Costa Blanca Areas

Alicante
As the main city of the Costa Blanca, cosmopolitan Alicante has a lot to offer. Suburban living, with access to every amenity imaginable is easily affordable. Authentic Spanish style is to be found in the older parts of town.

As for beaches, Alicante's 6km of glorious coast caters to all tastes and needs. Alicante dates back to early Iberian culture, but has absorbed cultural influences from countless sources down the centuries. The archaeology, architecture, arts, crafts and cuisine of Alicante are a wonderful fusion of styles - and a source of never ending pleasure for the historian.

Alicante has always been important and while tourism has replaced port activity as the main revenue source in the region, Alicante still has a bustling and vibrant harbour, and it is here that the city comes to life.

La Manga
In the south of the Costa Blanca, La Manga sits on a sand formation that stretches 22km in length out into the Mediterranean sea.

This natural geographical feature has created the largest lagoon in Europe - Mar Menor. With a maximum depth of only 8m the water remains at a constant 18C throughout the year. As a result this inland sea boasts all types of watersports with no less than 13 scuba schools and 19 international standard sailing clubs.

You will be equally spoilt on land with a vast choice of leisure activities, including a centre for professional football, 10 tennis clubs and 3 international golf courses

Murcia
Murcia is a large city at the heart of the Segura river valley. Surrounded by fertile agricultural land laden with orange and lemon groves, and vegetable fields.

Founded by the Moors in the 9th century Murcia has prospered ever since. The city is a delightful combination of flamboyant baroque architecture, picturesque squares and a medieval old quarter, with an array of modern-day shops.

A stroll through the faded opulence of the Casino De Murcia, a private social club, is like stepping back in time. You half expect gentlemen with waxed moustaches, fat cigars and smoking jackets, or taffeta-clad ladies to exit from the most ornate powder room you'll ever see.

Guardamar
Guardamar overlooks an incredible expanse of giant sand dunes, covered with pines and eucalyptus. The forest parkland of the Dunas de Guardamar, with over 800 hectares running parallel to the coast, is a wonder in a class of its own.

Water sports are in abundance here and a local sports complex offers tennis, swimming, basketball and handball. The dunes also house an important archaeological site at Rabita Califal and museum at the Casa de la Cultura.

Villamartin
Villamartin is renowned for its world class golf course, with two equally good neighbouring courses of Las Ramblas and Campoamor, situated only 40 minutes drive from Alicante Airport.

Apart from these superb courses the focal point is a beautiful square with many varieties of restaurants and bars, it also has a bowling alley, supermarket and bank. The trees within the square are home to parrots who can be seen there most times of the year.

The golden beaches and coves of La Zenia are only 5 minutes drive from Villamartin.