The east coast of Spain, known as one of the most popular resort regions of the Mediterranean, receives up to 6 million tourists annually. The warm sea, clean beaches, comfortable hotels of various price categories and a lot of entertainment for active guests are not the only advantages of the White Beach. When asked what to see in the Costa Blanca, the guides of local travel companies answer in detail to the guest. The first settlements in the region have been known since the time of the Romans and Phoenicians, and the ruins of their cities and buildings have been proclaimed as monuments of history and culture, protected by the state. Here you will find medieval fortresses and antique amphitheaters, visit the most interesting museum exhibitions and enjoy the natural monuments in the national parks.
TOP 10 attractions of the Costa Blanca
Santa Barbara
The fortress of Saint Barbara in the city of Alicante appeared in the 9th century, when the Arabs ruled the Pyrenees. They built a fortification on the site of the first settlements that arose here during the time of the Iberians and the ancient Romans. This is evidenced by archaeological finds on the slopes of Mount Benakantil, where the fortress rises. The Carthaginian generals used the strategic advantages of the Benacantil Hill and erected the first defensive barriers on it back in the 3rd century. BC e., but they have not survived to this day.
The famous citadel of the Costa Blanca received its current name in the 13th century, when King Alphonse conquered Alicante on the day of Saint Barbara from the Arabs.
The fortress in Alicante was besieged many times. These were a flotilla of French ships at the end of the 17th century. and the British who participated in the War of the Spanish Succession in the early years of the 18th century. Later, the citadel served as a prison and remained abandoned for a long time, until in 1963 it was restored and opened to visitors.
Guadalest
The municipality of Guadalest in Spain, which is part of the province of Alicante, is famous among tourists vacationing on the beaches of the Costa Blanca for its pastoral views and an old medieval castle. The small fortress, like a swallow's nest, clung to a high sheer cliff. It was built by members of the noble family of the Spanish nobles Cardona. The ancestors of the surname were the daughter of the eldest son of Christopher Columbus and the Marquis de Guadalest. A branch of the family owned the village of Guadalest from the 15th to the 17th centuries.
In addition to an excursion to the castle, tourists are attracted to the village by the picturesque views that open from the observation deck in the valley. You will see the highest mountain peaks in Alicante - Sierra Serreya 1361 m. And Sierra de Aitana 1558 m. The slopes of the mountains are covered with olive and pine groves, and almond plantations are planted on the terraces, which blooms in spring and plunges the valley into a lilac-pink haze.
Valencia Cathedral
Valencia and its attractions geographically belong to the Costa Blanca region, and therefore most tourists choose an excursion to this city from the list of possible points of the educational and entertainment program.
The Cathedral of Valencia was consecrated in honor of the Assumption of the Virgin in 1238. This happened during the Reconquista, although the temple itself was built even before the appearance of the Moors in the Pyrenees, but was turned into a mosque by them. In the architectural appearance of the cathedral, features of several styles are clearly traced - from Spanish Gothic to Baroque and Neoclassicism:
- The Gothic part of the temple appeared in the period from the 13th to the 15th centuries.
- A bell tower adjoins the cruciform building on the plan, and the most richly decorated portal is called the Gate of the Apostles and is located on the eastern facade.
- The length of the cathedral is 94 m. In width, the temple stretches for 53 m.
- The Chapel of the Holy Grail, where, according to experts, the true Sacred Chalice was found, was added to the cathedral in the middle of the 14th century.
- The interiors are decorated with wall paintings dating from the 15th century. The frescoes were made by Spanish painters who worked in collaboration with invited artists from Rome.
- The main entrance to the Cathedral of Valencia is closed by an iron door and is called the Iron Gate.
In the last third of the 18th century. the temple underwent the most severe reconstruction, as a result of which most of the Gothic elements were carefully disguised in the neoclassical tradition.
Oceanographic Center
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A huge complex, which brings together representatives of the Mediterranean fauna and flora, you will find in Valencia. The Oceanographic Center is not just an aquarium and a dolphinarium. It is the largest scientific and educational institution in Europe, accessible to all comers.
The center complex consists of several buildings, each of which represents a separate ecosystem. You will see the world of coral reefs and northern seas, meet reptiles and tropical birds, and watch the dolphin show, which is called one of the best in the Costa Blanca region.
Palmeral Elche
The largest palm groves of the Old World in the province of Alicante are a famous natural attraction on the Costa Blanca. The total area of the unique education is 5 sq. km., and part of this wealth lies within the city of Elche, which is located a few kilometers southwest of Alicante.
