The south coast of Alicante, from the mouth of the Segura river in Guardamar to Pilar de la Horadada, has experienced spectacular growth rates in tourism over the last few years.
QUALITY TOURISMThis quality coastline with its sandy beaches, exotic dunes, rolling hills of the interior, and challenging golf courses, plus numerous residential estates and tourist accommodations, have consolidated this part of the coast as an ideal destination for a few days of leisure or a complete summer or winter holiday.
DUNES AND PINESBetween the town and the beach is the enormous "Queen Sofia" park, thick with trees and plants, where visitors can enjoy cool, refreshing strolls even on the hottest of days. To beautify the natural surroundings, ponds, botanical tours and samples of aquatic fauna have been added. However, the dune area, formed by sediments from the mouth of the river Segura, is the unique part of this town. Wave and tidal deposits created these dunes over long centuries. More than 800 hectares of coastal parkland have been carefully preserved, with hundreds of monumental dunes, pine, palm and eucalyptus trees, which were all planted at the beginning of the 20th century to prevent the dunes from invading the urban area.
ARCHEOLOGICAL SITESThe ancient town was built on a hill whose skirts were washed by the river Segura. Still preserved are the ruins of a castle and other historic remains from Hellenic times, when this town was a port. On the Iberian site of Cabezó Lucero an important archeological find was made when a bust of a woman was unearthed. It is now called the Dama de Guardamar, and is similar to the famous Dama de Elche. Another important archeological site from Arab times is the Mosque of the Caliphate Rabita. Visitors can get more information on these sites at the Archeological and Ethnological Museum in the local Casa de la Cultura, Tel. 96-572-8610.
BEAUTIFUL BEACHES FOR THE ASKINGEleven kilometres of dunes and sandy beaches in Guardamar give you the chance to choose isolated spots or more frequented stretches where you can spend the day near the sea. Another 5km of dunes connect to La Marina in the north, a village belonging to Elx. To the south lies La Mata, a stretch of more marshy land pertaining to Torrevieja. Tourist development in Guardamar del Segura has been slow and respectful with the environment. The construction of a sports marina near the mouth of the river Segura has added a new attraction to this select tourist area.
FIESTAS IN GUARDAMARAround July 25th the Moors and Christians feast is held, commemorating the struggles between the followers of the Half Moon and the Men of the Cross. These festivities are held in many other towns in the Land of Valencia.
THE CITY OF SALTTorrevieja is primarily a tourist resort. But the other important economic resource of this coastal town, coexisting with tourism, is the salt it extracts from the La Mata and Torrevieja salt flats now listed as a natural park. The Torrevieja salt flats have a perimeter of 25km, and are connected to the La Mata lagoon. From the lagoon, the Acequión canal runs to the sea. Salt has been mined here since the Middle Ages, although the area saw its greatest glory in the 19th C. Today, residential estates have been built on the surrounding hills, but the parkland has been preserved. Among the visitors to the park are people who come for the mud baths, reputed to be of therapeutic value. Salt from Torrevieja is exported around the world, with the annual production surpassing one million tonnes.
HABANERAS: sailor's songsAt the end of the Seafront Boulevard are the docks where sailing ships from Cuba used to anchor, ready to load salt from the local Salt Flats in the 19th century. That exciting age can still be recaptured on a visit to the modernist Casino in the Torrevieja town centre, where the wealthy middle class dedicated to the salt trade would socialize. Cuban sailors left them a wealth of melodies and habaneras from the Caribbean, which are still interpreted by local choirs. The most popular runs something like this: "Torrevieja is a mirror, in which Cuba gazes; when she spies herself, she sighs and seems so happy..." At the end of July each year the International Habaneras and Polyphony Competition has been held since 1955.
SAIL AWAYIn Torrevieja, the sailing tradition is kept alive and well in its fishing and trading port, as well as the sports marina at the Real Club Náutico Torrevieja (96-571-0112) and Marina International (96-571-3650).
FIESTASInternational Habaneras and Polyphony Competition: end of JulyCarnival: February, movable dates.Holy Week: March-April, movable dates.May Fair: beginning of May.Feast of the Immaculate Conception: around Dec. 8th.
MUSEUMSMarine and Salt Museum, Tel.: 96 670 68 38Tomás Valcárcel Holy Week Museum, Tel.: 96 570 34 33 (Tourist Office)
SIGHTSCasino, Salt Flats, Moorish Tower.
A GOLFER'S PARADISEPunta Prima, Playa Flamenca, Villamartín, La Zenia, Cabo Roig, Dehesa de Campoamor - these are all tourist resorts founded to attend to the rising national and international demand for quality vacation spots. Today, they provide comfort and relaxation for many fortunate guests. The area is considered ideal for golfing, and three excellent 18-hole courses have been constructed. The challenging terrain, with Mediterranean shrubland, trees and vegetation, provides impeccable facilities for golf enthusiasts.
FOR GOLFERS:Villamartín Golf Club.Ctra. Alicante-Cartagena Km 50Tel. and Fax 96 676 51 70Las Ramblas Golf Club.Ctra. Alicante-Cartagena Km 48Tel. 96 532 20 11 / Fax 96 532 21 59Campoamor Golf Club.Ctra. Cartagena-Alicante Km 48Tel. 96 532 13 66 / Fax 96 532 24 54
ENJOY THE SEAThe coastline along the municipal area of Orihuela combines sandy beaches with small-sized cliffs which are ideal for fishing and diving. The town also has two sports marinas at Cabo Roig 96 676 01 76 and Campoamor 96 532 0386, set in attractive surroundings and with all the facilities you might need for a day at sea or in the port.
VISIT THE TOWN OF ORIHUELAA stay on the coast near Orihuela can be complemented by a visit to the monumental town only 30km inland. It is an artistic-historic complex with five national monuments and an urban layout corresponding to a Medieval university centre and episcopalian seat. The town holds two important feasts per year: the Holy Week processions, and the Moors and Christians feast around July 17th.
Pilar de la Horadada is the southernmost town in the Land of Valencia. It has a characteristic watchtower built in the 16th C on a hill overlooking the coast. The town has 4 kilometres of coastline running from the Mil Palmeras estate to the Escull del Mojón, alternating between residential areas, parks and sports facilities. This coastal area has clean water and well-kept beaches which are ideal for enjoying the fine climate all year round. The Torre de la Horadada sports marina has 506 moorings for recreational craft and is one of the major tourist attractions along the coast.
EN ROUTEFurther inland, the mountainous area provides nature lovers with a spectacular landscape, including typical Mediterranean vegetation and pine forests inhabited by a number of animal species. Hikers have a signposted route along the course of the Seco river which is very popular for excursions.
USEFUL DATAEthnological and Archeological Museum, Tel.: 96 535 11 24.Patron Saint Festivities: October.Pilgrimage to San Isidro: May 15th.Commemorative Feast of the Segregation: July 30th.Sports marina: 96 676 90 87.
GASTRONOMYTraditional cuisine combining ingredients from land and sea provide delicious dishes in this district. Prawns from Guardamar are famous, a fisherman's pot called "caldero" is always on the menu in Torrevieja, and Orihuela offers fresh vegetables and fruits from its market gardens. Rice dishes are preeminent, and are made in many different ways to delight the palate.
GUARDAMAR DEL SEGURAFrom the N-332. Alicante airport at 25km.Bus connections.
TORREVIEJAFrom the N-332. Alicante airport at 42km.Bus connections.
ORIHUELAFrom the N-332. Alicante airport at 47km. Bus connections.
PILAR DE LA HORADADAFrom the N-332. Alicante airport at 59km.Bus connections.