Local Information
MORAIRA

Moraira is small coastal town situated in the beautiful mountainous north-eastern tip of the
Costa Blanca. The resort is conveniently placed between the airports of Alicante and Valencia
(about 90km from each).
The surrounding region has a quiet and relaxing atmosphere, with beautiful and unspoilt
scenery and many small villages to explore.
The town itself has pleasantly grown from a small fishing village to an attractive holiday and
retirement resort, retaining its considerable charm that attracts visitors from all over Europe. It’s
also particularly popular with Spanish holidaymakers from Madrid and Valencia.
Moraira has an impressive marina, an excellent variety of local shops, markets, harbourside fish
restaurants and bars and best of all has still managed to preserve its Spanish character.

History & Culture
The area around Moraira has been inhabited since prehistory. Objects found in the Cova de la
Cendra archaeological site on Cap d’Or – adjacent to the town – revealed that human habitation
can be traced back to the Upper Paleolithic era. Pots linked to the Iberians have also been
found on Cal d’Or, suggesting that they later inhabited the area during the Bronze Age.
Moraira’s main historic buildings are the 18th-century castle which sits beside l’Ampolla beach
and the Torre de Vigilancia del Cap d’Or, on top of the mountain called Cap d’Or.
Moraira is officially part of the small town of Teulada, which is located just a few kilometers
inland.

Eating out
There are restaurants, bars and several interesting shops lining the narrow cobbled streets of
Moraira. The main restaurants are found in and around the town’s yacht marina. Great fish
restaurants and fantastic tapas can be found here, allowing you to while away the hours
enjoying the scenery and atmosphere.
Moraira offers a surprisingly large number of bars and restaurants ranging from authentic
Spanish restaurants and tapas bars to British pubs and international restaurants owned mainly
by Northern European expats, and three good night-clubs for all ages are available in Moraira.

Beaches
The two main local sandy beaches, gently shelve away into the Mediterranean Sea; both have
been awarded the prestigious EEC Blue Flags for cleanliness and are well-tended and very safe
for family bathing.
El Portet is one of its best-known areas, with a beautiful beach and many expensive villas with
some of the best views in Moraira.

Sports
Padel, Tennis, football, squash, all water sports, boat hire and trips, horse-riding, go-kart racing
tracks for both adults and children, and a small fairground are all available locally.
Schools
Local public Spanish schools are free in Spain. The Law of Education makes it compulsory and
free for pupils to attend school between ages 6 and 16 years old.
International schools in and around Javea are the most popular choice for expats, with several
in the area.
British schools usually follow the UK curriculum and offer GCSEs, A/S and A levels. Many also
now offer the internationally- recognised International Baccalaureate diploma as an alternative
to A levels.

Climate
Moraira enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate, with cool sea breezes in summer and protection
by surrounding mountains against the cold North winds in winter. The area averages nearly
3,000 hours of sunshine each year and the average temperature easily exceeds 20 degrees.

Selection of Properties for Sale in Moraira

Local Information

CALPE

Calpe is a beautiful coastal town with great beaches, a rich history and a wide range of
activities. There is much to experience and do, for both young and old. The main attraction of
Calpe is the imposing limestone rock Peñón de Ifach. This giant rises 332 meters above sea
level and dominates the city skyline. The rock has become one of the highlights of the Costa
Blanca. Do not forget to explore the surroundings of Calpe during your stay.
Calpe has a wonderful mixture of old Valencian culture and modern tourist facilities. It is a great
base from which to explore the local area or enjoy the many local beaches. Calpe alone has
three of the most beautiful sandy beaches on the coast.
The “Royal Calpe Yacht Club” is the town’s most important harbour, with extensive, first-rate
facilities, and also a lively atmosphere The Port is sort of divided into two, the fishing area and
the yacht club area, enjoy a meal at one of the many fish restaurants that can be found here.

Calpe Salt Flats – Las Salinas
The salt flats are located in a marshlands close to the centre of town, near the base of the
Peñón de Ifach. These were formally a working salt mine, but have not been active since 1988,
but for centuries the salt mines were the livelihood for many local families.
During the Roman Empire, the salt mines were already fully operational, and produced large
quantities of salt to flavour and preserve their food such as fish and meat
1n 1993 this area was declared a maritime zone and a protected natural area which is a rich but
fragile ecosystem and is a place for hundreds of species of natural flora and fauna and attract
more than 160 species of migratory birds, the most famous being a large population of pink
flamingos and storks.

History & Culture
Calpe’s old town still has nice wide avenues where modern buildings and old architecture
collide. Calpe is almost three thousand years old and in this area it still retains a sense of history
and tradition. The earliest archaeological findings, at the time of the Iberians were found at the
Ifach cliffs. Later the Romans established a wealthy colony at the coast whose main activity was
the trade of dried and salted fish.
In the Middle Ages, Calpe’s local population developed agriculture. Christians and Moslems
lived here peacefully together, despite the many attacks from pirates between the 14th and 17th
century. In the 18th century this threat was removed and Calpe enjoyed an economic upswing
which continues to the day.

