The Costa Blanca area is a great place to be at, whether it be year-round or only temporarily. The warm yet mild climate as well as the great health benefits from the salt lakes, can affect both body and mind in a positive way. With over 300 days of sunshine a year and an average temperature of 18 to 20 degrees, it is hard not to enjoy life in this wonderful land.
Torrevieja is the most important urban center of the southern Costa Blanca and is truly a cosmopolitan city, with more than half of the city’s inhabitants being immigrants from around the world. The city’s salt lakes are not only a defining symbol of the city but also a famous and important export product that makes it known around the world.
The most famous beaches in the area are Playa Flamenca, Campoamor, La Zenia and Cabo Roig. However, in addition to the sun, beaches and the Golf courses, there are many sights, famous buildings, historic monuments and museums to be seen. It’s not surprising that the popularity of the Costa Blanca is constantly growing.
Costa Cálida or the “warm Coast” is the coastline of the Murcia Province, where numerous natural and peaceful areas are waiting to be discovered. Many beautiful areas are to be found there, such as the Mar Menor or the “Little Sea” which is a small entrance to the Mediterranean Sea, where you can find a great variety of birds, marine life and diverse nature. But the temperature of the Mar Menor is typically 2 to 4 degrees warmer than the Mediterranean Sea and therefore popular for various water sports all year round, such as canoeing, sailing, sea skiing and scuba diving.
La Manga is the sandspit that separates the Mar Menor from the Mediterranean. The coastline runs from the fishing town of Cabo de Palos to the town of San Pedro del Pinatar. And only 20 km away is the city of Cartagena, a 2,500-year-old city and the main base of the Spanish Navy. In addition, there are ruins of a Roman theater, archaeological museums, restaurants, elegant concert houses and everything that the mind desires.
The regional capital, Murcia lies 70 km from the La Manga coastline and 40min from Torrevieja. The city was funded in 825 by the Moors and hosts a wide array of museums, art galleries, historical monuments, parks and an impressive cathedral. Murcia is historical and at the same time a modern cosmopolitan city with all the activities and opportunities that they provide.
Those who are interested in golf will enjoy life on the Costa Calida, and the region is also only 3 hours drive away from the famous Sierra Nevada Ski Resort in Granada.
And let’s not forget that the international airport of Corvera, is just 15 minutes away from downtown Murcia.
Murcia province is divided into two geological and climatological areas. Firstly the “Huerta” a flat and densely populated area that covers the river basin of the Segura river and parts of the coast. This area is also one of the most fertile agricultural lands in the world. And secondly the “Campo”, literally meaning the countryside, a less populated and more mountainous region that covers the north and south west of the Murcia region.
Murcia City is a very friendly yet modern city, although it has maintained its traditional cultural legacy. It covers over 881 square kilometers and makes up nearly 45% of the 1.5 million people living in the province. The city was settled in 825 by Abderrahman II, a Moor chief from Cordoba, at the time the province was exceptionally diverse, with significant populations of Moors, Jews, Egyptians and Christians. In the 12th And the 13th century, Murcia was one of the most important cities of Moor Spain. The Moors perfed the irrigation system that the Romans had established and built up all the cultivation still occurs to this day. One of the most important buildings in the city is the cathedral, built from 1394 – 1462.
One of the primary attractions of Murcia Province today is the 250 km coastline of Costa Calida. You can enjoy various water sports for all year round, such as sailing, sea skiing and scuba diving, as well as local and beautiful underwater caves, on the south of the town of Cabo de Palos.
You may also be interested in visiting the historical city of Cartagena and explore the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology or for nature lovers, to explore the region’s diverse landscapes and pristine valleys, such as Sierra de Espuña, Sierra de la Pila, Carrascoy and El Valle.
Murcia is a province where history, culture and pristine nature coexist with a vibrant society.
Alicante City is on the Costa Blanca coast and has a population of 335,000 people, and the fifth largest province in Spain (calculated in GDP) after Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Seville, and completely worthy of a visit.
