Gran Alacant
Gran Alacant lies 15 minutes from Alicante international airport. It is a popular holiday destination in the southern part of the province of Alicante. The area consists of several urbanisations built up around the green space of el Cabo de Santa Pola and the Carabassí beach. The island of La Isla de Tabarca was once a refuge for Berber pirates but today is home to the Las Salinas nature park, an extraordinarily beautiful place to visit.
The climate here is pleasant all year round, with an average temperature of 18 degrees.
Gran Alacant has around 10,000 inhabitants, most of them other Europeans. It is a quiet residential area throughout the year. The unspoilt and very well looked after beach, Las Dunas del Carabassí, is Gran Alacant’s most important beach, with fine sand and clear water. This stretch of coast is extremely popular for kitesurfing and windsurfing, and there are schools offering intensive courses all year round. The urbanisation, built 100 metres above sea level, looks out over the Mediterranean. Every kind of amenity is here, along with an amusement park and a large shopping centre to meet visitors’ needs. If you are looking for a well-kept natural setting in which to enjoy a relaxing holiday under the Mediterranean sun, Gran Alacant is a good option.
Santa Pola
Santa Pola is a quiet holiday resort that suits both young and old. It lies a few dozen kilometres south of Alicante between the N332 road and the sea. Fishing and the salt industry are of great importance to the town. Today tourism is an important part of it too.
In the middle of the town stands the Renaissance fortress built in the sixteenth century as a defence against pirates.
There is also the archaeological museum, where you can admire Iberian and Roman finds, and the fishing museum, with a rich collection of maritime objects and an aquarium.
The fish auction is an experience. Every afternoon the boats come in with their catch, which is unloaded just before the auction begins. Keeping up with it is not easy. Instead you can step into the building next door and shop at the fish market.
A little outside the town centre are the Salinas de Santa Pola and the salt lakes with their rich birdlife, including flamingos, herons and great numbers of other water birds. A paradise for birdwatchers. You can book a guide for a tour of the area.
The lighthouse, El Faro de Santa Pola, stands north of the town. The tip of the headland makes a fine place for an outing.
Santa Pola has several beaches. Varadero, Levante, or why not Gran Playa. All with fine sand.
An eldorado for water sports.
People have lived in Santa Pola since 3000–4000 BC. The Romans arrived in the first century AD. The area became known as ”Portus Illicitanus” and grew into an important harbour. There are many archaeological finds from that period.
Pirates also took Santa Pola; the Romans fell during the Middle Ages. The raids prompted the inhabitants to build the fortress and the ”Torres Vigía” watchtowers, among other things.
Santa Pola’s website www.turismosantapola.com is in Spanish and English.
La Marina
La Marina’s wonderful sandy beach with traditional restaurants at the water’s edge is a perfect place for beach life.
Alicante airport is only a 20-minute drive away. The road to La Marina is very good: the AP-7 motorway comes down from Alicante airport and runs south to Murcia San Javier airport. The N-332 also passes directly along the edge of La Marina. South of La Marina lie Bella Vista and Las Pesqueras, and then comes Guardamar del Segura, a larger coastal town with magnificent beaches.
North of La Marina lies Santa Pola with fine sandy beaches and a large town centre. Just north of La Marina there are also several salt lakes, such as Salinas del Braç and del Port, which create a very healthy environment for people suffering from health problems such as allergies or arthritis.
Enjoy a traditional Spanish experience by visiting the market street held every Thursday and Sunday from 8 am to 2 pm. Here you will find stalls selling local produce, vegetables and leather goods such as handbags, shoes, belts and wallets.
THE LA MARINA URBANISATION
In Spanish the word is urbanización and it means a residential development. La Marina is divided into three main areas: La Marina, La Escuera and El Oasis. It is well laid out with several parks and green spaces. The La Marina urbanisation has every convenience. There are plenty of shops, bars and restaurants within easy walking distance. There are four supermarkets. There are also newsagents, opticians, banks and more.
With a car you can visit the many places nearby. Attractions such as the Rio Safari Park, between Santa Pola and Elche, and golf courses, of which there are many in the area. Do not forget a trip to the city of Alicante, where the best shopping is. For those interested in culture, perhaps a visit to the Santa Bárbara castle.
La Marina is surrounded by some charming small towns and villages such as Daya Vieja, Daya Nueva, Almoradí, Algorfa, Rojales, Formentera del Segura, San Fulgencio and Catral.
Guardamar del Segura
Sun, sand and countryside on the Mediterranean
Guardamar del Segura lies on the coast in the province of Alicante. Eleven kilometres of fine sandy beaches, perfect for water sports, together with the wide range of accommodation on offer, make this an important holiday destination.
The river Segura runs through the town, and there are various archaeological sites such as the Phoenician settlement of La Fonteta and the Caliphal hermitage at Las Dunas, among others. The municipal archaeological and ethnological museum and the Casa del Ingeniero Mira museum are two more interesting cultural meeting places.
Guardamar also has various areas of ecological interest. The Lagunas de La Mata nature reserve has a network of paths ideal for walking and cycling.
www.spain.info/sv/ven/otros-destinos/guardamar_del_segura.html