Without doubt a huge majority of visitors who travel to the Costa Blanca each year do so mainly to take advantage of the sun, the sea and the beaches, It would be a mistake however to think that this is all the Costa Blanca has to offer, a quick glance at a travel guide of the area will confirm that there are a great many places of interest to visit and enjoy.
Exactly where the Costa Blanca (White Coast) begins and ends is not clearly defined but the region comprises approximately 200 km of coastline stretching from Gandia in the north to Pilar de la Horadada in the south, it also takes in a large hinterland with areas of mountains, sierras, river valleys and natural parks. The area to the north of Gandia is called the Costa del Azahar (Orange Blossom Coast) and the area to the south of Pilar is known as the Costa Calida (Warm Coast).
The entire Costa Blanca region has a rich and distinguished history and many artefacts have been found dating back to the Neolithic Era. Lying as it does in an important strategic position on the Mediterranean coastline; the Costa Blanca has been invaded and occupied by various important civilizations including Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Visigoths, Carthaginians and Moors.
Each civilization has left its own identity on the region and each has resulted in significant cultural and religious consequences for the indigenous population. Perhaps the greatest influences on the region were caused during the Roman and Arab occupations, which both moulded the areas subsequent history.
The Province of Alicante has always had a lot to defend and now it’s got a lot to visit. Castles, watchtowers, bastions, batteries, defence towers and lookout points, forts and bunkers, walled palaces and even Xàbia's church, designed to repel non-believers. A constellation of 230 constructions dot and explain this territory with its rich terrain and history impregnated with peoples, cultures, and borders.
There are hundreds of examples of these marvels of architecture to summarize 1,500 years of epic, daily battles, legendary treaties, and fear of being invaded. Each one of them represents
a privileged location to enjoy the landscape, a unique cultural experience, and an invitation to immerse yourself in the people’s memory. Visigoth kings, like Theodemir, mythic Arab commanders, like Al-Azraq, and Christian monarchs as well-known as James I or Alfonso X (“The Wise”) await behind the stoned walls. This is the opportunity to be guided through a journey in time that will be impossible to forget.
Being based on heritage, history and culture, throughout the Province of Alicante every fortress is an open door to delve deeper into surprising natural spaces, enjoy centuries-old gastronomy, and participate in all types of complementary activities from hiking to shopping – passing over a sports and nautical experience trail.
The castles with their silent walls and their arrow slits – whisper stores about a territory where protection and monitoring were always a part of life: a life that is recorded in gold lettering in books and which can be felt through the magic air of the villages and cities that continue to tell its story.
Costa Blanca also means unforgettable beaches and coves, beautiful coastal mountain ranges and infallible sun that make it a paradise all year round.
All trips have a magical moment. In the Costa Blanca, that instant in which the traveller experiences a kind of revelation can happen in many different times and places. It could happen while taking a walk at sunset, when the "warm and humble light" described by Gabriel Miró starts to hide behind the mountain top of the Aitana. It could happen when feeling the happiness of childhood games while visiting one of the 170 beaches and coves along the Mediterranean coast. Or it could take place when sailing the ocean in a recreational boat, feeling the eastern or south-eastern wind against the sails, when using our rhythmic energy while kayaking or after completing one of the province's 21 golf courses in which the sun shines over 300 days a year.
On other occasions, the magic can happen unexpectedly with small everyday things. When dining al-fresco while indulging in a traditional paella rice dish or another popular gastronomic dish on the Island of Tabarca, after having enjoyed a swim in its marine reserve. Sometimes that feeling the time has stopped can happen while tasting an intense red wine, one of those which had made Alicante famous since Roman times.
Or, when visiting town's old quarter, surrounded by stone fortresses, you can reminisce about the past and heritage of the various municipalities in the province. The Moorish legacy can be seen in the architecture and urban landscapes.
Elche, with its Palmeral and Misteri, both of which are world heritage sites. Alcoy and Novelada, modernists. Alicante, saluting the sea from the promenade. Benidorm, challenging the horizon with its mythical skyline. Orihuela, wrapped up in the echo hernandiano and its majestic sacred art. And we could go on until completing a never-ending list of urban experiences, from relaxing on the sand to enjoying the pleasures of the mountains. Discovering the unexpected is always just around the corner on Costa Blanca. Just let yourself go, enjoy being in good company and make memories that will last forever.