In Alicante City, the old and the new come together where a modern city is built on an old foundation, as the city traces its origins to the 3th century BC. The Alicante of today is a first-class tourist attraction, offering great coastlines, impressive harbour facilities, mild weather and a variety of activities.
Many noteworthy buildings can be found in the city, including the Gavina Palace that host the Provincial museum with paintings from the nineteenth century. There are several theatres in Alicante, but the main theater is from 1847, and it is a good example of the city’s architectural style. Santa Bárbara Castle offers stunning views of the Postage Beach, the harbor and the city itself. The artifacts found indicate that the first castle was built there during the era of the Moors. Churches and monasteries are also interesting places to explore and show the style and history of the city. But in addition, many interesting museums are to be found in the city, such as the Archaeological Museum of ARQ, the Lucentum Archaeological Museum and the Asegurada Gallery, which is a contemporary art museum, hosting works by Miró, Dalí and Picasso.
You can also choose to stroll around a number of public parks, explore the local culture in some of the sunny town squares or enjoy the large variety of restaurants and cafés that are located across the city. And in case you happen to have a particularly brilliant idea, the central offices of the European Union Intellectual Property Office are in Alicante.
Elche or “Elx” is the third largest city in the Valencian Autonomous Community and is located near the coastline of the Costa Blanca. The area surrounding the city, Bajo Vinalogo, is located at the river Vinalogo which runs through the city and divides it and gives it a pleasant atmosphere. About 190,000 people live in the city and the tourism industry and the footwear industries are the main employers in the city. There is a great amount of agriculture in the area with olive trees, corn and citrus trees.
Over the 2000 years of history, Elche has contributed richly to Spain’s cultural heritage. The symbol of the city is without a doubt “La Dama de Elche” which is 2,400 years old artifacts of a woman found in 1897. This artifact is the most famous surviving legacy of the pre-roman civilizations of the Iberian Peninsula, and it is preserved by the Archaeological Museum of Madrid. Many monuments from the culture of the Moors, the Romans and the Iberians are found in the city’s museums.
Elche has the largest palm grove in Europe, which has 200,000 palm trees, and has been protected by UNESCO since 2000. In the city, an ancient theatrical work is shown in the church of the Basilica de Santa Maria in August each year. This is a great and remarkable cultural event called misteri d’elche. The theater piece was written in the Middle Ages and focuses on the faith and life struggle of the people in the area. It is remarkable for the material and stage, because the theatrical works have survived since the Middle Ages. The “Misteri D’elche” is a protected cultural heritage of UNESCO. In addition, it can be added that Elche is a university city and bears the university name of the famous playwright and poet from Orihuela, Miguel Hernández.
Orihuela City began forming during the Roman era, and was named Orcelis by the Romans. The city is today typically classified as the capital of the Vega Baja region and is located about 20 kilometers from the coastline of the Costa Blanca. The River Segura divides the city in two that give it a charming layout and with a population of Orihuela 77,000 it is comfortable in size.
The city is the hub for the vast agricultural activity that takes places around it. Outdoor street markets with fresh food are, of course, a daily occurrence and there is a vibrant urban life.
Orihuela is both ancient and historic. Its most notable buildings are without a doubt the cathedral, the baroque church and the Arabic halls with towers that can be attributed to the moors. In the city there are over 10 churches and the city is known for its great religious traditions, but in the city’s mountainside, for example, you can find an important Catholic Seminary.
One of the most famous poets and playwrights of Spain, Miguel Gilbert Hernández, was born in Orihuela and the University of Orihuela and Elche are named after him. However, although Hernández died at only 32 years of age as a prisoner of war, during his short life he had an important impact on Spanish literary history.
The Festival of Moors and Christians is celebrated in July every year, and it is one of the city’s most impressive festivals and worth participating in.
Whether you want to practice faith, eat good food, go to an art event or enjoy the outdoors, Orihuela is a wonderful city to enjoy life.
