Spanish Property For Sale

Villas In Spain - Introduction to the COSTA BLANCA

The Costa Blanca is recognised Worldwide for is marvellous climate and extremely healthy atmosphere and lifestyle.  With an annual average temperature of 20° and 340 days of sunshine throughout the year it was recently declared by the World Health Organisation to be the healthiest place to live in Europe.

With the good climate, fabulous attractions, popular year round festivities and the friendly welcoming character of its inhabitants the Costa Blanca has turned into one of Europe's main tourist attractions, and has also become a very desirable place to live.

There are many interesting and diverse areas to consider for your home in Spain.  Here we profile some of the most outstanding and beautiful places of the Costa Blanca.

ALICANTE

Castle of Santa Barbara, Alicante This is well worth a visit for the magnificent views of Alicante and the surrounding area. Don't make our mistake and try to walk up the hill to the castle. If you are travelling by car, follow the signs on the N-332 to the Puerto. When you reach the Puerto, you will see signs for Parking. Once parked, walk along the promenade until you reach the beach. Continue until past the Tourist Information office, just after this there is a bridge crossing the dual carriageway. Cross the road and follow the signs to the Castle. You will enter a tunnel which takes you to the lift up to the Castle.

ALMORADI.

In the centre of Almoradi is the Plaza de la Constitucion, this is the nucleus of this thriving village. Every Saturday morning this area is filled with people of all nationalities that have travelled from nearby villages and towns to stroll around the street market, which has some 600 stalls offering a myriad of goods, from fruit and vegetables, clothes to furniture.

Also in the plaza you will find the beautiful church of San Andres and the Town Hall. The Casino is next to the plaza, this is now used as a meeting place and cultural centre.

For those who enjoy the sun, sand and surf Almoradi is only 12 kilometers from some of the best beaches on the Costa Blanca.

The golf enthusiast has the opportunity to play on 4 different championship golf courses within a 5 to 20 minute drive from Almoradi, and there are more planned for future construction.

Almoradi offers all the necessary amenities, such as medical centre, schools, sports facilities, also it has well established bars, restaurants.

In all Almoradi offers the perfect location to purchase your property in Spain.

BENIDORM

Terra Mitica - Theme Park - Benidorm The Mediterranean's major Theme Park, on the outskirts of Benidorm is well worth a visit and has attractions for all ages. You can buy a 1 day, 2 consecutive days ticket, 3 days non-consecutive ticket or an Evening Ticket. The Park is open all week from Mid-March - October, at weekends during November and December (all week Christmas week) and reopens in March. Follow the N-332 to Alicante and then join the Autopista A-7 (signpost to Valencia). As you approach Benidorm you will see the signs to Terra Mitica clearly marked, salida (exit) 65-A. (NB the A-7 is a toll road). Tel: 902 020 220, www.terramiticapark.com

CABO ROIG

The delightful peninsula of old Cabo Roig - broad avenues lined with palms and landscaped gardens with views of the Mediterranean to the La Manga peninsula and the Mar Menor provide a picturesque setting. Beaches are also very inviting!

Elche - Safari Park Rio

Rio Safari Park Elche is the ideal spot to enjoy nature and to watch tigers, lions, camels, monkeys, hippopotami .. from its trains. You can also visit the first farm exhibition with more than 200 crocodiles of all sizes. Rio Safari's 6000 fully grown palm trees create an unique tropical setting. A professional team records with a video camera your journey by train and will turn your visit into a great audio-visual souvenir.

Tel: 96/663 72 88 - On the road from Santa Pola to Elche.

ELCHE

ELCHE Some 23km inland from Alicante is the capital of the El Baix district and the Valencian region's third largest city in terms of population. Elche had its original location at L'Alcudia where the bust of the Lady of Elche was found, however the city was moved by the Moors to its current position, surrounded by groves of palm trees.

Today over 300,000 officially protected palm trees in the city lend it a somewhat exotic air. These palms are evident on every street corner and can be especially enjoyed in the well-tended city park and just a short walk away in the Huerto del Cura (Priest's Garden), where a palm in the form of a seven-armed candelabra is a good example of the freaks of nature.When King James I conquered the city, the victorious Christians occupied the Vila Murada or walled city and the Moors moved to the Ravel area, where a contemporary art gallery is now situated.

In the historical, old section of the city amongst the most interesting sights are the Altamira Palace, the Basilica of Santa Maria, the Moorish fortress and the Moorish Baths. The municipal park in Elche is a wonderful place to enjoy both the sun and the shade. The park is filled with tall palms, water features, band stands and much more. On the other side of the road is the outdoor swimming pool and the sports park where all manner of sports take place. The tourist office is located in the corner of the park.

The River Vinalopo runs through Elche and has several impressive crossing points. If you stay close to the river you are guaranteed to see the best of the sights including the Basilica, the Palacio, the Museo de la Festa and the old town market. The tourist board can issue you with a street plan that has suggested routes marked on it to ensure you get the most from your visit.

All over Elche are splendid buildings with intricate stonework and a fair share of statues and monuments. Look out for the Lady of Elche. Be sure to walk and make sure you have good walking shoes on and take plenty of water with you.

