Costa Blanca: white beaches and skyscrapers

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The Costa Blanca is the coastal region of the province of Alicante washed by the Mediterranean sea, it extends for about 200 km between the towns of Pilar de la Horadada in the south and Denia in the north. The Costa Blanca is full of sandy beaches bathed by calm waters, with a privileged climate and a warm sea. The landscape of the region is also made varied by the mountains overlooking the sea.

WHITE SAND BEACHES IN A LANDSCAPED LARGELY DETURPED BY MAN

Among the most popular resorts along the Costa Blanca are: Alicante, Denia, Jávea, Calpe, Altea, Benidorm, Villajoyosa, Campello, Benitachell, Santa Pola and Torrevieja. They are all modern coastal cities with a vibrant nightlife. Except for the stretches of high coast, where the mountains reach the sea. The great part of the Costa Blanca is a succession of seaside resorts made of modern buildings and sometimes real skyscrapers that have largely spoiled the beauty of this stretch of the Spanish coast famous for its white sandy beaches.

The main tourist center of this part of the coast is the town of Benidorm, located a few kilometers north of Alicante, and famous for its beaches and nightlife. A modern-looking town, it is famous for counting numerous skyscrapers among its constructions. In fact there are about thirty buildings with a height greater than 100 meters. In Benidorm there is also the Terra Mítica theme amusement park dedicated to the ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean: Egypt, Greece, Rome and Iberia.

SEASIDE RESORTS RICH IN LIFE

To the north of Benidorm is the seaside resort of Calpe / Calp located at the foot of the majestic Peñón de Ifach, a 332m high promontory of rock which is one of the symbols of the Costa Blanca. Among the most important monuments of Calpe there are the ruins of the Baños de la Reina (Queen’s baths) which are the tanks of an ancient fish farm of the late Roman era (4th-5th century AD). Between Calpe and Benidorm, along the coast there is the Parque natural de la Sierra Helada one of the few undeveloped stretches of the Costa Blanca.

Another popular center on the coast is the town of Denia, located near the promontory of Cap de la Nao. This seaside resort is located at the southern end of the Gulf of Valencia. Denia has some old neighborhoods such as those of les Roques and Baix la Mar. The most beautiful beaches are located north of the city. The small town of Jávea / Xábia, located south of Denia, that is between this and the Cap de la Nao, is formed by a small medieval old town with the interesting church of Saint Bartholomew (Iglesia de San Bartolomé) Gothic-style building built in the 16th century. The most famous beach in Jávea / Xábia is Playa del Arenal.

The Alicante region is rich in mountains, which allow interesting excursions. Then there are some archaeological sites, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans and Arabs. Also worth seeing are the characteristic hinterland villages hidden among the mountains, and the areas cultivated with vineyards and palm groves, among the latter to visit the Palmeral of Elche that UNESCO has included among the heritages of humanity.