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Costa Blanca and Property Investment
Costa Blanca is without a doubt a beautiful blend of the traditional and the modern, where dramatic panoramas, impressive landscapes and year round sunshine have become a popular tourist attraction.
 Being one of the most enticing vacation destinations in Europe, the weary traveller will find lots of exciting activities and places to see in Costa Blanca. Its 160 kilometre Mediterranean coastline holds a host of fine sandy beaches as well as historic cities steeped in culture and entertainment. Here, the best of both worlds exist in harmony, complementing each other and offering a host of astounding contrasts.
Ernest Hemingway must have found an artist’s paradise in northern Costa Blanca. While living and working here, Costa Blanca inspired most of his writings, including “The Sun Also Rises” and “For Whom The Bell Tolls”. Indeed, the breathtaking landscape of Costa Blanca is both powerful yet inspiring; it serves as a haven for the imagination and Ernest Hemingway was at home with the beauty of the place.
Even the World Health Organization has taken notice of the Costa Blanca’s richness. Given the Blue Flag in recognition of its coastal cleanliness and water quality, it is also well know for its pleasant climate with mild sunshine averaging 320 days of the entire year.
Costa Blanca’s pleasant climate contributes to the abundance of fine, world famous wineries and green citrus groves dotting the landscape. The higher elevation gives a wonderful panoramic view of the coastline below. Costa Blanca’s coast hides a veritable treasure trove of cottages and hundred year old towns, the perfect place to escape the hazards of big city lifestyle. But within a stone’s throw away, any shopper-holic can be kept busy and content with 24/7 shopping and entertainment the whole year through.
Befitting of its Moorish name meaning “health to all”, Altea is a town nestled in the midst of warm sunshine along the coast of northern Costa Blanca. Altea’s blue-domed church serves as its symbolic image, and can be seen for miles around the white, sandy coastline.
Altea exudes an old world charm with its narrow cobble stoned roads and steep winding streets. Flower lined balconies and glorietas surrounded with cypress trees overlook the white washed town filled with Mediterranean style restaurants and cosy street cafes. Steeped in a rich history, the old town centre was walled in to protect it from ravages of Barbary Pirate invasions. The Spanish Civil War also left its mark on one of the bell towers and still stands as a silent testament to the destructive force of conflict.
Within the fortressed inner town, handmade pottery and jewellery shops line the cobbled streets. Altea has long been the haven for artists as evidenced by the number of art galleries found within the town. The artisans and various musicians and writers who have made Altea their home give this charming town a bohemian edge. View
property in Altea for sale.
Just a few short minutes drive by car through the rugged mountain scenery brings you to a quaint rustic town in the
Jalon Valley. Jalon offers stunning and breathtaking landscape view of the valleys surrounding it. It is the home of the most famed wineries as well as being abundant with almond and citrus groves. During almond season in January, the entire Jalon valley is blanketed in delicious pink and white blossoms. The town centre in Jalon serves as the central point of the surrounding towns in Jalon Valley. It is complete with all basic amenities including banks, post offices, hospitals, groceries and a beautiful blue domed church in the town centre. There is never a shortage of bars and restaurants, and for the more adventurous, wine cellars offer samplings of their famed wines.
 The unique Jalon architecture owes itself to the Arabic influence under which Jalon was under rule for nearly 500 years. Stone and brick houses are framed with large wooden doors and intricately decorated walls. The Arab influence ended in 1609 after which the major economic activity in Jalon cantered around grapes, raisin and eventually wine production.
Jalon prides itself on home made sausages, fine wineries and honey. But the most modern amenity that mainly attracts families is the establishment of The Lady Elizabeth College, an international school offering modern education in a rustic location.
Venturing closer to the coast brings you to
Javea, a seaside retreat considered by many as the epitome of a sun-filled vacation. A mainly maritime town peaking during summer months, it is close to the Montgo Mountain and ends in a 25-kilometre beach full of hidden caves and bays used by pirates during the Middle Ages. Sunbathers and scuba divers now use these coves and bays as the ultimate tourist retreat.
