! Murcia today – Five best towns and villages to visit in Alicante

Date of publication: 05/10/2021

Alicante province is home to 141 municipalities, and here are five of the most charming and picturesque

Considered one of the most beautiful provinces in Spain, Alicante is an extremely popular destination with tourists, offering 244 km of breathtaking coastline and a multitude of quaint, traditional and bustling towns and villages.

Located in the south-east of the Iberian Peninsula, being the southernmost province of the region of Valencia, Alicante has 141 municipalities, 26 of which have more than 20,000 inhabitants.

Here are some of the province’s gems that are definitely worth a visit.

Calp

Five best towns and villages to visit in Alicante

Located on the north coast of the province of Alicante, in the Marina Alta region, Calpe is famous for its iconic Peñón de Ifach, a huge rock over 300 meters high declared a natural park in 1987.

The coastal town has become synonymous with seasonal and residential tourism on the Costa Blanca and is among the most attractive in southeastern Spain. It is also home to around 1,670 expatriates.

Next to numerous beaches, such as Playa del Arenal, the historic center of Calpe retains a charming atmosphere, with its narrow streets and stairs.

Altea

Characterized by its white houses and natural charm thanks to its traditional buildings and houses, Altea in the Marina Baix region of the province offers a fantastic opportunity to experience the delights of an authentic Mediterranean coastal town, with incredible restaurants, beautiful beaches, lined with chiringuitos (Spanish beach bars), a bustling port and cobbled streets. And a stroll through the steep streets leading to a church offers stunning views of the city.

Denia

Denia is the capital of the Marina Alta and is home to around 45,000 people, including 900 expatriates who have naturally chosen to settle in the coastal town which has 20 km of sandy beaches and the clearest waters of the Costa Blanca.

Denia is also “extremely rich in environment” and is home to the Montgó Natural Park, which has made the city a tourist reference point in the Spanish region of Levante. Its coastline is an extremely popular destination for divers (although a diving permit is required) and animal lovers hoping to spot migrating whales and dolphins.

Guadalest

This very pretty, historic mountain-top town is undoubtedly best known for its impressive ancient castle (Castell de Guadalest) which can only be accessed by walking through a 15-foot-long paved tunnel carved into the river. rock, known as Portal de San José. Visitors are then treated to superb panoramic views as they stroll past ancient village houses, a school and a railway, transported back to antiquity.

Guadalest, 22 km from Benidorm, is also famous for its white bell tower of Penon de la Alcala, which apparently rises precariously perched on the mountainside, and to the right of the town is the Embalse de Guadalest (dam and reservoir), built between 1953 and 1963.

Villajoyosa

Villajoyosa, the capital of the Marina Baixa region, is an ancient fishing village, characterized by its colorful and picturesque houses. The historic and artistic old town, which is a site of cultural interest, is popular with tourists looking for a more relaxed experience.

A stroll through the streets offers the possibility of visiting the Catalan Gothic-style church Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, one of the only three fortress churches in the province of Alicante, as well as the Torre de Sant Josep, the largest of the three best-preserved Roman churches. funeral towers in Spain; and the 16th century watchtowers. Foodies won’t want to miss a visit to Villajoyosa to sample its gastronomic delights, including red shrimp, cuttlefish, crayfish and tuna.

Image: Turismo Denia / Ayuntamiento de Calpe / Ayuntamento de Guadalest / Comunitat Valenciana /