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Costa Blanca and its beauty. Things to know
25 10, 2023
The Costa Blanca, or White Coast, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Spain. The region stretches for 200 km along the Mediterranean coast through the province of Alicante, stretching from Gandia to Torrevieja.
Visitors to the Costa Blanca are spoiled for choice as the destinations are varied and diverse. The Costa Blanca has a resort for every taste. From the most lively and cosmopolitan resorts, such as Alicante or Benidorm, to those that still retain their rural air by the sea, such as Moraira.
History
The Costa Blanca has a celebrated and rich history and there are many interesting sites throughout the region which have brought to light evidence dating the region back to the Neolithic era.
The region was also strategically important to many settlers, including Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Visigoths, Carthaginians and Moors. With each civilization living a mark of its identity on earth. Probably the most obvious is the influence of the Roman and Moorish occupations, which are still present today in the villages, monuments and cultural attractions of the Costa Blanca.
The natural environment
To the north, a curtain of mountains runs parallel to the sea, descending sometimes to form cliffs; to the south, a vast plain of sand patches, palm trees and salt deposits forms the backdrop to the beaches.
From the valleys, which are covered with terraced orchards and keep alive their Moorish past, to the palm trees of unmistakable African origin, the horizons of the Costa Blanca offer the most varied attractions.
The almond fields, the vineyards, the orchards and the magnificent palm trees, which form vegetation emphasizing the oriental nature of the landscape.
Within the cliffs there are natural caves, which can be visited using precarious ladders; the caves are known, because of their dangerous conditions, as pesqueras de la muerte (fishing areas of death).
Heading into the interior of this region, the traveler will find, among the vineyards and fields, some fine examples of the riu-rau, a popular type of dwelling preceded by an arched front which inspired many of the villas that have been built more recently.
Towns and villages of the Costa Blanca
Denia is a delightful cosmopolitan city located along the Mediterranean coast where the sun shines almost all year round. Its climate with mild temperatures and its 20 km of sandy beaches and rocky coves make Denia an ideal place for a holiday.
Benisa is located towards the northern end of the Costa Blanca, just off the A-7 Motorway; the journey to and from Alicante airport takes just over an hour. The stretch of coast between Calpe and Maraira is home to a number of quiet and relaxing coves. The scenery is magnificent; spectacular cliffs that contrast with the background of the high mountain.
Javea is a small, historic town with no tall buildings, offering a relaxing holiday atmosphere. The locals are friendly and kind. The clean, warm and blue Mediterranean Sea surrounds the beautiful beaches and bays that Javea has to offer.
Moraira is a small coastal town located in the beautiful northeastern mountainous tip of the Costa Blanca. The resort is conveniently located between Alicante and Valencia airports (approximately 90 km from each). The surrounding region has a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere, with beautiful and unspoilt scenery and many small villages to explore.
In the heart of the Costa Blanca, in the region of Valencia, lies the old fishing village of Calpe. Now transformed into a tourist magnet, the city is in an ideal location, easily accessible by the A7 motorway and the N332 that runs from Valencia to Alicante; about an hour's drive from Alicante airport.
In the center of the La Marina Baixa region is the popular Spanish resort of Benidorm, one of the main tourist destinations along the Costa Blanca. Its excellent beaches, wide variety of accommodation, restaurants and many recreational activities mean it is a hit with tourists from all over Spain and Northern Europe.
Alicante is centrally located on Spain's Mediterranean coast. The air of the city is permeated with the perfumes of the sea; indeed, the city was an important seaport for many centuries. Nothing is more pleasant than walking along the quayside promenade lined with four rows of palm trees, marbled in Alicante red, cream and black, imitating the waves of the Mediterranean.
Torrevieja is located on the Costa Blanca, approximately 40 minutes south of Alicante airport. It is not a resort in the sense of a package holiday, there are only a few hotels and the area is very popular with the Spanish who flock here in the summer months for their holidays. The city is surrounded by excellent developments, all with beautiful swimming pools and gardens, and the whole area enjoys fabulous beaches with fine sand and crystal clear waters.
Santa Pola is located on the Costa Blanca, approximately 20 minutes' drive south of Alicante Airport. A small fishing port, Santa Pola is renowned for its variety of scenery, from distant mountain views to wild sand dunes.
The city of Guardamar, with a population of just over 11,000 inhabitants, has historically played the role of guardian of the Segura River. Guardamar's strategic position on a hill above the Vega Baja has made it an ideal settlement for the different cultures that have inhabited this part of Spain over the centuries.
Orihuela is the capital of the region of the same name; the administrative area stretches inland from the coast and covers a number of smaller towns and villages, as well as three golf courses, two marinas, the beaches of La Zenia and Dehesa de Campoamor, and a considerable amount of agricultural land.
Climate
The Costa Blanca has a Mediterranean climate, with mild, relatively rainy winters and hot, sunny summers. Because of its exposure to the southeast, the Costa Blanca has a mild and sunny microclimate.
The daily average temperature ranges from about 12 °C (53.5 °F) in January and February to about 26 °C (79 °F) in July and August. Even in mid-winter, there are many sunny days, with daytime temperatures reaching or exceeding 20 °C (68 °F). In winter, very cold days are rare, but on colder periods, the minimum temperature can drop to about freezing; in practice, it never snows. The coldest records are around -4 °C (25 °F).
In summer, there's sultry heat, though it's generally bearable, also because of the sea breeze, however, there may be periods of intense heat, during which the temperature can reach as high as 38/40 °C (100/104 °F).
Rainfall in the Costa Blanca is scarce, since it is even lower than 300 millimeters (12 inches) per year, and follows the Mediterranean pattern, in fact, most of it occurs from September to March, while in summer, it almost never rains.
Rainy days are particularly rare, but when it rains, it can rain a lot, and the rains can sometimes be intense and concentrated in time, causing floods. Owing to the scarcity of rainfall, the landscape is arid.
Activity
Along the Costa Blanca map you will find beaches, museums, monuments, old urban centers, natural parks; The Costa Blanca and all the towns within the province of Alicante have a lot of places that will surprise you with their beauty. The sea and the mountains are a perfect combination for a family holiday.
But the Costa Blanca is not only about its wonderful beaches. In most of its villages, you can enjoy the celebration of street markets where visitors can find all kinds of items. Every day of the week there is a market in a nearby town that allows the tourist to enjoy shopping or just walking around to see the products for sale.
And if anything can be said about this area is their unique "fiestas". Most of its cities celebrate "Moors and Christians", some of them considered of regional and national interest.
We cannot forget the Holy Week Processions. All along the coast, the brothers wear their best clothes to carry their saints, seated on spectacular thrones.
Apart from this, you will be able to find many fun activities to do such as golf resorts, sea activities and many shopping malls around.
Cuisine
The main feature of the cuisine of the area, as on the rest of the east coast of Spain, is rice. Keep in mind that this is a vegetable growing region, which is why vegetables are also responsible for some of the key dishes that make up the traditional dishes of Alicante.
A trip to the Costa Blanca takes you to a culinary destination with over 300 local rice dishes. There are so many rice dishes to choose from: soup, dry or sticky, with vegetables, fish, seafood, meat.
We cannot talk about the traditional dishes of Alicante without mentioning the magnificent fish and seafood found in the wholesale and public markets of the province where you can find species as juicy and characteristic as red shrimp Mediterranean, crayfish and lobster, squid and clams. Many of them are the basic ingredients of East Coast succulent rice dishes.