The Javea town centre is steeped in culture and centuries of history with the moors. Javea itself is a great source of interest for architecture and history aficionados. The Gothic church of San Bartolome is a testament to this history, best explained through the central Ethnographic Museum which preserves the coast’s history from the Paleolithic era all through the Roman and medieval years.
Javea’s whitewashed houses still reflect the moor influence through it iron grills and golden clay lintels. Take your pick from any of the numerous beaches lining Javea’s 25-kilometre long beach. You can find soft fine sand beaches to pine tree shaded diving beaches, to small coves and bays along the way.
Aside from lounging around the beach, Javea also offers a wide variety of sports activity to choose from. Here you can take your pick from world class fishing, golfing, or windsurfing. The mild climate, spectacular views and lively culture have landed Javea a prime spot as the most sought after holiday destination in Europe. View
Property in Javea for sale.
 Another main tourist destination in the heart of Costa Blanca is
Calpe, a town with ancient history and deeply rooted Valencian culture. Its ideal location on the coast made it easily accessible to adventurers all through out history. From Iberian to Roman settlers as well as Christians and Moors, all have managed to live and co exists peacefully in Calpe.
Calpe is nestled against the backdrop of the towering Peñón de Ifach, a massive rock structure jutting 332 meters high over the tranquil Mediterranean sea and overlooks the entire town and through the entire coastline up to the distant island of Ibiza. Because of its unique botanical and fauna diversity, the Rock of Ifach has been declared a nature reserve, where guided tours to through the park to its summit are available to sightseers.
The strategic orientation of the Peñón de Ifach contributed to the appeal of the Calpe as a settler’s frontier to various ancient Mediterranean cultures. The vantage point that the rock offers its settlers gave early warning from the periodic pirate attacks that plagued most coastal towns during the 14th and 17th centuries.
The town centre of Calpe dates back to the ancient Moors and to this day is still known as the Moorish quarter. Here you can find the old walls, Torreon de la Peca, built during the 15th century to fortress the city against pirate attacks. The Iglesia Vieja, meaning old church, is the last surviving Mudejar-Gothic architecture in Valencia. The ruins of Castellet de Calpe, an old Moorish castle, the Moorish Quarter, arched porticos and various mosaics are just some of the Moor influences, which still exist in Calpe.
The Moli Tower and other Roman era villas uncovered along the Paseo Maritimo area formed part of an ancient Roman fish factory, aptly called Baños de la Reina or Queens Bath. The Romans who settled in early Calpe mainly had dried salted fish as its industry and often used the town’s coastal vantage point on the edge of Spain as an export jump off to the rest of Europe.
Modern day Calpe is bursting with culture and activity. Contemporary buildings set a stark contrast in historical fishing villas. The avid outdoor fan would not find a shortage of extreme sports in Calpe. The crystal blue waters of the Marina Alta on the coast of the Mediterranean sea offers a deluge of activities from the leisurely sunbathing, to sailing, fishing, and glass bottom boat rides; windsurfing, parachute gliding and kite surfing are also available year round.
The nearby mountains offer a whole other set of adventure, from sedate scenic walks, to hiking, wall climbing, caving and adventure jeep safaris. An interesting side trip from Calpe is the small village of Guadalest. Constructed during the 13th century Moorish invasion, Guadalest was built on top of a 700-meter high mountain to counter any attack from the Moors. The views here are fantastic, so don’t forget to bring your camera.
Local Calpe cuisine is closer to the typical Mediterranean diet but with a Spanish twist. The cultural influences of the Iberians, Greeks and Moors have also left an indelible influence on the local cuisine as well. Expect to see a variety of dishes; seafoods are the main specialties here, but so are Paellas and Arros de Senyoret, a fish and rice cuisine. There is no shortage of restaurants and cafes to fill your senses and stomachs. You can have your pick of dining on the shore or on the ridges for a more rustic ambiance.
 Travelling further north from Calpe and just before reaching Javea on Costa Blanca, you will reach a quaint fishing village comfortably resting between the mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. Legend has it that
Moraira was named after a Moorish princess, Ira la Mora. Indeed, Moraira was heavily influenced by the Moors as evidenced by its uniquely Moorish charm.
