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| Marina Baja |
The Coast
Altea
In the north of the region, Altea is without
doubt one of the most charming towns of the
Costa Blanca with its medival cobbled streets,
its picture book old quarter and the delights
of its palm-fringed seafront esplanade. The
white and blue domed church is an evocative
symbol of Altea and the town itself is fun to
explore with its jumbled maze of streets. Altea´s
wealth of bars, street cafes and excellent restaurants
mean you will never be short of somewhere to
go in the evenings. Altea boasts 6km of beach,
the tall cliffs interspersed with shingled bathing
areas. The beaches are backed by urbanizations
and amenities are always within easy reach.
A farm produce market is held in Altea on Tuesdays.
There is also a tourist market on Tuesdays selling
clothes, pearls from Mallorca and local goods.
Altea has a permenant population of 13,500
Altea is located on the main N332 coastal road
and the A7 motoryway that runs between Alicante
and Valencia is easily accessible, just a couple
of kilometres away.
Altea is 50km from Alicante.
Don Cayo Golf Club is 8km outside Altea. |
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Benidorm
In 1953 Benidorm was a tiny fishing village unheard
of in the UK. Now Benidorm is capable of lodging
5 million visitors a year. Benidorm is heavily
developed, its high rise apartments seen from
the motorway look almost futuristic and there
is certainly no shortage of accommodation, restaurants,
shops and nightlife. The town may be disconcerting
for those looking for a quiet place to say, but
for energetic types who can beach bash all day
and party all night, there is no better place.
Its fine, sandy, clean beaches and transparent
water are what have made Benidorm the tourist
centre that it is today. The most popular beach
is the Playa de Levante, 2km from the old town
centre and in the height of summer, there may
be little room to maneuver there. The slightly
quieter Playa de Poniente is situated on the edge
of the old town centre. The white stone balcony
at the historical centre of Benidorm, the Canfali
vantage point, affords generous views over the
town. Benidorm offers a huge range of leisure
activities for all ages of tourists, from watersports
in the day and hardcore nightlife, to peaceful
walks through the park and excursions to the Sierra
Gelada nearby.
Benidorm has a permenant population of 50,000.
Benidorm’s big fruit and vegetable market
is held on Tuesdays, on Wednesdays the street
market takes place and on Sunday a busy flea market
is held.
Situated 40 kilometres north of Alicante airport
Benidorm is easily accessible via the main N332
coastal road or the faster A7 motorway.
Valencia is 130km away on the A7 motorway.
Don Cayo Golf Club is 13km north of Benidorm. |
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Villajoyosa
The historical capital of Marina Baja, Villajoyosa
is a slightly quieter alternative to Benidorm.
Its name means “joyful town” and the
brightly coloured facades of the seafront houses
are certainly a joy to look at. Painted in a multitude
of colours, deep blue, banana yellow and apple
green, the original purpose of these painted facades
was to ensure that sailors could see their homes
from far out at sea. Villajoyosa has 4km of beaches,
the most popular of which is the Centro beach.
23,000 people live in Villajoyosa.
There is a daily afternoon fish auction in the
town.
Villajoyosa’s street market is on Thursdays.
Villajoyosa is located on the main N332 coastal
road, a few kilometres from the A7 motorway.
Alicante is 32km away, Benidorm is 12km north
of Villajoyosa.
The nearest golf club is that of Don Cayo, 13km
north of Benidorm. |
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Finestrat
Between Benidorm and Villajoyosa, the coastal
village of Finestrat with a population of 1500
is a more tranquil place than the surrounding
towns. Its one and two storey houses are perched
on top of rocky outcrops and backed by dramatic
mountain scenery. The traditional aspects of the
village have not been drowned out by massive urbanizations
and tourism here is more low-key. The Hermitage
of the Remedio is constructed on a vantage point
that gives excellent views of Marina Baja.
A street market is held in Finestrat on a Friday.
Finestrat is less than 15 minutes drive from Benidorm
and Villajoyosa |
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Orba
The main village of inland Marina Baja, Orba is
an Arabic name meaning “place where the
water springs from the mountain”. Orba is
an important communications route, with a population
of 1600. It is an attractive village in rural
surroundings, citrus fruits are grown in the countryside
around. The village is popular with German and
English expatriates.