Orihuela Costa is a territory that belongs to the city of Orihuela and lies on the south part of the Costa Blanca. The coastline is 16 km long and 20 km away from the city. Many beautiful neighbourhoods are in the area of Orihuela Costa as well as impressive golf courses such as Villamartin, Las Ramblas and Campoamor.
The main beaches have now been marked with the Blue flag (E.E. C) which means that they meet the strongest quality requirements of the EU. These include Punta Prima, la Playa de la Mosca, Calas de Playa Flamenca, La Zenia, Cabo Roig and Campoamor. All of them have their own special charm, and people quickly find their favorite beach. The marinas of Cabo Roig and Campoamor offer good facilities for those who enjoy water sports.
The dining culture by the beach is characterized by fresh seafood and the popular “tapas”, which don’t let anybody down, as well as a great conglomeration of restaurants from almost all over the world.
Benidorm is one of Spain’s most popular tourist attractions, located on the east coast between Valencia and Alicante. The city was a dormant fishing village until the year 1960 when an explosion occurred in the tourist industry in Spain. Today, the town is based on high-quality hotels and apartments, discos, nightclubs and restaurants.
Most shops and restaurants are in the old town, but a part of Benidorm was formerly a fort that was destroyed by British and Spanish troops during the Peninsular War with the French in 1812. The narrow streets ooze charm, and form a kind of maze of streets, alleys and plazas full of interesting small shops. There you can also find a wide variety of restaurants and bars that offer tasty delicacies and Tapas.
Benidorm is popular among families as well as senior citizens all year round. There you can enjoy strolling on the well-kept beaches and/or participate in a wide range of activities on offer, and visit for example, the popular theme park “Terra Mítica” that’s situated on the outskirts of the city, along with a Zoo and a waterpark.
Castalla is a beautiful town in the area of Foia de Castalla. The valley is surrounded by mountains, some of which are up to 1000 metres in height. Hiking in the mountainside is a popular outdoors activity, not least because of the impressive views. The town of Castalla lies at the foothills of a small mountain, but on its peak lies the local Castle that has a great history.
The location of the town is excellent with regards to transport, and it’s easy to get from this quiet village on the motorway to Madrid and Alicante cities. Alicante airport is also close by. The nearest towns to Castalla are, for example, Onil, Tibi, Ibi and Biar, you might enjoy visiting them and get to know the culture and customs of these welcoming mountain villages of Alicante province.
A typical “national dish” in Castalla is a “Gazpacho” but it contains a special type of bread, chicken meat, rabbit meats, mushrooms, fried tomatoes and onions. Castalla features exceptionally good facilities for horse riding, and numerous scenic rides in the surrounding vicinity.
The town of Almoradí is located on the plains north of the Segura River on the southern Costa Blanca. The name comes from Arabic and means “my will and my wish” or “Mi Voluntad y Mi deseo”. The main industry is furniture production, while a large proportion of the 21,000 inhabitants of the town work in agriculture and various services. Almoradí is casually called “the furniture town” because of a large number of furniture stores and factories that can be found there.
A pleasant outdoor market and household agricultural museum are in the town along with all services that one might need. Nearby you can enjoy golf, hiking, or going down to the beach. Almoradía is a pleasant small town where you can enjoy Spanish culture and cultural life.
Pilar de la Horadada (Pilar) is a town located 66 kilometres south of Alicante city and is situated very close to the province of Murcia.
Many wars have been fought in Pilar due to the town’s location on the historic borders of the two ancient kingdoms of the region: the Kingdom of Murcia (Castilla) and the Kingdom of Valencia (Aragon). Pilar used to only consist of several farms and a few houses, known as Campo de la Horadada. Back in the days agriculture was the primary industry in the region but the tourist industry took over when the town got its independence from Orihuela in 1986 and a lot of changes have taken place since then.
