
The mildness of the climate allows for the cultivation of all kinds of fruit and vegetables, predominantly fields dedicated to the planting of citrus fruits, cereals, almond and olive trees, the latter generally over one hundred years old, scattered all around the Costa Blanca, recently very much in demand for garden landscaping.
The Costa Blanca CLIMATE: The mild climate makes the Costa Blanca the ideal place to live in all year round and contributes to its particular economic development..
La Costa Blanca, the ultimate expression of the Mediterranean diet, offers a varied and rich gastronomic choice
Besides the great variety of agricultural produce, such as grapes, both dessert grapes and those destined to the red and white wine-making process, the excellent quality medlars, raisins, oranges and lemons of superb taste, the production of “mistela”, a typical sweet wine, and the almonds that are the base of the delicious Alicante variety of nougat and the traditional sweets of each region; the large number of sailors’ enclaves on the coast bring us a numerous fish markets in which we can acquire the best and most varied seafood with unbeatable freshness.
Mediterranean gastronomy is a melting pot of flavours that come from the sea and inland produce. It has long been recognized, both in the most prestigious culinary circles as in the medical environment of nutrition, that the Mediterranean diet is highly recommended due to the healthiness of the food products and their various forms of preparation, highlighting the thousand-year-old methods used when preparing certain dishes and fish, such as salted fish, olive oil and the process followed for wine-making.
Our cuisine includes internationally renown dishes such as Paella, and all variety of rice platters, with fish, meat and vegetable varieties, grilled seafood and fish, winter meals like broth with meat balls and all sorts of delicious meals such as stews and other delicacies made with the most delightful and loving tradition of the locals. Desserts are also very important and noteworthy, such as the nougats, assorted cakes made with almonds and, for the last few decades, the production of sophisticated and delicious chocolates.
The Costa Blanca GASTRONOMY: Gives us the best of the recognized Mediterranean diet, acknowledged as one of the healthiest in the world.
La Costa Blanca is extremely rich in folklore, popular and ancient traditions
Places
In addition to the idyllic shores and dreamy beaches that surround us, there are many other places to visit to fully enjoy the Costa Blanca, with towns like Alicante with it’s museums (Archaeological and Municipal museums), the port and the “La Esplanada”, it’s promenade of unique beauty that is home to an idyllic auditorium which provides delight to the passers-by;
Orihuela, with its cathedral and the church of San Pablo; Elche, globally known for works like “La Dama de Elche” exhibited at the “Museo del Prado” (Madrid) and the largest and most varied palm grove in the world, called “El Huerto del Cura.”.
Benissa welcomes us to its coast with a beautiful marina, the Sierra Bernia mountain range, the outstanding Cathedral and, like all the towns on the Costa Blanca, its old town is full of architectural gems. The geography is sweetened with the Rock of Ifach in Calpe, Guadalest with its very characteristic castle and the large concentration of exceptional museums.
The coastal towns give us the charming fish markets every afternoon. The Costa Blanca’s orography allows us to practice all kinds of sports such as climbing, paragliding, mountain biking, diving, sailing, golf, horse riding and hiking.
Festivals
There are a variety of events that characterize the Costa Blanca and give it a different flavour. One can enjoy the Moors and Christians parades and the spectacle of the Moors landing on the beaches of almost all of its towns, while, at the same time, they each have their own patron saint, who they dedicate the best celebrations and fireworks displays to.
Following the line of events which are of religious origin but are enjoyed nowadays by the general public, we can mention festivals like the “Hogueras” or bonfires in San Juan, and the similar “Fallas Valencianas” which are internationally renowned.
The Costa Blanca FESTIVALS AND PLACES: Information of interest to any visitor who wishes to learn more about the customs and places to visit on the Costa Blanca.
Summary of major developments throughout the history of the Costa Blanca
The history of the Costa Blanca is lost in the mists of prehistoric times as evidenced in the Mousterian deposits in the “Cueva del Cochino” cave in Villena and the “Cueva del Santo” cave in the town of Alcoy. Other archaeological findings testify the presence of man on the Costa Blanca since the Palaeolithic era. Specifically, in the “Cueva de la Cendra” cave in Cap d’Or, are the remains of one of the oldest civilizations of the Mediterranean basin. Further evidence of these primitive civilizations can be found at the “Morro del Castellar” knoll and the “Cova de les Rates” cave.
Inherited from the Neolithic period, we have abundant remains in different caves of stone tools and decorated pottery, displayed in the Museums of Prehistory in Alcoy and Valencia.
From the Bronze Age, there are numerous sites at the “Serra Grossa” of Alicante, at the “Cabo de San Martín” and on the “Portixol” island in Javea.
Entire Iberian villages have been excavated and studied, providing samples of painted pottery and sculptures. The famous bust of “La Dama de Elche” in the “Museo del Prado” in Madrid provides proof of the aesthetic sensibility and technical skill that was reached by the Iberians. They also founded a village in the Cap d’Or of Moraira.
Over time, the ancient Greeks reached the Spanish coast and chose precisely the area of the “Cabo de La Nao” to establish their first colony on the Iberian land, founding Javea.
In the third and fourth centuries of our era, the Carthaginians first, and the Romans later on, founded cities such as Alicante, Dénia, Elche and Calpe.
The Arabs invaded the coast in the seventh century leaving many traces of their dominion. They founded many villages, leaving behind their signature traits in names like Moraira, Alcassar and all those that begin with “ben”, such as Benidorm, Benissa, Benitachell, Beniarbeig and, Benidoleig.
After the Reconquest took place, what we today call the Costa Blanca joined the Kingdom of Valencia in the year 1245. The fifteenth century brings us memories of Saint Vicente Ferrer who, during one of his trips to Teulada to visit his sister Constanza in the year 1410, miraculously started water flowing at a spot between Teulada and Moraira, creating a spring which still continues to flow today and where the Chapel of La Font Santa now stands.
In the sixteenth century, Teulada was forced to fortify its walls and Church to defend itself from the attacks of pirates and barbarians and consequently built the Guard Tower which is on the top of the Cap d’Or.
Later, in the eighteenth century, the “Castillo de Moraira” castle was erected to defend the port and the “La Ampolla” beach against pirate landings. During the reign of Felipe V, the Kingdom of Valencia was abolished, becoming a political annex to Castilla. In 1833, the Madrid Government proceeded to divide the state into “provinces”, regardless of the historical realities, and the Kingdom of Valencia was divided into three provinces, Alicante, Valencia and Castellón. The province of Alicante is what we today call the Costa Blanca of Spain. Nowadays, the fishermen and farmers’ villages have become international tourist centres. However, despite the tourism boom, there are still typical farmers villages which have been preserved intact, with all their authentic flavour, old customs, festivals and kindness, with their typical houses, narrow streets, and their Church, highlighted by the bell tower, which dominates the whole town.
The Costa Blanca HISTORY: Summary of major developments throughout the history of the Costa Blanca.