GUARDAMAR

The town of Guardamar, with a population of just over 11,000, has historically played the role of guardian of the river Segura.  Around 12 km of beach; pines; very old trees; a Mediterranean park with fountains and lakes that give life to squirrels, swans and fish.  Guardamar’s strategic position on a hill over the Vega Baja made it the ideal settlement for the various people that inhabited this part of Spain. Guardamar owes its very existence and livelihood to the dunes that have shaped it.

Points of Interest in Guardamar

• The Castle of Guardamar
• Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology
• Park Reina Sofia
• Park of Alfonso XIII
• Sand Dunes of Guardamar
• Rábita Califal

Beaches in Guardamar

• Playa les Ortigues
• Playa del Campo
• Playa el Moncayo
• Playa la Roqueta
• Playa Centro
• Playa del Vivers
• Playa los Tusales

LA MARINA / LA ESCUERA / EL OASIS URBANISATIONS

The Marina, La Escuera and El Oasis housing developments make up the most important residential and tourist areas of San Fulgencio.  San Fulgencio is rich in archaeological heritage and is situated in the heart of the El Molar mountain range. 

San Fulgencio itself is still a small peaceful and charming farming village and this is where the local schools are situated.  Whilst the above urbanisations are filled with people from all different countries, many of the residents live here all year round, whilst others come to enjoy for their vacations.  The blue flag white sandy beaches of La Marina village are only a few kilometre away by car and there is also a bus service during the summer months. For those that seek shade in the hot summer months there are picnic areas in the dunes adjacent to the beach  

The facilities on offer are excellent for example, medical centre,  emergency centre (police and ambulance) tourist information office, post office, social centre, public transport links, shops, supermarkets, restaurants, bars and many recreatiional areas.  There is also a Municipal Sports Centre in San Fulgencio and many sports facilites in the urbanisations. 

There is also a go-kart track a short drive away and also in El Oasis there is a natural park which offers a football pitch, boules area, terrace with panoramic views, BBQ's, picnic areas, public toilets and washing-up facilities and child play area. The local market is held on Thursday and Sundays and as all Spanish markets you can buy just about everything, but especially shoes as the nearby city of Elche is where many of the Spanish shoes are made. 

The airport of Alicante is 20 minutes away and San Javier about 35 minutes, both of these airports are served by the low cost airlines arriving daily from the UK.

NOVELDA, ELDA, PETRER, SAX AND VILLENA

If castles are your interest then why not go to Novelda and Sax and then to Villena. First stop is Novelda at 28km from Alicante, the provincial capital. The castle here is a legacy of the middle ages (12thC). La Mola Castle sits atop a picturesque hill and is well worthy of a walk round. The castle can be easily seen from the road, miles before you get there but moreso, you can see the strange outline of the Santuario de Santa Maria. The church stands next to the castle and is built in Modernist style, similar to that of Gaudi. It is constructed mainly of marble and small boulders from the river. Despite its strange and unique exterior, the interior is somewhat plain. The village is famous for the production of marble, the cultivation of saffron and the packing of grapes.

From Novelda carry on through Monovar to Elda and Petrer which are twin towns separated by a single street.

The houses on the right belong to one town and those on the left to the other. Here you are 36km from Alicante. Elda is famous for the production of leather footwear, especially women's. The castle here stands as a symbol of the border struggle between Moors and Christians. Petrer's castle is one of the most impressive in the province thanks to painstaking reconstruction works.
Follow the main road from here to Sax. The castle is of Moorish style and features a round arch doorway that leads to the armoury. Within the castle you can still see the water cisterns and underground passages.

From Sax move on to the monumental city and district capital of Villena. We are now 59km from Alicante and La Atalaya Castle that stands here is the prototype for all Castilian walled cities. Allow at least an hour to wander round the castle and admire the well preserved and restored fortress. The city's old quarter lies in the shadow of the castle and from here you are able to pick out all the churches that tower above the tiny houses.

In Villena, the archaeological museum houses an important collection of valuable Iberian treasure, comprising of 60 gold and silver pieces as well as several prehistoric artefacts. Visits to the museum however are by appointment only. Tel 96 580 11 50.

The route from Elche to Villena is one of the most interesting in the area. The roads are of good quality and the views are constantly spectacular. It is possible to deviate from the route, enabling you to see even more castles and places of interest. One thing you will see plenty of in the area is the production of marble.

PILAR DE LA HORADADA

In Pilar de la Horadada, nowadays the most sought-after location between Costa Cálida and Costa Blanca for both Spanish and foreign residents. This town lies close to two seas, one mile far from the sandy beaches and marina of El Mojón, Las Higuericas and La Torre, and two miles far from the shores and spas of Mar Menor.

Over an extension of 64 Km 2, there is also a golf course, a beautiful promenade along-side the beach dunes and the extensive protected Mediterranean forest of the natural park of Pinar de Campoverde.

Likewise this award winning town is, and has been for many years, a landmark by the quality of its services and infrastructures.

