Point of interest
The Costa Blanca has much more to offer than just sun, sea and sandy beaches. In this region, there are many beautiful villages, old castles and impressive caves which are very well worth a visit.
Busot = 15 minutes by car from the Finca
The caves at Canelobre are nearby Finca Bilou and located in the village of Busot. With the use of a guide you can walk through the highest elevation caves of Spain. The main cave has a height of up to seventy meters (approximately 229.66 feet) and because of its beautiful acoustics is also called the Cathedral. The walk through the colorfully lit flowstone- cave takes about one hour and is worth the trouble. Tip: No ATM cash withdrawal machines are available, so please make sure you carry enough cash with you to purchase the entry tickets. This trip is a nice change from a typical day at the beach or swimming pool.The village of Busot itself is worthwhile exploring.
Villajoyosa = 20 minutes by car from the Finca
Before the arrival of the tourists, agriculture and fishing were the main sources of income on the Costa Blanca. The fishermen painted their cottages in beautiful pastel colours so that when at sea they could distinguish their homes. These cottages have been refurbished and are worth a visit. A visit to the Valor chocolate factory is also a must. Take a fun tour of the museum and the chocolate factory and at the end of the tour you can enjoy a small tasting to experience other flavors. Be on time because you need to get an entry ticket if you want an English guided tour. The tour is held twice a day at 11.00 AM and at 16.00 PM, with limited capacity.
Jalon = One hour drive from the Finca
The village of Xaló ( Valenciano) in Spanish referred to as Jalón, is a quiet village located in the interior of the Costa Blanca. It’s weekly flea market is held on Saturdays and attracts many tourists. In addition to the usual stalls with sunglasses and hand bags, you can find a lot of other interesting merchandise for sale. Most of the market is considered a flea market. You have no idea in advance what you may find, which makes this shopping experience extra fun. Tip: be on time, because around 14.00 PM in the afternoon the stalls start to close. You can also walk through the old city center of Jalon. In the summer, the river Rio Jalon is worth seeing because the low water level exposes the many shrubs and flowers in the riverbed which provides picturesque scenery. Another good reason to visit the area of Jalon is the wine cultivation that takes place around the village. A visit to the “Wine Cooperative” is recommendable where you can taste and purchase the local wines. The wine prices are very reasonable.
Guadalest = 50 minutes by car from the Finca
A hidden treasure is the best way to describe the village of Guadalest. You travel a scenic route through the mountainous countryside to reach Guadalest from the seaside resorts.
A pathway through the mountain leads you into a fairy-tale village, which has its origin in the middle ages. Major attractions in the old village are the 12th century castle which has been inhabited for years by the family Ordũna, the old jail, the Mare de Déu de l’Assumpció Church and several museums including the historical automobile museum “Vall de Guadalest”, the Ethnological Museum and the Antonio Marco Museum. Guadalest also offers a beautiful view of the reservoir, landscaped in the last century and provides most of the drinking water to Alicante.
Cities
Elche, Palms city Elx (Elche) = 45 minutes by car from the Finca
More than a thousand years ago the Arabs, who then had the power in this region, started with the planting of many palm trees in and around Elx (Elche). That number now exceeds three hundred thousand palm trees and because of this, Elx has a unique appearance. Elche was awarded in 2000 when the historical Palmeral of Elche was declared a World Heritage site, legally protecting this area. The palms of Elche Palm Grove are often referred to as one, but there are dozens of orchards and gardens separated by many streets and walls scattered throughout the city. It is also good to know that some of these are accessible free of charge, while others work with scheduled times and charge entrance fees.
A small portion of these orchards and gardens are under the name of Huerto del Cura furnished as a botanical garden. Furthermore, Elche in well-known for its shoe manufacturing: no fewer than 4 out of 10 shoes in Spain are produced in Elche!
The archaeological city history, the many cycling routes along the River, the local gastronomy and the beaches of Elche are sufficient reason to visit the so called Spanish capital city of shoes.
Alicante = 25 minutes by car from the Finca
Surrounded by hills and white beaches, on the Costa Blanca, is the location of the sunny city of Alicante. After Valencia, this Spanish coastal city is the largest town on this coast. The city has an important port for the export of central Spain and has a lovely promenade along the coast (Explanada de España), several modern shopping centers and lively terraces, which even in the winter months are often still well attended.
In the historical section of El Barrio you can walk through the streets with colorful houses. The district is the starting point to the Santa Bárbara Castle. High above the city shines this enormous castle that stands on top of the Benacantil mountain. Take a brisk walk up or use the elevator. The views of the city, the port and the Mediterranean Sea is a great lasting reminder and very definitely worth the visit!
Surrounded by beautiful mountain landscapes, caves and islands, makes this city ideal for day trips.
TIP: The amount of available parking spaces on the streets in the heart of Alicante is limited. Throughout the city, you will find enough parking garages. Our advice is to use them. Via signs that can be found along the main roads, these parking garages are clearly listed. The parking garage signs also display how many open parking places there are available at that time.
Murcia = One hour drive from the Finca
The Spanish provincial capital of Murcia is located in the fertile plain of the river “Río Segura” and the much smaller “Río Sangonera”. Murcia is one of Spain’s most important agricultural trade centers. The silk and wool industry initially set up by the Moors has made way for major agricultural cooperatives with production, processing and export of fruit, dates and olives. After the Moorish period, the plantations were divided into plots which is why a whole range of orchards and vegetable gardens sprang up that still dominate the area of Murcia Murcia is also a university town and has an attractive city center where plenty of good restaurants and tapas and wine bars can be found. As you go through the city center of Murcia, you imagine yourself in an Andalusian city. The atmospheric city center of Murcia is located around the Plaza Belluga, dominated by the ornate Cathedral. Adjacent to the Cathedral square are several bustling streets where especially during weekends much social activity takes place. Worth seeing is also the nearby Casino located in the Calle Trapería, a well-known street in Murcia. Another unique place to visit in the city center of Murcia is La Glorieta, situated on the banks of the Río Segura. On this vast, narrow square where several important buildings are located, an elegant garden in Moorish style exists. Murcia is known for its many bridges. These ” puentes” are connecting the western and eastern parts of the city with each other. Murcia is the place to be to learn all about the history of Spain.
Valencia = 1 ½ hour drive from the Finca
Valencia is the capital of the autonomous region of Valencia and the province of the same name. Valencia is located on the eastern coast of Spain, on the Costa del Azahar. A well-known area that more often is associated with Valencia is the Costa Blanca. Along with Alicante, Valencia is one of the two main places of entry to this popular holiday region.
Valencia is rightly known as the bicycle capital of Spain. There are a lot of bicycle routes that can be found in Valencia which are frequently used. Not only do you see tourists on bicycles, but the Valencians themselves greatly utilize the bicycle routes as well. If you want to explore Valencia by bicycle, many bicycle rental stores can be found throughout the city.
If you visit Valencia, the following landmarks are recommended: La Lonja de la Seda, Iglesia de los Santos Juanes, Plaza de la Vírgen, Plaza del Ayuntamiento and the pinnacle in the field of modern architecture: Cuitat de les Arts i Cìences.
If you visit Valencia then there is one food dish that you really should try: Paella. This typical Spanish rice dish is originally from Valencia. On the many terraces of the city you can order multiple mouth-watering variations of this popular dish.
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