Marina Alta - Maps and Towns - Costa Blanca - Southern Spain

Dénia
Capital of Marina Alta, midway between the two international airports of Valencia and Alicante, Dénia is a delightful cosmopolitan town, rich in history and with a huge range of places to visit. Its streets are a fascinating showcase of architecture through the ages. The 16th century castle which dominates the town is a good starting point. The fishing quarters of Baix La Marand Les Roques retain their intimate Spanish charm and the 17th century church of Santa Maria is outstanding. With 20 kilometres of seafront, Dénia has enough sand and space to keep everyone happy. There are different beaches to suit everyone - endless stretches of flat sandy beach, rocky coves and tiny bays hidden among the cliffs. The town has a beautiful main street lined with trees whose branches dip towards one another, forming an arch that covers the street. It is closed off to vehicles in the evenings so that visitors can enjoy a leisurely, peaceful stroll. From the castle and from the tower 6km from Denia, the Torre del Gerro, you can enjoy some superb views of Dénia and her surroundings.
Dénia is heavily developed, it is extremely popular with northern European tourists, particularly German, and the expatriate community is prominent.
With a population of 34,000, many of them expatriates, Dénia has ample amenities including shops, supermarkets, restaurants, bars, nightlife and medical facilities.
Dénia is 9km from the A7 motorway and from there it is a fast 88km drive to Alicante. Denia is about halfway between Valencia and Alicante and either airport can be reached with ease.
Dénia can be reached by train, as a narrow gauge rail line links the town with Alicante.
Boats leave daily from Dénia for the Baleric Islands.
La Sella Golf Club is on the outskirts of Denia. There are four other golf courses all within a twenty minute drive from Denia.

Just up the coast from Denia, Els Poblets is almost an extension of the main town. It is very popular with English and German tourists and expatriates and has plenty of villas.
There is one supermarket in the village, complete with bar inside.

Ondara
Situated on a ridge looking over the Alberca valley, the centre of Ondara is a maze of streets built around a bullring, a huge round building that is still functional. A Roman necropolis was discovered in the town. Ondara is not the prettiest of places but it is conveniently located close to the motorway and the coast. A huge party is held at the bullring at new year.
There are 4 big supermarkets in the town and ample shopping facilities.
English, German and Spanish bars can all be found in Ondara.
The town is the main fruit and vegetable trading place in the area.
Denia is 6km away, the A7 motorway is 2km away and the town is located on the main N332 coastal road.
The nearest golf course is La Sella Golf Club at Denia.

Beniarbeig is a prosperous agricultural village with 1900 inhabitants, close to Ondara. An industrial estate has recently been opened in the village.
The village has a few shops and bars and a church.
Beniarbeig is popular with expatriates.
It is 8km to Denia and 4km to the A7 motorway.
The nearest golf course is La Sella Golf Club in Denia.

Javea Golf Club is a couple of kilometres outside the centre. There are 2 other golf clubs very near by.

Close to Benissa, separated only by the A-7 motorway, lies the village of Senija with a population of 470. Situated at the foot of a small mountain, it is a little village with numerous English urbanizations.
There is 1 shop in Senija and 2 bars but no restaurants.
It is 10 minutes to the town of Benissa.

Inland: The Jalon Valley

The valley between the inland mountains of La Marina Alta is rich in orange and almond groves and has numerous vineyards. The area is scattered with some lovely villages where people seeking refuge from the busy coastal areas have chosen to buy property. Most of the villages have an expatriate population and some even have English bars. The area attracts more foreign residents than foreign tourists, who tend to stick to the coast. A famous wine growing region, the natives of the villages speak Valenciano rather than Spanish.
There are 2 buses a day that start at Denia and finish at Castella de Castelles, serving the whole area.

There are numerous villages scattered around Jalon in the valley, all set in rural surroundings. Jalon is their main small service centre and the larger coastal towns are within easy reach, less than 20km away.

The tiny village of Murla with 330 inhabitants is west of Alcalalí. A game called pelota valenciana originates from here and the locals play matches at weekends. The game is important to the villages, the main square is named after one of its best pelota players. Backed by a mountain, the village has an unusual fortified church with illuminated crypts and reconstructed towers.
There is 1 small shop, a fruit and vegetable market in village square.
The village is fairly isolated, not being on the bus route. It is a 3km walk to the nearest bus stop.
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South of Alcalalí and Murla, the village of Parcent is a small place surrounded by orange, almond and olive groves with a church is its centre. Its steep, pretty streets and its beautiful surroundings have earned it the name of “paradise between the mountains.” There is evidence of its importance as a grape growing centre in the form of old raisin driers that can be seen around the village although today, most villagers work on the cost.
The main medical centre of the area is in Parcent.
There are a few bars and restaurants. Parcent boasts the best paella restaurant in the area.
An English shop called Open all Hours supplies products from overseas.

A couple of kilometres from Pego, the pretty little village of Sagra clings to the side of a mountain. It has a Moorish town structure with wnding, narrow streets and is surrounded by green countryside.
There are 3 bars, 2 restaurants and a few shops in Sagra.

2km from Sagra, Benimeli is small farming village on the side of the Sierra Segaria, near to the summit of the mountain. This undiscovered, quiet village with a population of 350 has steep streets lined with white houses and is surrounded by orange groves.
There is one shop and one bar in the village.