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Places in Spain -
Calpe on the Costa
Blanca
At the heart of the Costa
Blanca, within the region of Valencia and the province of Alicante lies an ancient fishing village called Calpe (Calp in Valencian). The town is a first class tourist resort and home to many foreigners who have bought property both in the town and in the surrounding hills.
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Calpe occupies quite a unique location. It is easily accessed via the AP7 motorway and the N332 that runs from Valencia to Alicante. The coastal town is dominated by the towering rock of Ifach which reaches to an impressive 332m and is now a nature reserve. The summit of the rock is reached by means of a tunnel through the rock. On a clear day you can see the island of Ibiza.
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The Rock of Ifach from the N332
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Calpe has a wonderful mixture of old Valencian culture and modern tourism, perfectly harmonised and providing an ideal base from which to explore the local area and beaches. |
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The beaches in Calpe
Calpe has in fact, the most beautiful sandy beaches of the whole Costa Blanca.
The beaches are kept immaculately clean.
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The seafront in Calpe is clean and tidy and the beaches are safe. You will have no trouble finding quality restaurants and friendly bars along the sea front.
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The history of Calpe |
Calpe is rich in history and culture and its strategic position has attracted many explorers over the centuries. Remains of Iberian tribes have been uncovered in the town and the Romans founded a prosperous colony here where the main activity was fish salting. Christians and Moors lived peacefully for a time but were subjected to attacks from pirates during the 14th-17th centuries. The regained peace of the 18th century enabled Calpe to regenerate and build on the tourism industry.
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What to see in Calpe
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When it comes to sightseeing in calpe, the ancient town centre next to the Moorish quarter is the best place to start. The old walls next to the church known as Iglesia Vieja are well worth seeing. This church is the only remaining example of Mudejar-Gothic architecture within Valencia. |
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Alongside the modern Paseo Maritimo are the remains of a Roman villa. The villa once formed part of the Roman fish factory known as the Banys de la Reina (Queens' Bath).
Overlooking the Mascarat Ravine are the ruins of the Moorish castle of Calpe. Outside of Calpe you will find typical rui-rau houses which are country properties with arched porticos for raisin drying which is a major industry here. |
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Where to go in Calpe
Calpe town centre is also home to the Museum of Archaeology and the Museum of Fiestas. |
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Activities in Calpe
Being a coastal town, there is no wonder that Calpe relies on the holiday maker. The town has adapted to offer everything that holiday makers need and this includes a thriving marina. The marina is located next to the old fishing port that still has an active fishing fleet. From the marina you can take a boat ride to nearby Benidorm and back. There are also facilities for wind surfing, yachting and water skiing. |
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On the outskirts of the town you will find a nature reserve in the form of a large salt lake. The lake is home to a large flock of flamingos. |
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Sports in Calpe
For sports on dry land, the Rock of Ifach offers mountain climbing. There is a tennis club in Calpe with 5 courts, a swimming pool, restaurant and gardens. Tel 965 830 820.
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Fiestas in Calpe
Calpe just like most Spanish towns and villages has its fair share of fiestas and celebrations and these include - The Moros y Cristianos (Moors and Christians), 21st - 24th October, the Midsummer's Festival, June 24th, the fiesta in honour of Calpe's patron saint La Virgen de las Nieves with many fireworks and outdoor parties, held on August 5th, and the Feast of Saint Joseph in March.
Close to Calpe
For theme park entusiasts, try the Terra Mitica on the way to Benidorm or the Aqualandia water park. Golfers will not be disappointed as there are several quality golf courses nearby. |
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| We have visited Calpe several times as part of our Costa Blanca tours. Each time we have received a warm and friendly welcome. We make new friends on each visit. The squares within calpe are a pleasure to walk round and the streets are relatively safe. The beaches are first class and all have the blue flag award. Food is great in Calpe too. From Calpe we head to Denia and Altea. |
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| Local Police Calpe - 965 839 000 - Emergencies - 092 |
| Guardia Civil Calpe - 965 830 080 - Emergencies - 082 |
| General Emergencies - 112 |
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| Medical Emergencies - 965 835 013 |
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| Fire brigade Calpe - 965 854 080 - Emergencies - 085 |
| Town Hall Calpe - 965 833 600 |
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| Red Cross Calpe - 965 831 616 |
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| Telefonica - 1004 |
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| Calpe health clinic, Casa del Mar - 965 837 153 |
Centro de Salud, C/San Fermin - 965 835 013 |
| Calpe Notary - 965 830 950 |
| Post Office Calpe - 965 830 884 |
| Tourist Information Office, Estacion, Calpe - 965 874 060 |
| Tourist Information Office, Plaza de Mosquit, Calpe - 965 838 532 |
| Tourist Information Office, La Lonja, Calpe - 965 837 413 |
| Tourist Information Office, Penon, Calpe - 965 836 920 |
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Calpe train services
From Calpe it is easy to get to other places on the Costa Blanca. The Alicante - Denia line runs for 93 km along the northern coast of the province of Alicante and has around 40 stations.
Current departure times from Calpe are as follows:
Calpe-Altea-Benidorm-Villajoyosa-Campello-San Juan-Alicante
06.59 - every hour until 20.59
Calpe-Benissa-Teulada-Gata-Denia
07.30 - every hour until 21.30
For more information you can call the passenger helpline on 900 461 046.
Calpe bus services
Autobuses Ifach S.L. manages the local bus service in Calpe.
There are 2 main services, one around the resort from the Train Station to La Vallesa, and the other from Calpe to Moraira and Teulada.
Low cost car hire in the Calpe area - Instant quotes, online booking and guaranteed reservations. Access to all the top car hire companies in Spain
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Calpe
facts |
Postcode: 03710
Tourist Office Calpe Email: calpecentro@touristinfo.net |
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Bargain priced Insurance for your holiday home in Spain or for your Spanish home. Policies in English and English speaking helplines. The prices are the lowest you will find anywhere |
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