The town stands by a beautiful coastline with fine sand and a corridor of sea and the river Rio Seco or “Dry river”. The countryside of Pilar is considered excellent for agriculture and is very fertile where you can find fragrant herbs like rosemary and the Timian growing wild. Green vegetation characterizes nature near the town, while the lush mountain of El Pinar de Campoverde just above the town, offers beautiful scenery from which you can enjoy hiking and outdoor activities.
Torre de la Horadada is a watchtower that was built to monitor pirate ships. Many such watchtowers are along the coast. The surrounding tower was constructed next to the village which later became the summer residence for the inhabitants of Orihuela, Murcia and Vega Baja de la Segura.
In Pilar you can find archaeological and ethnographic collections and including for stone-throwing artifacts, old coins, a cage of Persian textiles, etc….When it comes to cuisine, you can say that the town is known for “Arroz con leche” or rice powder from goat’s milk with rice, lemon berry, and cinnamon, a popular dessert in many parts of the Spanish speaking world. But in addition, sweets such as “Cordiales”, “Toñas”, “Mantecados” or “Rollos de Anis” and “Milhojas” are very popular and come from the area.
The typical Spanish town of San Miguel de Salinas is located on a hilltop of the countryside of Vega Baja de Segura. The town itself and its suburbs have over 6,000 inhabitants where the tourism industry thrives and all services one might need can be fond.
Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and the coastline, just 11 km away from this cozy town, the town is a perfect place for holidays and for permanent living.
The main industries are services and agriculture, and the town is surrounded by citrus trees, melon and olive cultivation, but many of the inhabitants work in industries associated with the tourism on the coasts of the Costa Blanca. The town’s church is named after Saint Michael who is also a religious guardian of the town. The day of Saint Miguel is celebrated every year and the local celebration or fiesta, lasts for 2 weeks and ends in a great big celebration on the 29th of September each year. There is a lot of life in the town, parades, dance shows and concerts to mention but a few.
The food culture is characterized by the traditional and nutritional “Gazpacho Manchego” which is a lush dish made from tomatoes, bread, and vegetables as well as rabbit meat, rice and soy.
In San Miguel the main street is the lifeline, with a town hall, a medical center and one of the best primary and secondary schools in the region. The town also has a private international school “El Limonar International” where classes are tought both in English and Spanish. All services are at hand in this charming little town.
San Pedro del Pinatar lies at the Mar Menor entrance where the La Manga Reef separates the Mar Menor from the Mediterranean Sea. The name El Pinatar means pine trees, because of a great pine forest which used to be around the town. In the 18th century, the town was also baptized in the head of a Peter Apostles, when fishermen from the town built a temple to honor him and that’s where the name San Pedro del Pinatar comes from. Roman monuments have been found in the vicinity and the theory is that Romans lived where the town stands now originally.
The town has a maritime origin but today it is one of the primary tourist destinations of the Murcia Region. The on-site attraction is the San Pedro beach, where you can find Lo Pagán, a vibrant tourist center with all the possible services needed, such as hotels, bars, restaurants and shops. Good facilities at the marina and the surroundings Mar Menor also offers a variety of water sport activities to be enjoyed, such as sailing, diving and surfing.
Mar Menor is very salty and the clay in Lo Pagán is known for its health benefits. At Mar Menor, there are all kinds of health spas and baths that are popular, for both domestic and foreign tourists, some that come seeking help for rheumatism, skin diseases or other ailments.
The name Los Montesinos comes from a noble family that once ruled over the land surrounding this beautiful town. The inhabitants are approximately 5,000, and they live principally on agriculture.
In Los Montesinos, all the main services are at hand, such as shops, schools, sports facilities and healthcare. The town is well positioned and a short car ride to the most important places on the Costa Blanca. There is only a 15-minute drive down to the beach and 5 minutes to La Finca and La Marquesa golf courses.
The town is a typical Spanish village, ideal for people seeking peace and tranquility in a romantic location.
