 |
To talk of Calpe is to talk of the Mediterranean, with its clean and quiet beaches, mountains rising from the sea, soaring cliffs, valleys and gullies, a privilege climate….and hospitality.
It is to let yourself be dazzled by nature that brings together sea and mountain in an embrace of light shaded under the protection of the great Penon de Ifach rock.
|
Town
We cannot miss the dizzying steep and narrow streets of the old town, filled with the sounds of many languages and the sight and scent of geraniums, as well as the museum of fiestas and the archaeological museum,
while enjoying the taste of tapas and seafood, Gaston Castello´s mural and the architecture of the new church, to finish the tour at the hermitage surround by palm trees.
Beaches
Calpe is a maritime town par excellence. This is determined by its 11 kilometres of coast, bathed by the Mediterranean. There
are about five kilometres of striking cliffs, with the Ifach, Toix and La Manzanara and the rest is beaches of fine sand, bays and coastline. Among the sandy beaches, special mention should be made of the Playa de la Fossa or the Playa de
Levante, more than 1 km of wide sands, ideal for swimming, diving and other sports. The Arenal beach is also outstanding. This beach and the Levante have installations for bathers.
The beaches of Bol, Moli, Morello, Cantal Roig and Calaga, have excellent fine sand and are less popular and crowded than La Fossa. The bays of Les Bassetes, El Cantal Pla, Banos de la Reina, Les Urques and Cala Gaspa are ideal for diving.
Nature
The Penon de Ifach, symbol of the Costa Blanca, rises from the sea as an immense limestone rock of about 50,000 m2, 232 metres high and 1 km along. It is linked to the
coast by a narrow isthmus and was formed by land slip from the nearby Olta mountain range to make one of the most singular and beautiful geographical features on the whole Mediterranean coast. Trapped between mountain and sea, it reaches great
heights with abundant vegetation and a rich animal life. The two hour route to climb the rock begins at the Nature Park information centre that has an exhibition hall with all the protected areas in the Valencian Community and Nature Hall with a
video room showing a documentary about the Penons ecosystem. We should also visit Calpe´s Las Salinas salt flats (in a sunken area filled through ancient inlets), the Barranco de Mascarat (which owes its name to the bandit “Mascarat”), and
the Olta mountain, which from its summit of 591 metres dominates the mountainous heights of Calpe.
Fiestas and culture
|
Calpe is one of the liveliest towns on the Costa Blanca. The summer fiestas are dedicated to the Virgen de las Nieves. In October there are the Moors and Christians Cristo del Sudor, patron saint of the town since 1682.
|
 |
The many German residents have brought their own carnival, celebrated since 1982 and in October they celebrate their traditional Oktoberfest, the great beer festival. In July the fiestas dedicated to Carmen bring
out the figure of the Virgin in procession around the port, with flower offerings.
Very diverse cultural activities are celebrated throughout the year in the excellent installations of the Jaume Pastor I Fluixa culture centre.
|
