Costa Blanca
The call of the sea
With white, powdery beaches that bask in the sun, studded with fragrant lemon groves and whitewashed houses, the Costa Blanca, Spain’s White Coast, is the epitome of the idyllic, relaxed Mediterranean way of life.
‘Costa Blanca’ was actually devised as a promotional name by BEA when they launched their air service between London and Valencia in 1957. Comprising over 200 kilometres of coastline it contains the popular tourist destinations of Benidorm and Alicante.
Alicante
Alicante is the capital of the province of Alicante, and a historic Mediterranean port with a marina. It has regular ferry services to the Balearic Islands and an international airport nearby. The ‘Castillo de Santa Barbara’ looks down upon a strongly fortified city which is one of the fastest growing in Spain.
Inland Attractions
Away from the beaches (if you can force yourself) lie some of Spain’s most fertile areas, renowned for the sweet smelling almond trees and the citrus trees that supply fruit to the rest of the world. Massive forests of date palms are an amazing sight. Tiny villages dot the landscape and are more truly typical of Spain’s traditional peasant lifestyle. To the north of the area the landscape is attractively rocky and mountainous, providing excellent trekking and climbing opportunities.
A flavour of classical Spain
When you’re out enjoying one of the many fiestas and fancy a bite to eat, there’s one dish thats synonymous with this area. Spain’s national dish has endless varieties, but most agree that Valencia is the true home of paella, and locals are even convinced that water from Valencia is an essential ingredient. Of all the variations of the dish, the Valencian version contains an eclectic variety of ingredients including snails and rabbit.
Sports and recreation
Most resorts have facilities for water sports such as skiing, boating, jet-skiing, windsurfing and fishing. The Costa Blanca is also the world's newest hotspot for scuba-diving - there’s certainly little to top the thrill of exploring one of the region’s many underwater caves or discovering the excitement of a shipwreck.
Developments