ROLDAN - COSTA CALIDA

The town of Roldán is located in the municipality of Torre Pacheco, el Campo de Cartagena, ideally situated in one of the most sought after areas of Costa Cálida which is highly esteemed as charming and beauteous all over Europe hence called the new “Costa del Golf”.

Furthermore, Torre Pacheco has the headquarters of I.F.E.P.A., the grand exhibition centre of the Region of Murcia and one of the most important in Spain. The town of Roldán holds the “Lo Ferro” Flamenco Festival of nationwide interest and several other Fiestas that take place throughout the year, therefore highlighting the joyful character of this town.

Roldán is a traditional town where its inhabitants focus on agriculture, handicrafts and artisan work. Its people closely associate themselves with the Capital Murcia and the Seaport of Cartagena, two cosmopolitan cities in the Region of Murcia.

SAN JAVIER - MAR MENOR

Here are some of the finest beaches and natural parks embracing Mediterranean and Mar Menor sea, a lagoon with crystalline waters, and a heaven on Earth for water sports fans and warm waters for bathing throughout the year. The array of towns and spas, located in the area, offer the visitor the most extensive cultural, leisure and shopping facilities. The International Festivals of Jazz and Theatre are held in the town of San Javier.  The nearby large commercial centres together with the traditional trade and weekly street markets make this area a paradise for shoppers.

SAN MIGUEL DE SALINAS

The present-day location of the village dates back to Roman times when it was known as Nisdomia. The village gained its independence from Orihuela in 1836, though originally its municipal district was constituted by just the old centre. This was extended in 1955 to include the area between the Pedrera Reservoir, the Torrevieja Lake and the Águila Crag. The village's main activity is agriculture, especially dry crops, cereals and pulses.  Since 1955 the village has farmed 265 hectares of land irrigated by an irrigation canal of Levante, taking advantage of the Tajo-Segura diversion.

SANTA POLA

Santa Pola is a popular and lively seaside city with almost 15 kilometres of fine sandy beaches. Santa Pola's past has always been intimately linked to the sea, and the sea has determined its economy, culture, gastronomy and the identity of its people.  In ancient times it was Elche's port and managed to build up one of the biggest fishing fleets of the entire Mediterranean.  The Salinas (salt-flats) are another interesting aspect of Santa Pola. Exploitation of the salt-flats began at the end of the 19th century and they extended over an 880 hectare area that produced 100,000 tons of salt per year. The area is now a Nature Reserve where many migratory birds pass the winter.

SAX

Until the second half of the 20th century, the towns main prosperity was based on agriculte, vines, olives and dry land cereal crops. There is a small huerta irrigated by the Vinalopo river with fruit trees and vegetables close to the town. In the 19th century and especially at the beginning of the 20th century, the town started to diversify towards other activities such as flour mills, distilleries and making blinds and cardboard.Today most of Saxs active population works in the industrial sector (footwear, blinds, leather works and furniture).Agriculture still remains an important activity especially the vines for the wines.Like all Spanish towns and villages the Moors and Chrisitans pageants are held in great style from the 1st to 5th February in each year but there are other important fiestas throughout the year.Sax has many shops, supermarkets, bars, restaurants etc. catering for all tastes and nationalities.In fact there is everything you need for a permanent or semi-permanent stay. Alicante is the nearest coastal town together with its airport - about 30 minutes away.

TORREVIEJA

Torrevieja is a captivating and bustling town situated by the sea on the Costa Blanca, this beautiful area is located approximately 30 minutes drive South from Alicante International Airport.  The town is surrounded by two large natural saltwater lagoons which makes great site seeing as they are farmed for there salt and are also protected habitants for an abundant and varied wildlife. The city of Torrevieja and the surrounding areas have a wide variety of attractions to suit all tastes, from museums, landmarks and historic buildings to amenities including shopping centres and sport venues.

There are a great variety of restaurants covering a wide range of international cuisine, including English, Mexican, Indian, Thai, Chinese, Russian, and German, and of course traditional Spanish cuisine.

In Torrevieja there is a fabulous Nautical Club and Marina complex.

The current municipality grew next to a tower, the old one (la Vieja), which gave it its name. The area boasts some splendid beaches, with which it has developed its tourist capacity in combination with the fishing and the salt-making tradition. The production of Salt in Torrevieja is one of the main in Europe, a visit of "The Salinas" is indispensable. Two enormous salt lakes are the characteristic trait of this tourist area. From the North to the South, the coastline begins with the popular Mata beach with its fine sand. Cervera cape is linked to Salaret point by a series of small, rocky coves, particularly those of El Mojón and Zorras followed by two of the most popular beaches: Locos and Cura, both with fine sand.

Points of Interest in Torrevieja

• The Moor Tower (Torre del Moro)
• La Mata Tower (Torre de la Mata)
• La Mata and Torrevieja's Natural Lake Parks
• Salinas - The Salt lakes
• Church of the Inmaculate Conception
• Sacred Heart of Jesus church
• Museum Maestro Ricardo Lafuente
• Museum of the Sea and the Salt
• Museum of Holy Week
• Recinto de las " Eras de la Sal" (Precinct)
• Casino