La Marina is the name of a district in Alicante province, running from the coast to the interior. It contains a complex series of sierras and valleys that extend into the neighbouring El Comtat district, with highly varied geographical features and picturesque landscapes that rise up to the tall mountains around the town of Alcoi. This is an area where the Morisco presence (converted Moors) lasted well into the 17th century, leaving its stamp on the landscape: terraced slopes around the mountains and fruit orchards that look spectacular at blossoming time. There are many small towns in this district, where mountain agriculture has been adapted to the lie of the land.