Information Costa Blanca

Costa Blanca

The Costa Blanca extends from Cartagena in the south to Javea in the north. The entire coast borders the Mediterranean Sea. This is one of the reasons why it is a lot warmer than, for example, in western Spain. Important cities on the Costa Blanca are: Alicante (the capital), Elche (located more inland), Denia and Javea. Benidorm is probably the best known for most Dutch people. Here the construction is mainly as in the photo above. In addition to these places, there are many other nice places on the Costa Blanca: Torrevieja, Rojales, Guardamar del Segura, Santa Pola, Orihuela and more.

From Breda (Netherlands) to Alicante it is approximately 2000 kilometers, so about a 20-hour drive by car. You can get there by plane in about 2 hours and 30 minutes. The connection to Alicante is usually direct. The Costa Blanca is best known for its beautiful sandy beaches and favorable climate (more about this on the climate page). The locals are very friendly and open. You have to

Costa quite a lot of choice where you want to live. There are many places on the coast, but also more inland. Those who want to live close to the coast will pay more than someone who is looking for something about 20 kilometers from the coast. There is also a difference in terms of crowds. There are also so-called urbanizations. These are a type of neighborhood where many foreigners often live together. Such as English, Germans and Dutch. It just depends on what you like.

People still have siesta in Spain. The Spaniard does not eat much in the morning, and often has a hot meal in the afternoon. The shops are therefore closed every working day from approximately 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. There are also plenty of sports activities on the Costa Blanca. The area has the most beautiful golf courses in Europe, you can go hiking, just walking, cycling, mountain biking, swimming, tennis, football, paragliding, you name it. In combination with 300 days of sunshine per year, there is very little chance that your day will be ruined by bad weather. Which is a bit different in the Netherlands.

History

With the marriage of Ferdinand V of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile in 1469, Spain became a political unit. In 1492 Granada was conquered, ending 800 years of Muslim presence on the Iberian Peninsula. After this conquest, Spain was considered one of the most powerful countries in the world until well into the sixteenth century. Partly due to the significant expansion on the American continent. The Spanish War of Succession resulted in a centralized state headed by the Bourbon royal house. In the second half of the nineteenth century, the Spanish-American War led to the loss of the last Spanish colonies in the Western Hemisphere, namely Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines.

Neutrality during World War I ensured economic prosperity. In 1931, King Alfonso XIII was forced to abdicate under popular pressure and Spain became a republic. Continued political instability eventually led to the Spanish Civil War. The Nationalists, led by General Francisco Franco, came to power and Franco continued to rule the country until his death in 1975. During the Second World War, Spain managed to maintain its neutrality, allowing Franco to consolidate his position of power. After the Second World War, Spain was initially boycotted by the international community, but under the influence of the Cold War, relations with the country were strengthened from the mid-1950s. After Franco's death, the monarchy was restored. Juan Carlos, grandson of Alfonso XIII, became the new king. Free elections followed in 1977 and a democratic constitution was established in 1978, granting limited autonomy to the Basque Country, Catalonia and Galicia. A failed coup was staged in 1981. Spain joined NATO in 1982 and joined the EEC in 1986.

Culture

Castles, cathedrals and other historic buildings, characteristic villages and towns, archaeological finds, museums of old and new art, open-air performances, old customs and traditional 'fiestas'. The interested visitor will need a lot of time to admire the entire beautiful cultural heritage. For lovers of art, music, film or theater, there are many reasons to choose the Costa Blanca. There are countless museums and the cultural annual agenda is long. Some examples: the Film Festival in Alfaz del Pi and Elche, the Singing Festival in Benidorm, the theater season and the Music Festival in Alicante.

Celebrate

Spain is full of fiestas and traditions. Every village, no matter how small, is steeped in a rich cultural and religious tradition. With markets, processions, Moorish and other church festivals. The two most celebrated festivals are the Feast of the Moors and Christians and San Juan. Thousands of people are involved at different times of the year in the places where this tradition is kept alive and participate in the celebrations dressed in luxurious costumes. The festival of the Moros y Christianos where the historical past of the region is relived again and again , is the celebration par excellence for the residents of the province of Alicante. It is celebrated at a different time in every village, but all celebrations are characterized by processions, dancing in the streets, parades, music, fireworks, the impressive processions of the arrival of the Moors, the (mock) fights in the streets and the final expulsion of the Moors by the Christians. Around mid-June the streets are filled with bonfires, dancing, fireworks and paper mache works of art. This is the festival of Les Fogueres de San Juan. At the end of the party, on the night of San Juan, all works of art are set on fire. Other fire rituals, such as the Fallas in March, are mainly held in Valencia, although they are also celebrated in Denia and Benidorm. Information about local festivals can be obtained from the local tourist office or from us.

Nightlife

If you want to have a night out, you can do so in Benidorm, where there are several discos that are open until the early hours. There are also many nice entertainment venues in the city of Alicante. But you can also go out in the smaller towns. The only difference with the Netherlands is that in Spain people often go very late, from about 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. Of course, this category does not only include going to discos, etc. You can also enjoy a nice dinner and then go to a bar and enjoy the mild climate until very late. A thick winter coat is really not necessary. And the average restaurant is open until midnight.

Marinas

The Costa Blanca has many marinas. Almost every place located by the sea has its own marina. You can visit the marinas and enjoy the many beautiful yachts. Most larger marinas have food and drink options. Alicante's marina also has shops and great restaurants. It can be very busy in the evening. Smaller places on the coast also have their own harbours. Guardamar del Segura, Santa Pola, El Campello, Torrevieja etc.

Stores

The range of shops on the Costa Blanca is wide; the largest range of shops can be found in Benidorm with mainly tourist, souvenir, clothing and leather goods/shoe shops. There are also various perfumeries and jewelers. The other places have a more varied offering, with shops aimed at locals alternating with tourist shops. There are large supermarkets and hypermarkets on the outskirts of all places. Just pay attention to the opening hours due to siesta. Often closed from 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM.

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