The great 18-hole golf course is well integrated with the natural environment of the area and was designed by John Putman and opened in 1972. The course is not too long and is surrounded by trees and buses. Some of the fairways are difficult and hilly, but that makes the game even more interesting and exciting. Links to the course:
A great 18-hole, par 72 golf course set in an exceptionally beautiful setting with spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. The golf course was designed to host Europe’s largest golf competitions and offers a more varied size of greens and fairways than most other golf courses in the Costa Blanca area, ranging from very large down to very small. It includes streams along the fairways and across them, forming a lake in the middle of the course. This makes the field exceptionally beautiful and increases the difficulty level. Links to the course:
The La Marquesa Golf Course is one of the most historic courses on the Costa Blanca, with 18 holes and one as special as the 17th hole on Sawgrass. Tradition, quality and experience come together to offer golfers who visit the course a unique experience in a historic setting where in addition Miguel Ángel Jiménez is our honorary member. Link to the course:
The grat 18-hole par 72 course is located in a picturesque valley, surrounded by olive trees that cover the course well in case of wind. It is therefore possible to play year-round golf in great conditions. The fairways are rather wide, and there are grat views of the whole course making it a very nice place to play. Link to the course:
La Manga Golf Course is the most famous golf course in province of Murcia. He has been a part of the inaugural PGA tour qualifier and hosted the Spanish Open. La Manga Club has three different courses. The southern and northern courses were designed by Robert Puman, but the western field by Dave Thomas. The South field was then redesignated by Arnold Palmer in 1992. All the courses were designed according to USGA rules and the first secretary of La Manga Club was the legendary Gary Player.
The SOUTH field is located at the center of a valley and has elegant palm trees on each path, along with the lakes appearing at the 15th and 18th holes : 18-Holes / Pair73 / 6.499 m
The NORTH course is similar to the south, but it is shorter: 18-Holes / Pair 71 / 5.743 m
The WEST course is located on a side of a mountain and because of this it is more difficult to play than the rest of the courses. Many traps are in the field and require a high degree of precision. 18-Holes / Pair 73 / 5.971 m. Link to course:
Lo Romero Golf, or the “Golf Island” as it is often referred to, is a course like no other. “Golf Island” is actually located on the 18th green, which is a fairly even circular green surrounded by water with a bridge for access to the green. On the green, the player will have the feeling of sinking the ultimate putt to complete a round of golf that gives him/her a sense of personal satisfaction. From tee on hole 1 to the final putt on hole 18, the golfer can enjoy a round of golf in a tranquil environment filled with beautiful scenery and anaimal sounds that give the feeling of being isolated from the rest of the world. Lo Romero is the perfect course for golfers who are passionate about golf. Link to course:
The great 18-hole par 72 course is one of the most exclusive golf courses in the area. Las Colinas stretches across the valley and between the hills and falls naturally into the landscape. The width of the fairways, the design of the extensive rolling greens, and the many tees at each hole give it great versatility and make it suitable for professional competitions, while offering every player a good starting point for a great round. Link to the course:
This par 72, 18-hole golf course is a very exciting course for golfers who like to take risks, with its many “blind” holes. It was designed by José Gancedo and opened in 1991. The course is 5,770 meters long and lies in a beautifully rough setting where the view is spectacular wherever you look. The landscape of the field is very hilly, due its location in a low mountain range. The couse requires many precise shots that require high precision from the player. This makes Æas Ramblas a very exciting and interesting course. Link to the course:
This is a 18-hole course set in beautiful surroundings, and offers wide fairways and good opportunities for a good round of golf in picturesq nature. Link to course:
This is a 18-hole, par 72 challenging golf course set in beautiful surroundings. Link to course:
Spaniards are cheerful and festive people; therefore, it is no wonder that almost weekly there are local celebrations, known as “fiestas”, in the towns and cities of the Costa Blanca. These fiestas normally last a week or two, as the streets are decorated and fun events and parties go on from sunrise to sundown. These festivities are a staple of every town’s local social life and are a unique experience for many of us foreigners in this beautiful and accommodating country. In addition to the fiestas, there are many other festive occasions:
Spanish Christmas is celebrated in a different manner than in other European countries. Spaniards historically have mostly only celebrated the day of the three kings, which takes place on the 7th of January instead of Christmas. In the last decades Spaniards have also started to celebrate Christmas in a big way, and the 24th of December is a key day in the holiday schedule along with the 7th of January. Around the Day of the Three Kings, there is normally a parade on the 5th of January and children are given gifts on the morning of the 6th.