Next to Orba, the village of Orbeta has a large
urbanization largely occupied by English expatriates.
There are 6 restaurants in Orba, several bars
including an English bar, there is also an English
shop in the village and an excellent pizzeria.
A public swimming pool opens in the summer months.
Orba is on the main bus route that serves the
area.
Orba is 12km inland from Villajoyosa and 10km
from the A7 motorway.
Alicante is 38km away on fast main roads.
The nearest golf club is Don Cayo, 13km north
of Benidorm. |
Around Orba:
The villages of inland Marina Baja have a less
frenetic pace than their coastal counterparts.
Mostly of Moorish origin, these mountain villages
set in rural areas often attract foreign residents
wishing to find a quieter style of life. Some
of the villages, just a few kilometres away from
the most visited coast in Europe, remain relatively
undiscovered. |
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Tarbena
Located between mountains, the lovely village
of Tarbena is in the north of Marina Baja. It
is a peaceful village with a population of 800,
set in terraced agricultural land. Its white houses
with their ochre tiled rooves are gathered around
an old village church. Its mountainside position
means that the village has views that take in
Benidorm and its coastline. There is a teepee
colony outside the village inhabited by people
seeking an alternative, rural lifestyle.
Tarbena has 8 bars run by various nationalities.
There is 1 English bar.
Tarbena is a 15 minute drive from Altea. |
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On the Western edge of Marina
Baja, Relleu and Sella
are both small Spanish villages located inland
in Marina Baja, with small expatriate communities.
A street market selling the fresh produce of the
area operates on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
on Relleu’s high street.
The villages are less than a 15 minute drive from
Orba and less than 20km from Villajoyosa. |
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La Nucia
Located on the main road between Benidorm and
Callosa, La Nucia is conveniently located. It
is largely a residential zone, with 69 housing
estates occupied by a number of foreign residents.
The village has retained its original charm with
white houses looking down over the slopes of the
mountains out onto the coast.
A rastro market is held on Sunday mornings, where
second hand goods stalls stretch for over 2km
through the village.
La Nucia’s street market is on Mondays and
Fridays.
La Nucia is easily accessible, located on the
main road, 5km from the A7 motorway, 10km from
Benidorm.
Don Cayo Golf Club is less than 10 minutes drive
from La Nucia. |
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Polop
Hugging the side of a mountain, the charming village
of Polop with its old Arab quarter streets has
at its centre a parish church with a beautiful
bell tower. The village’s well known Font
dels Xorrets has 221 water spouts gushing with
fresh spring water. At the nearby peak of Mount
Ponoig, dubbed the “sleeping lion”
there are magnificent views of the coast, stretching
to as far as Ibiza on a clear day.
Polop is a couple of kilometres west of La Nucia
and is easily accessible. |
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Benifato is
a small village with a population of 140 located
high in the Sierra Aitana. It is a peaceful village
with an Arabic old centre, steep, narrow streets
and several fountains in small village squares.
Benifato is fairly isolated, located in the mountains
off the main roads.
Bolulla
A farming village with a population of 300, Bolulla
remains relatively untouched by modern development.
Its singe storey houses are clustered round a
jumble of streets, creating a tranquil atmosphere
in a village where time seems to stand still.
Bolulla is fairly isolated, located off the main
roads in the heart of Marina Baja. |
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Benimantell
Built on a hill with a church at its centre, Benimantell
looks down onto the coast 15km away. With steep,
narrow streets, it is a small village with a population
of 450, popular with British expatriates.
The village has a small English supermarket, a
few bars, 2 restaurants and a fruit and vegetable
store. |
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| Towns and villages |
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| Benidorm |
| Villajoyosa |
| Ponoch |
| Altea |
| Beniardá |
| Benifato |
| Benimantell |
| Bolulla |
| Finestrat |
| Confrides |
| la Nucia |
| Orba |
| Orxeta |
| Polop |
| Relleu |
| Sella |
| Tárbena |
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