Costa Blanca South, Popular Towns and Cities
So much to see and do for holidays or permanent living in the Alicante region!
Novelda, A Tourist Destination
A unique treasure just waiting to be uncovered with Gaudí-inspired architecture, red marble and exotic, heady spices..no, this is not a Lebanese restaurant in the centre of Barcelona, but Novelda - just half-an-hour's drive from Alicante airport and sandwiched between three mountain ranges, it is the gateway to the coast from the dry, scorched... | » Read more about Novelda at Think Spain...
Gorgeous Guadalest - Take a Trip
By: Jade Holden, Think Spain...
Guadalest is just north of Benidorm, Costa Blaca. With its turquoise reservoir and bell tower glinting in the sun, Guadalest is the most visited village in Spain But despite the hordes that visit Guadalest every year, it retains a unique ambience and is not to be missed!
Visiting tiny Guadalest (population, only 250 inhabitants) the busy city scenes and stress quickly fade away and you are faced instead with mountain and sea views, orange and lemon trees and a sense of pure nature, interrupted only by the road you're driving on and the odd café. As you continue to wind your way through the mountains you will soon be able to make out Guadalest's iconic bell tower sitting politely on the top of the frequently photographed rock face... | » Read more about Guadalest at Think Spain...
Picture Credit: Occassionally Artic John
Elche, Costa Blanca - City of Palms
A beautiful and historial city well worth a visit. A stroll through the city's streets reveals an interesting historical centre of its glorious past... (Elche, The City of Palms)
Famous for over 200,000 palm trees, the "The Palm Grove" is a legacy of the Andalusían farming culture, and is now a World Heritage Site. Also famous as the Footwear Capital of Spain there are 100's of shops and factory outlets, the designs are amazing!
But Elche offers so much more... Visitors Centre of Spanish Culture, Great Festivals, Historic Architecture, Restaurants Galore, Theatre and so much more. Elche (Elx) is just of the E15 Motorway close to Alicante Airport... | » Read more about Elche at Turisme d Elx...
Picture Credit: Port of Alicante
Santa Barbara Castle, Alicante
Any visit to Alicante and you can't fail to notice this impressive castle situated on an outcrop over looking Alicante City. It's one of the largest medieval fortresses in Europe and covers the complete summit of the Benacantil Mountain. Originally built by the Moors in the 10th century, the castle received its name from the conquest of King Alfonse the Wise that took place on 4th December 1248: Saint Barbara's day.
Over the following centuries it was developed and extended leaving it with three main areas all dating from different eras. Santa Barbara Castle has everything you would expect, cannons, a palace, dungeons, a moat, the ruins of a small church and of course that famous lookout tower. From all around the walls you get the most fantastic views: a definite photo opportunity. And when you're tired of walking up and down steep paths, peering over cliff edges and pondering the places from where boiling oil was thrown, there are two café areas where you can take a break in the shade of pine trees... | » Read more at Alicante Tourist Information
Picture Credit: Jorge Lugo
Find out more on these local Tourist Information websites...
- Costa Blanca Tourism
- Elche Tourist Information Center (in English)
- Novelda Tourist, Culture and Events (Animated presentaion in English)
- Virtual Tourist Guadalest (near Benidorm)
- Guadalest Council and Tourist Info'
- Bodega Cerdá, Hondon de las Nieves (Vine Making and Museum)
- Alicante - All you need to know and do !
- Alicante Turismo
- WikiPedia on Costa Blanca
- Hondon De Las Nieves - Hondon Valley