Costa Blanca

TorreviejaAlicanteAlteaCalpe

Costa Blanca has gained its name from the beautiful white beaches which can be found along the coast. Just like Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca also has an excellent climate, with an average temperature of almost 20 degrees, and more than 320 days of sun per year. The region has 1.3 million inhabitants, around 30% of whom are foreigners. In addition, around 5 million tourists visit the area each year. Costa Blanca’s coastal area belongs to the province of Alicante in the region of Valencia on Spain’s southeast coast. The area is classed as one of the healthiest places to live according to the World Health Organization, WHO. Costa Blanca has something for everyone, with golf, culture, riding, tennis and a large selection of restaurants, with the region being known as the home of paella. Many tourists visit this region, where the best known locations are Alicante, Torrevieja, Benidorm, Calpe and Denia.

In the southern part of Costa Blanca there are salt lakes, nice beaches and more hills and fertile landscapes. One of the longest beaches here is La Mata, which is 2.4 km long. The more to the north you venture, the more mountainous it becomes, with a landscape featuring, among other things, orange plantations growing in the valleys.The area features many beautiful costal stretches with lovely beaches.

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Torrevieja

Facts about Torrevieja

Torrevieja is a city on the Costa Blanca in the province of Alicante, about 40 km south of the city of Alicante. The city is known for its many fine beaches, such as Playa Del Cura, Playa Los Locos and La Mata.If you like looking at boats then you might be interested in knowing that Torrevieja has one of the largest boat marinas in Spain, as well as a number of other smaller marinas. Torrevieja has over 100,000 inhabitants but is also a very popular tourist destination. During peak season there can be up to half a million people here.

Apart from the beautiful coastal area there is also a very nice countryside with olive and almond trees, two large salt lakes, orange and lemon plantations, etc.

Torrevieja has become a popular location for Swedes looking to buy a property in Spain. 

The climate is comfortable, with a temperature which varies between 15-35 degrees during the year. Torrevieja is a perfect destination for young people, families with kids, couples and pensioners.The area features everything from culture, golf and a large selection of restaurants and bars to a range of activities for children. It is enough just to mention Terra Mitica, the largest amusement/theme park in the entire Mediterranean area, which is located close to Benidorm. Other attractions for the kids include the Aquopolis waterpark, a safari park and underground caves.

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Alicante

Facts about Alicante

Alicante is the largest city within the province of Alicante and has around 330,000 inhabitants. The city is the 8th largest in Spain, which means that it is of a size which makes it relatively easy to get around on foot. Many people say that they think this city has a very genuine feel to it. Just like other locations along the Costa Blanca coast, Alicante offers a fine selection of lovely sandy beaches. The climate here is very comfortable for the majority of the year, with a lowest average temperature during the winter period (January/February) of around 13-14 degrees, rising to as much as 29 degrees on average in the summer (July/August).

The city has a number of interesting historical and cultural attractions including, for example, Santa Barbara Castle, one of Europe’s oldest medieval castles, which is located on a mountain top adjacent to Alicante. This castle consists of a number of different floors which were built during different time periods. The uppermost and oldest part was built by the Arabs who controlled the area during the 9th century. Since then the castle has gradually been extended. A museum which is well worth a visit is Museo de Fogueres, popular for its magnificent ninots (wooden statues) which are used during the Fogueres festival, one of the year’s highlights in the city. Another excellent museum is the ”MaCa” art museum.

At MaCa you can enjoy an enormous collection of art from the 20th century. Many are of the opinion that MaCa will become Spain’s most important Contemporary Art Museum.

For those who enjoy good food and drink, there are a number of impressive vineyards in the area as well as an excellent selection of food. The city’s most renowned dish is paella, which can be made in many different varieties. Furthermore, Alicante’s prime location, with close proximity to both the sea and the mountains, means that diners are treated to a fantastic offering of fish and other seafood as well as meat and sausages, all delivered fresh each day to the local restaurants where they can be savoured.

When it comes to shopping there is something for everyone in Alicante. The choice is endless, ranging from luxurious designer clothes to small charming interior design stores and locally made goods.

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Altea

Facts about Altea

Altea is located in the province of Alicante and has a population of close to 23,500. The average temperature is around 18 degrees. January is the coldest month, with the average temperature dropping to only 10 degrees, but in July Altea often enjoys an average approaching 30 degrees. From Alicante’s airport it takes around an hour to get here by car, driving in a northerly direction.

Altea is known for the beauty of its nature and the surrounding area. The most renowned attractions are the El Morro de Toix and Sierra Frost mountain ranges. Altea has an 8 km long coast with a varying environment of coves, cliffs and beaches. Altea is divided in two by the motorway which passes through the city. On one side you have the beaches and the marina, while on the other side you will find the old city district as well as the more modern part of the city.

Altea has a Mediterranean charm which is enhanced by the well preserved traditional architecture. Visitors experience narrow cobblestoned streets and flowery balconies, among other features. In the old city district, which is located high up on a hill, you can even find a number of art galleries, shops, restaurants, bars and cafés. Altea has long been a popular getaway for artists, sculptors and writers. The city has a calm character and the nightlife is relaxed, in other words quite the opposite to other places on the Costa Blanca.

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Calpe

Facts about Calpe

Calpe is a smallish city in the Valencia area, about 60 km from Alicante’s airport. Calpe has around 30,000 inhabitants. Just like most locations in popular tourist areas, the number of inhabitants increases significantly, to almost double the normal figure, during the peak summer months. Of the 30,000 or so people who live in Calpe, more than 60% are foreign citizens who have moved here and integrated into the Spanish way of life.

Calpe is well known for the Penon de Ifach cliffs. The area offers lovely sandy beaches, with the most popular including Playa Levante o La Fossa, Playa Arenal Bol and Playa Cantal Roig. Calpe also has a very nice beach promenade with a selection of bars, tourist shops and restaurants. There is a fishing harbour as well as a marina, from where you can travel by boat to visit nearby cities. Windsurfing, water-skiing and sailing are other activities available in Calpe.

The harbour boasts some of the best fish restaurants. Take a stroll down to the fishing harbour in the afternoon when all the fishing boats are unloading their daily catch of fish and other seafood.

If you are looking for similar quiet and charm to Altea, but with slightly more pulse, then Calpe could be the perfect place for you. The city has been settled since the Bronze Age and has a rich cultural history, in particular due to its strategic location by the coast. There are many Iberian, Roman and Arab archaeological sites in Altea.

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