Eating out
To the right-hand side of the rock is the famous Calpe fish market. You may not think it now but
Calpe was originally a small fishing village.
Even now each day, the fishing boats bring their catch in and you can even watch the fish
auctions on the quay and buy the fresh fish yourself. The Calpe restaurants display the raw fish
out the front, you point to the plate you want and it then goes back to the kitchen to be cooked.
The beaches are surrounded by dozens of restaurants, bars and clubs offering a wide variety of
food, drink and entertainment.

Beaches
On each side of the rock are two fantastic sandy Calpe beaches and this is the reason why
most people come on holiday to Calpe – the beaches are of a very high quality sand and the
waters are clean.
The beaches are so long and wide that unlike the nearby town of Benidorm, you can always find
a spot on the beach. The facilities on the beaches are excellent with many play areas for the
children right on the beach itself.
The Calpe beaches are superb and always hold a blue flag which means they are certified as
being clean by the European Foundation for Environmental Education.
Sports
The port has a nautical club and facilities for yachting, windsurfing and water skiing. If its
dry-land sports you want then the rock of Ifach offers climbing facilities.
The Ifach golf course is situated in Moraira (Benissa) on a country estate. The challenging
course offers magnificent views of the sea and mountains. It’s a nine holes course and although
the holes are quite short, the terrain and the narrow fairways make them tricky and entertaining.

Schools
Local public Spanish schools are free in Spain. The Law of Education makes it compulsory and
free for pupils to attend school between ages 6 and 16 years old.
International schools in and around Javea are the most popular choice for expats, with several
in the area.
British schools usually follow the UK curriculum and offer GCSEs, A/S and A levels. Many also
now offer the internationally- recognised International Baccalaureate diploma as an alternative
to A levels.

Climate
Moraira enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate, with cool sea breezes in summer and protection
by surrounding mountains against the cold North winds in winter. The area averages nearly
3,000 hours of sunshine each year and the average temperature easily exceeds 20 degrees.

Selection of Properties for Sale in Calpe

Local Information

JAVEA

Javea is a small, historic town, free of high rise buildings offering a relaxing holiday atmosphere.
The local people are friendly and affable. The clean, warm, blue Mediterranean Sea laps the
beautiful beaches and coves that Javea has to offer.
With its variety of landscape, ranging from sandy coastlines to rugged mountain areas, its mild
year-round climate, its careful planning policies and extensive tourist facilities, Javea is a jewel
on the Costa Blanca, combining beauty and modern facilities with the charm of an ancient
fishing village.
The town is situated between the San Antonio and La Nao points and enjoys the impressive and
magnificent protection of Mount Montgó.
Approximately 1 hour’s drive from Alicante towards the north-eastern tip of the Costa Blanca.

History & Culture
Javea old town is steeped in history and it’s evident in the architecture, with its Tosca stone
porticoes, gothic bay windows, wrought iron window bars and balcony railings. The church of
San Bartolemé in the town centre is an example of late gothic architecture with a defensive
character. ?The “Soler Blasco” Archaeological Museum is close by in the narrow streets and
offers a wealth of information about Iberian history.
Dominating the fishing port is the modern silhouette of the church of Nuestra Señora de Loreto,
with its roof depicting a ships hull. Outside the town, following the road to the San Antonio cape,
the architectural sites include the monastery of Nuestra Señora de los Angeles, a series of small
hermitages clutch the slopes of the mountain and ancient windmills dominate the landscape. ?

Port & Marinas
The importance of the town’s maritime activities is apparent in the port area; known as Aduanas
de Mar, it boasts a lovely promenade and some excellent fish restaurants where you can enjoy
the ‘catch of the day’.
The fishing harbour is situated next to an attractive marina full of interesting yachts, a lovely
area for a morning or evening stroll.

Eating out
Javea has a huge variety of restaurants and bars for dining out for typical Spanish or many
other international cuisines. Enjoy the traditional Spanish Old Town, the beautiful port area or
the more bustling and touristy Arenal.

Beaches
The Arenal area offers a beautiful sandy bay with palm trees and play areas for children. The
bay is framed by the promenade with its wonderful choice of bars and restaurants offering
national and international specialities.

Sports
Javea has an excellent choice of sea sport and fishing facilities. The modern yacht club at the
sports marina has nearly 300 berths and offers all types of water sports: sailing, fishing, scuba
diving, water skiing, and windsurfing.
There are a number of sports clubs and associations in the area where you can enjoy a game of
tennis, padel, .bowls, cycling, walking, climbing and so much more. Golf is very popular and
there are many beautiful courses within a 1 hour drive, as well as Java golf club and La Sella
within a few minutes drive.

Schools
Local public Spanish schools are free in Spain. The Law of Education makes it compulsory and
free for pupils to attend school between ages 6 and 16 years old.
International schools in and around Javea are the most popular choice for expats, with several
in the area.
British schools usually follow the UK curriculum and offer GCSEs, A/S and A levels. Many also
now offer the internationally- recognised International Baccalaureate diploma as an alternative
to A levels.

Climate
Javea enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate, with cool sea breezes in summer and protection
by surrounding mountains against the cold North winds in winter. The area averages nearly
3,000 hours of sunshine each year and the average temperature easily exceeds 20 degrees.
In 1986 the World Health Organisation recommended the climate of the area as one of the most
equitable in the world – neither too hot in the summer nor too cold in the winter. On average it
can boast 325 sunny days each year making it an ideal all year round destination.

Selection of Properties for Sale in Javea