Following the expulsion of the Moors by King Jaime in the 13th century, settlers from neighbouring Catalonia brought with them the Valenciano dialect to Moraira. Currently, modern day local schools in Moraira only use Valencian rather than Castilian. This adds to the confusion of tourists, but a little practice could go a long way. The Castilian Javea, for example, is Xabia in Valenciano, and Jalon is Xalo.
There are many must see places in Moraira are steeped in rich Mediterranean history … One of these, the Castell Moraira, is a fortress that greets the traveller from the beach just beyond the outskirts of Moraira. It protected its citizens from Barbary pirate invasions, which were constant during the early 12th century. Its unique semi circular shape gave it its ox hoof name, pezuña de buey. The Bourbon Royal Coat of Arms hangs on its entrance, and since it’s completion in 1742, it was only recently in 1980 when it was completely restored to its glorious state.
The town’s only church, the Iglesia Parroquial de Mare de Déu dels Desemparats stands in the heart of Moraira. Built in 1875, its simplicity accentuates the beauty of Moorish influenced mosaic on its altar and Christ’s crucifix.
On the edge of the rocky cliffs surrounding the Moraira shore, the Torre de Vigilancia was built on the Cap d’Or. Towering the already tallest point of the cape, it provides a vantage point from which soldiers could defend Moraira from pirate attacks and hostile invasions. At a height of 11 meters and 26 meters in circumference, it surprisingly has no doorway leading inside. Instead, soldiers had to scale the wall through a rope to get on top of the tower. Built as such, it was successful as a protective fort against all attacks on Moraira.
Epicurean delights in Moraira revolve around fresh seafood bought from the town’s several hundred-year-old traditions of fish trading. The Paella Valenciana is a traditional dish best served with fresh ingredients. Word to the wise: when ordering Paella from a restaurant, be suspicious of quick service. Paella is best when cooked from scratch and in slow fire, the long wait will definitely richly reward you with the best paella in town.
 Shifting from Northern Costa Blanca to the bountiful Valencian south, travelling deeper south across Alicante brings you to
Guardamar Del Segura, or the guardian of the Segura River. With 12 kilometers of beach front property on the Mediterranean, it is framed by acres of pine trees and sparkling clear waters.
Strategically located at the mouth of the river, its sand dunes have shaped the modern Guardamar. The 840 acres of La Pinada nature reserve is home to some of Spains most exotic birds and plant species. Pine, palm, and cypress trees line the dunes to help prevent erosion and sand storms from shifting the dunes inland. Here, camel rides and fishing are the main attractions of the locale. You could spot herons, flamingoes and other rare birds while taking a stroll along the nature reserve.
More active sports activities abound in Guardamar. The Las Rabosas Sports Centre and the superb Municipal Sports Centre offers the services of an Olympic sized swimming pool, 3 football and soccer pitches, and basketball, tennis, and pelota courts. The nearby Marina de las Dunas also boasts of 498 moorings in addition to water sports such as sailing, windsurfing, scuba diving and water skiing.
The Guardamar’s night life is just as lively as the day activities. A number of bars and restaurants in town promise an evening of excitement. Theaters, cabaret houses and other places of interest keep the city entertained until the morning hours. No wonder siestas are an important part of Spanish life.
Of the 12 beaches in Guardamar, 8 have been given the prized Blue Flag award by the EU. Generous Pine and Cypress trees generously shade the golden sand lining the emerald Mediterranean Sea. If you want to be leisurely close to nature, Guardamar is the place to be.
Historical nostalgia is kept well alive with the various archaeological ruins dotting the city. History buffs will be thrilled to witness the ruins of a 10th century mosque, the first of its kind unearthed in Spain. The local Guardamar Museum of Archaeology, Ethnography and Paleontology houses the artefacts of an ancient Phoenician port and village which was settled in Guardamar thousands of years earlier. The El Castell located in the heart of Guardamar, lay in ruins of an ancient medieval castle which was ravaged by a deadly earthquake in 1829.