The Medieval Festival is an ancient festival that usually takes place in February and is a fun experience for all the family.
Father’s Day, in Spain is celebrated on March 19th, the day of Saint Joseph, the father of the Jesuits.Easter is for many Spaniards the most important celebration of the year, and for many tourists it’s a unique experience to participate in the celebration. Easter or “Semana Santa”, literally meaning Holy Week, is celebrated throughout the country in a passionate and uniquely local manner in every town and province of the country. Easter is possibly the festive time with the most religious symbolism, as the famous Holy Week processions.
The Moors and Christian festivals are one of the liveliest festivals celebrated in Spain. They are especially popular in the south of the Valencian Community, as towns divide dressing up as Moors and Christians to retell the ancient stories and battles that took place throughout these areas in the 11th to 13th centuries when Spanish Christians reconquered the area during the famous “Reconquista”
Mothers ‘ Day is celebrated the first Sunday in May and is many mothers favorite time of the year.
La Feria de Mayo or the May-festival is one of the more interesting festivals in Torrevieja, where the city’s harbour is transformed into a center of joy and entertainment. The festival, whose origins come from Andalucía, is an annual party dedicated to the arrival of summer, where people dressed in flamenco clothing, listen to good music, eat and drink good food and wines and enjoy an exciting and adventurous atmosphere.
Sailors day is celebrated on July 16th each year, but the guardian of the fishermen is the Saint Carmen. Residents of coastal towns specially celebrate this day, and often there are sea goings available for those interested. There is a lot of celebration in Torrevieja on this day, as the city has grown from being a small fisherman’s village into a modern multinational city.
“Asunción de la Virgen” is the day of the Virgin Mary. The day is celebrated 15 August each year and is a national holiday and has a strong spiritual element to it.
The National day of Spain is 12 October every year, which is the same day that Columbus reached America.
Constitution Day is 6 December, which is a holiday in the country to honour the Constitution of Spain signed this day in 1978. This day marks a vital chapter in the country’s history, and Spain’s transition to become the modern European democratic country it is today.
Weekly street markets are held across Spain every day of the week. There you can find fresh fruits and vegetables directly from farmers, flowers, food, clothing, refreshments, and more. If you want to see whether there is a market near you, you can see below on which day of the week it is:
Monday: Elche
Tuesdays: Orihuela, San Fulgencio, Castalla
Wednesdays: San Miguel de Salinas, Benidorm, Guardamar del Segura
Thursday: Alicante, Rojales
Friday: Torrevieja, Pilar de la Horadada, Los Montesinos
Saturdays: Almoradí, Santa Pola, Catral
Sundays: Pilar de la Horadada, Benidorm
The Mediterranean Sea has been a hotbed of cultural and religious intercommunication for all of human history. The modern name comes from the Roman name, Mare Nostrum or “Our sea”, but the Latin name is, however, Mar Medi Terraneum, meaning sea between countries. Residents of the Mediterranean coasts have used variations of these names for centuries. However the Turks called it, Mar Blanco or the “White Sea” as a contradiction to the Black Sea.
The Mediterranean spans between southeastern Europe, Western Asia and Northern Africa, and it is approximately 2.5 million square kilometres in area and 3,860 kilometres in length. It covers 46,000 kilometres of coastline and its average depth is 1,370 metres and a maximum depth of 5,210 metres.
69 important rivers flow into the Mediterranean Sea and return approximately 283 cubic kilometres of water annually. However, the regeneration of water takes around 90 years in the Mediterranean sea, and therefore the salinity in it is much higher than in the Atlantic Ocean.