Palmeral Elche consists of several thousand trees, which are up to 300 years old. Nearly all palms bear fruit, and the date harvest season begins here in December. The largest tree is called Sissi after the Austrian Empress Elizabeth.
Dates in Elche and other regions of the Costa Blanca were cultivated by the Iberian tribes in the 5th century. BC NS. In the 10th century, an irrigation system was built in a palm grove near Elche, and then the plantation acquired a cultural appearance. You can look at the irrigation canals and the royal palms by going on an excursion to Elcha from any resort town on the Costa Blanca.
Palmeral Elche is under the protection of UNESCO and is listed as a World Heritage Site.
Marquis de Rafale Square in Orihuelle
The small town on the Costa Blanca surprises with its intimacy and amazing architectural perfection. Every house and street in Orwell will win the heart of a Mudejar architecture lover. At the same time, the square in the center of the old part of Orihuela, declared a cultural and historical heritage of a national scale, looks especially elegant and luxurious.
Worthy of attention: the mansion of Count Pinoermozo, built in the 16th century. with a portal decorated with the family coat of arms; the 19th century palace of the Marquis de Rafale; the center of Miguel Hernandez with excellent forging of balcony gratings; a pillar with a stone coat of arms, left over from the palace of Ruiz de Villafranca.
Silk Exchange
A famous architectural landmark of the Costa Blanca in Valencia, the Silk Bourse was inscribed by UNESCO as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the 1960s. last century. The complex of buildings, where silk was traded during the Middle Ages, is protected by the state by right. Longja de la Seda is considered an outstanding example of Mediterranean Gothic.
The building began to be built at the end of the 15th century. designed by architects who took the stock exchange in Palma de Mallorca as a model. Completed the work of Domingo de Urteaga, according to whose sketches in the first third of the 16th century. a consular pavilion was erected and a garden was laid out in the courtyard of the mansion.
The stock exchange building, which looks like a medieval castle, is just a delight. Every detail of the structure and any decorative element are distinguished by their clarity of elaboration, relief and impeccable execution.
The Lonja de la Seda complex includes several buildings:
- The tower used to house prison cells for those who went broke and could not fulfill the terms of the contract.
- In the Hall of Columns, you can still get acquainted with the rules of trade on the Silk Exchange - they are laid out in the form of a mosaic on the marble floor. The hall is divided into several zones by five rows of columns, each of which is 17 m high and symbolizes a palm tree.
- In the Chapel of the Conception of the Virgin, merchants offered up prayers to the sky for the prosperity of business.
- The heads of the exchange gathered in the Boardroom of the Maritime Consulate, and important participants in the transactions met with representatives of the city and kingdom administration.
The orange courtyard, which can be accessed from the Hall of Columns, served as a resting place for those who worked at the Silk Exchange. Orange trees are still carefully preserved and give a saving shade to sightseers who came to get acquainted with the past of Valencia.
Museum of Fine Arts
Valencia Fine Arts Museum
If you can't imagine a vacation or vacation without cultural trips and sightseeing excursions, leave the beach for a while and go to the Valencia Fine Arts Museum - one of the best in Spain and the largest on the Costa Blanca.
The gallery building was built at the beginning of the 17th century. as an educational institution for the clergy.
Most of the exhibition is dedicated to the Spanish school of painting. You will see paintings by Velazquez and El Greco, as well as works by lesser-known early school painters Rodrigo de Auson and Nicolas Falco. The museum exhibits works by Hieronymus Bosch, which are of constant interest to lovers of medieval Dutch art.
Aqualandia
In 1985, a water park was built in Benidorm for tourists who prefer active recreation on the water, which today remains the largest in the Costa Blanca region. "Aqualandia" offers to look at the beach holiday from the perspective of an active person and try each of two dozen attractions. The park's water slides are supplied with sea water, and in Aqualandia you will find swimming pools with artificial waves, a jacuzzi, a circular canal and other entertainments pleasant on a hot summer day.
Mundomar
Another useful address for tourists with children and anyone interested in nature is the Mundomar Marine Animal Park in Benidorm. Birds and marine inhabitants of different climatic zones of the planet are widely represented here: from polar owls and sea lions to bright tropical parrots and rare species of turtles.
The main highlight of Mundomar's entertainment program is the dolphin show, which is often compared to a ballet performance because of its special beauty and complexity. Together with the tailed artists, members of the country's Olympic team in synchronized swimming take part in the performances.
