Costa Blanca offers 200 kilometres (124.274 miles) of coastline in the province of Alicante. It sits on the southeastern coast of Spain and extends from the town of Dénia to the north.
It’s worth your time visiting the wonderful ancient fishing village of Calpe which is at the heart of Costa Blanca in the region of Valencia. This village is now a major tourist spot. It’s ideally located for easy access by A76 motorway and N332 running from Valencia to Alicante. It’s a mere one-hour drive from Alicante airport.
Calpe is known for its gorgeous beaches and boasts 3 of the most beautiful sandy beaches on the Spanish coastline. Calpe offers a marvellous blend of old Valencian culture and modern tourist architecture. This is a great beginning point to explore the local area and enjoy their excellent beaches.
Calpe is a town loaded with rich history and culture. Throughout history, it has served as a perfect welcoming port for voyagers and settlers alike. Many remains of Iberian tribes have been discovered throughout the town. Valencian is the historical and traditional word, from the language known as Catalan. The Romans discovered Calpe and discovered a prosperous town whose leading activities were drying and salting fish.
Even though Christians and Moors lived peacefully together, they were under attack by pirates during the 14th and 17th centuries. During the 18th century, peace allowed Calpe to come back to life, forming the current tourist location.
Overshadowed by the massive rock, Peñón de Ifach. This towering rock reaches a massive 332 m rising above the sea. Peñón de Ifach is considered a perfect natural reserve. Just south of the rock rests the ruins of Pobla de Ifac, a medieval walled village. Reaching the summit is by a footpath and a short tunnel through the upper portions of the rock. Be Aware! Above the tunnel there are no safety features and is not considered a good choice for those who are afraid of heights, those who are very young, or those who are not in shape for this kind of climb.
From the top, you will be engulfed in magnificent panoramic views and on a clear day you can see the island of Ibiza but the journey is truly very dangerous to climb.
For the rest of us, when talking about sightseeing, the ancient town centre sits next to the Moorish quarter. Calpe’s ancient walls and famous church, Iglesia Vieja, is really well worth your time! Within Valencia, the only remaining example of Mudejar-Gothic architecture is the church. While in town, stop by the Museum of Archaeology and the Fiestas Museum in the town centre.
Modern Paseo Maritimo is a fabulous promenade running parallel to Palma’s seafront. The wide avenue is made up of pedestrian walkways and cycle lanes. Next to the promenade are the recently discovered remains of the Roman Villa which originally formed the Roman fish factory known as the Banys de la Reina.
Other great sides include places overlooking the Mascarat ravine revealing ruins of the Moorish Castle of Calpe and along the local countryside you will see typical rui-rau country houses with arched porticos used for drying raisins.
Calpe offers a modern marina that sits next to the old fishing port. You can take a boat ride around the rock or travel to the nearby resort of Benidorm. Also, look into the narrow gauge railway that operates from Alicante to Denia, stopping at Calpe.
The port offers a nautical club and other activities including yachting, windsurfing, and water skiing. If you prefer land activities, consider the rock of Ifach which does offer some climbing facilities. Again, check first to find out if you have the skills for the climb.
If golfing is your thing, visit the Ifach Golf Course located in Moraira (Benissa) on a country estate. This course can be challenging with its 9-holes that are very short, along with terrains with narrow fairways making it tricky but very entertaining. The course is surrounded by magnificent views of the sea and mountains.
You are also within an hour’s drive to a great selection of golf courses for fans of Scottish games.
Costa Blanca offers delicious cuisine from land and sea. Many cultures that moved here left their cuisines behind for all to share, including the Celts, Iberians, Greeks, Romans, and Muslims.
A typical diet consist of health Mediterranean choices rich with fish, vegetables, olive oil, and fruit. Other ingredients are used to prepare these dishes such as Paella Valenciana, Arroz Negro (black rice), Arroz al horno (baked rice), Arroz a banda (fish & rice stew), Arroz del Señoret (Princes rice).
If you have a sweet tooth, visit their home-made pastry dishes. Nougat is a wonderful choice made of almonds from the area.
Also, you have a wonderful selection of wine from the region.
Calpe is blessed with a wonderful Mediterranean climate with cool breezes during the summer and protected by its mountains during the cold North winds in the winter. Over the course of the year, temperatures range from 48 °F to 82 °F (rarely above 86 °F or below 41 °F).
The World Health Organisation thinks this area has the very best temperatures throughout the world On an average scale, Calpe offers 325 sunny days each year, making this a perfect destination for your next permanent home or holiday home!
If you are looking to relocate to Calpe, Costa Blanca, Engel & Völkers have an impressive portfolio of beautiful and stylish properties for sale. Engel & Völkers will also work with you very closely too ensure your experience of purchasing a property in Calpe goes smoothly.