Towns and Villages of Spain - Cocentaina and the Costa Blanca

By Steve Locke

Cocentaina – Sitting by the river Serpis and surrounded by the Mariola mountains, the ancient Costa Blanca town of Cocentaina is a bustling town with and interesting and distinguished history going back to the Neoloithic Era. Cave paintings in the area show of these ancient civilizations though little is known today of what the region was like in those long-ago times. The known history of Cocentaina begins in the time of the Arab Conquest (8th to 13th Centuries) and the remains of an old Arab watch-tower still gaze down on the town today. Modern Cocentaina has a number of interesting places to visit and is well known for its lively Moors and Christians (Moros y Cristianos) festival.

Altea - Close to its neighbour and more famous town, Benidorm, Altea was originally a small fishing village. Settled by the Romans during their occupation of the area and later by the Moors, Altea became a popular town during the 1950's when a group of artists and craftsmen made it their home. Tumbling down the side of a steep hill, the old village comprises an attractive cluster of white-walled houses, lining narrow, winding streets and alleyways. Altea's splendid palm-lined promenade leads onto an excellent sandy beach.

Callosa de Segura – Overlooked by the surrounding Sierra de Callosa mountains, the medium sized town of Callosa de Segura features some of the oldest buildings in the Alicante province. The land around Callosa de Segura, irrigated by the Segura river is rich and fertile, and perfect for the growing of vegetables and citrus fruits. One of its most interesting buildings is the Saint Roque Hermitage which took over 200 years to construct (1579-1798) and was built on the exact spot where the Patron Saint Roque is said to have appeared. Also noted for hemp and hemp products Callosa de Segura has a Hemp Museum which describes the production of hemp from seed to final product.

La Zenia – Another of the Orihuela Costa resorts which has grown up due to heavy property development along the Costa Blanca, is the area called La Zenia. Not a traditional Spanish village in the real sense of the word but a popular area none the less, La Zenia has two fabulous ‘blue flag’ beaches (Cala Bosque and Cala Cerrada). La Zenia has a decent range of bars and restaurants, with a new commercial centre being built near the motorway. Popular with Irish holidaymakers, its famous pub, Paddy’s Point, is claimed to have been the first Irish pub in the region.

Calpe – Situated on the northern Costa Blanca between the towns of Javea and Altea is the lovely coastal resort of Calpe. Best known for the spectacular rock formation, the Peñon de Ifach, Calpe is popular with both holidaymakers and day-trippers. Calpe’s excellent sandy beaches are busy during the summer months and provide a good selection of water sports facilities. With a history going back to Roman times, Calpe has some interesting places to visit, including the remains of a Roman fish salting factory which stands beside the seafront promenade. The stunning rock, the Peñon de Ifach, watches over Calpe like a protective mother, and it is now a conserved area with a wide variety of flora and fauna.

Orihuela – The capital of the Vega Baja region of the Alicante province, Orihuela is an ancient town with a long and distinguished history. Though there were settlements in the area during the Bronze Age, Orihuela came into its own during the Roman occupation when it was known as Auraiola, later an important headquarters for the Moors under Teodomiro it was re-conquered for the Christians in 1296. Recognised for its large number of beautiful churches, palaces and monasteries, Orihuela also has several museums that are worth visiting while in the town.

Pilar de la Horadada – Built around an ancient watchtower that has stood since the 14th Century, Pilar de la Horadada (‘The Drilled One’) is the southernmost coastal resort of the Costa Blanca. To the south lies the Mar Menor (‘Lesser Sea’) and the Costa Calida (‘Warm Coast’). The watchtower, similar to many others along the coast, was built to warn of attacks from Berber pirates who sailed this coastline many centuries ago. Today a popular seaside town with fine sandy beaches, Pilar de la Horadada is also a great area for nature lovers and the nearby Rio Seco (‘Dry River’), boasts a wide variety of flora and fauna including some species of wild orchid and some endangered species of dwarf palms.

This interesting article about the northern Costa Blanca inland town of Cocentaina and some of its neighbouring towns and villages was written by Steve Locke who lives in Cabo Roig. To read more about Cocentaina and many other Spanish towns click here:- http://needahandspanishproperties.com/cocentaina.html and to learn about neighbouring Alcoy look here:- http://needahandspanishproperties.com/alcoy.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Locke
http://EzineArticles.com/?Towns-and-Villages-of-Spain---Cocentaina-and-the-Costa-Blanca&id=537857