The Area
The surrounding area offers something for everyone - from unspoilt countryside and stunning views to historic cities with Moorish roots to fine sandy beaches. From traditional to modern and cosmopolitan.
Here are some snippets about the area. They don't pretend to be complete - they're just to whet your appetite and indicate the variety on offer.
Ciudad Quesada is an 'urbanization' that was first developed in the 1950s and has kept growing. It has a whole mixture of nationalities, including many Spanish people who come to holiday or retire there, but there is also a large English-speaking community. Dotted around Quesada you will find small groups of shops, pubs and restaurants. In the centre (which is acutally on the Western edge) you will find banks, a pharmacy, petrol station, and a larger selection of shops including various gift shops.
Rojales is a typical small town that is right next to Quesada. A bustling little place, a short drive, or 15 minute walk. Here you will find some bars, discos and nightlife.
Torrevieja is the nearest large town and it's about 15 mins away by car. As you come in to Torrevieja on the Carretera de Crevillente you will pass some larger supermarkets such as Mercadona and Carrefour (the largest of them all) where you will find an extensive range of goods from groceries to electricals. Next to Carrefour is the new Habaneras shopping centre where you will find modern shops with all the latest fashions. Around Habaneras are a number of restaurants and a casino. Continue in to the town centre to explore this traditional Spanish town and port. There are a number of car parks along the front. Along the seafront there are many shops, cafes, bars and restaurants and most days there is a streetmarket. Turn in to the maze of smaller streets to find all kinds of sights and sounds waiting for you including lots more little shops and some excellent restaurants. The town also has many other facilities including an aquapark, a large children's play area and much more. Salt plays a large part in the town's heritage and salt production continues to be a major activity to the present day.
Guardamar has a fantastic Blue Flag beach with a long expanse of almost white sand. There are numerous climbing frames and so on for children to enjoy, and during the summer numerous cafes and restaurants open right next to the beach. To the north, the pines that were planted to halt erosion by the sands create a striking landscape. Today the area is a 840 hectare Forest Park called the 'Dunas de Guardamar', and has been declared an Area of Natural Interest.
Elche is the third largest city in Valencia with a long history dating back to the 8th Century. It is probably best known for its palm grove - the largest in the world with over 200,000 palm trees designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000. For a bird's eye view you can climb up the belltower of the impressive catherdral and look out over the entire city. A new museum charting the history of the area is well worth visiting.
Alicante is the principal city in the area. There is a large shopping area in the city centre where you will find a number of modern shops plus a centre on the outskirts. You can wander along the seafront and try and guess how many millions of pounds worth of private yachts are moored in the harbour or take in the numerous museums and other exhibitions.
Another historic city well worth a visit is Murcia. it has some fine architecture, especially the cathedral with its baroque facade and the other public buildings close by. Enjoy a coffee or an ice cream in one of the cafes in and around the Plaza Cardenal Belluga before wandering the many small streets packed with shops.
The area offers something for everyone - from unspoilt countryside and stunning views to historic cities with Moorish roots to fine sandy beaches.
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