| Cocentaina - Sitting by the river Serpis and | | | | has a decent range of bars and restaurants, with |
| surrounded by the Mariola mountains, the ancient | | | | a new commercial centre being built near the |
| Costa Blanca town of Cocentaina is a bustling | | | | motorway. Popular with Irish holidaymakers, its |
| town with and interesting and distinguished history | | | | famous pub, Paddy's Point, is claimed to have |
| going back to the Neoloithic Era. Cave paintings in | | | | been the first Irish pub in the region. |
| the area show of these ancient civilizations though | | | | Calpe - Situated on the northern Costa Blanca |
| little is known today of what the region was like in | | | | between the towns of Javea and Altea is the |
| those long-ago times. The known history of | | | | lovely coastal resort of Calpe. Best known for the |
| Cocentaina begins in the time of the Arab | | | | spectacular rock formation, the Peñon de |
| Conquest (8th to 13th Centuries) and the remains | | | | Ifach, Calpe is popular with both holidaymakers |
| of an old Arab watch-tower still gaze down on | | | | and day-trippers. Calpe's excellent sandy beaches |
| the town today. Modern Cocentaina has a number | | | | are busy during the summer months and provide |
| of interesting places to visit and is well known for | | | | a good selection of water sports facilities. With a |
| its lively Moors and Christians (Moros y Cristianos) | | | | history going back to Roman times, Calpe has |
| festival. | | | | some interesting places to visit, including the |
| Altea - Close to its neighbour and more famous | | | | remains of a Roman fish salting factory which |
| town, Benidorm, Altea was originally a small fishing | | | | stands beside the seafront promenade. The |
| village. Settled by the Romans during their | | | | stunning rock, the Peñon de Ifach, watches |
| occupation of the area and later by the Moors, | | | | over Calpe like a protective mother, and it is now |
| Altea became a popular town during the 1950's | | | | a conserved area with a wide variety of flora and |
| when a group of artists and craftsmen made it | | | | fauna. |
| their home. Tumbling down the side of a steep hill, | | | | Orihuela - The capital of the Vega Baja region of |
| the old village comprises an attractive cluster of | | | | the Alicante province, Orihuela is an ancient town |
| white-walled houses, lining narrow, winding streets | | | | with a long and distinguished history. Though there |
| and alleyways. Altea's splendid palm-lined | | | | were settlements in the area during the Bronze |
| promenade leads onto an excellent sandy beach. | | | | Age, Orihuela came into its own during the Roman |
| Callosa de Segura - Overlooked by the | | | | occupation when it was known as Auraiola, later |
| surrounding Sierra de Callosa mountains, the | | | | an important headquarters for the Moors under |
| medium sized town of Callosa de Segura features | | | | Teodomiro it was re-conquered for the Christians |
| some of the oldest buildings in the Alicante | | | | in 1296. Recognised for its large number of |
| province. The land around Callosa de Segura, | | | | beautiful churches, palaces and monasteries, |
| irrigated by the Segura river is rich and fertile, and | | | | Orihuela also has several museums that are worth |
| perfect for the growing of vegetables and citrus | | | | visiting while in the town. |
| fruits. One of its most interesting buildings is the | | | | Pilar de la Horadada - Built around an ancient |
| Saint Roque Hermitage which took over 200 | | | | watchtower that has stood since the 14th |
| years to construct (1579-1798) and was built on | | | | Century, Pilar de la Horadada ('The Drilled One') is |
| the exact spot where the Patron Saint Roque is | | | | the southernmost coastal resort of the Costa |
| said to have appeared. Also noted for hemp and | | | | Blanca. To the south lies the Mar Menor ('Lesser |
| hemp products Callosa de Segura has a Hemp | | | | Sea') and the Costa Calida ('Warm Coast'). The |
| Museum which describes the production of hemp | | | | watchtower, similar to many others along the |
| from seed to final product. | | | | coast, was built to warn of attacks from Berber |
| La Zenia - Another of the Orihuela Costa resorts | | | | pirates who sailed this coastline many centuries |
| which has grown up due to heavy property | | | | ago. Today a popular seaside town with fine |
| development along the Costa Blanca, is the area | | | | sandy beaches, Pilar de la Horadada is also a great |
| called La Zenia. Not a traditional Spanish village in | | | | area for nature lovers and the nearby Rio Seco |
| the real sense of the word but a popular area | | | | ('Dry River'), boasts a wide variety of flora and |
| none the less, La Zenia has two fabulous 'blue flag' | | | | fauna including some species of wild orchid and |
| beaches (Cala Bosque and Cala Cerrada). La Zenia | | | | some endangered species of dwarf palms. |