 Travelling further south will bring you to a bustling modern city called
Torrevieja. It is a popular holiday and resdential destination for English tourists as it offers a wealth of activities without the usual tourist traps. The entire city is famous for their salt water lakes, the second largest in the world and which accounts for their main industry, salt production since the Roman era. Made into a Spanish natural reserve, it has become a haven for unique and indigenous birds and other wildlife species.
Torrevieja is also famous for its harbour, which houses over 300 fishing boats and 900 private ships. A site to behold, especially when the sun sets over the sea.
Torrevieja has managed to keep its old world Spanish charm and yet it is bustling with modern activity. It is home to a number of English speaking staffed banks and shops, so you will always feel right at home even when far from the comforts of home.
The Habaneras shopping centre is full of shops that cater to every taste. But the most awaited events are the fiestas. Keep an eye out for the nearest fiesta date, there’s always one coming at any time of the year.
It has an expat community of around 20,000 and yet exudes of a strictly Spanish lifestyle.
Rated by the World Health Organization as being the world’s healthiest city to live in, no wonder people flock to its warm and accommodating climate and stay to retire.
The city’s promenades and blue flagged beaches provide a healthy dose of fresh air perfect for wandering around the markets and town centre.
Just a short drive away from Torrevieja is a golfer’s paradise. The rich culture of
Villamartin goes back several thousands of years to the time of premedieval Roman eras, although as a Mediterranean village it was recently developed only in 1975 and is fast becoming a premier golfing establishment in the southern Costa Blanca.
Only minutes away from south Costa Blanca’s uncongested pristine white sand beaches and emerald Mediterranean waters, it is a prime destination for sun seekers and water sports adventure hunters. Its fishing harbour is busy all year round, ensuring fresh seafood catches all through out the day.
A short walk away is the Villamartin Plaza, a promenade of multi cultural cuisine delights where you can dine al fresco. Dine under the shade of palm trees during the day, or you can delight in the live entertainment under starry skies in the evening. Aside from splendid dining, you can window shop at any of its numerous boutiques, pharmacies, banks and beauty shops.
 In
Playa Flamenca, a busy residential area with a mix of holiday and permanent homes awaits the eager sun seeker. It is just minutes walk away from all shopping and commercial establishments, bars, blue-flag beaches, golfing clubs, sports, water parks, and go carting. It is a new modern region, with housing options to suit most European tastes and pockets!
Previously just a barren sea of sand and water, Flemish developers designed the area with the tourist in mind, resulting in a very lively and Bohemian feel.
Family friendly areas are available for family vacations, and exclusive areas cater to other distinct needs. Nearby, three golf courses are within 10 minutes reach, so the avid golfer will never have to stray too far. Playa Flamenca is a mere 45 minutes drive from Alicante, the central hub of Costa Blanca.
Whether opting for Northern Costa Blanca or Southern Costa Blanca, the areas are all accessible within a short distance from Alicante’s international airport. It is just a mere 2 1/2 hours flight away from the UK. You can travel the entire length of the Costa Blanca via the “carretera national” or highway with Alicante conveniently located in the heart of Costa Blanca. Altea is about 44 miles from Alicante, while the northern city of Javea is 80 kilometres away. Driving south from Alicante airport, Torrevieja is 50 kilometres or about 45 minutes drive away from Alicante International Airport.
Property investments range according to every specific budget and need, from villas to apartments and single detached bungalows.
View the various options available for
Costa Blanca property.
If you are interested in investing in Costa Blanca but are not quite sure how to go about it, Overseas Property Shop are here to help … “We have all the listed properties for sale and do all the ground work of choosing the best deals, and the best investments for you. Finding property in Spain is our specialty – simply call us for more information”.
Overseas Property Shop also know the intricacies of legal costs in acquiring property, such as taxes and ongoing running costs, Overseas Property Shop are the leading industry experts with huge amounts of knowledge … and can answer all your questions and give you the best unbiased advise on any Spanish property you need call 01572 821881 or local rate 0845 226 3706.
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