Calpe

Where is Calpe?

The location of Calpe is in the South East of Spain, in the district called the Costa Blanca. You will find Calpe situated just to the north east of Benidorm and south of Denia and Javea. Other cities which you might like to visit in the area include Alicante and Elche in the South West.

Calpe accommodation

You can lodge in many different places here including guest houses, Calpe hotels, self catering houses, and camping amenities. You will find Calpe accommodation to match all levels of wealth. There is also wide mixture of accommodation styles in the close towns of Benissa, Altea, Villajoyosa, Teulada, La Nuncia, L’Alfas del Pi, Callosa d’En Sarria, and Xalo.

Car rental in Calpe

Hiring a car is virtually indispensable in this region because there is no public transport to speak of. If you don’t plan to move very far, Calpe is very well appointed in terms of restaurants, shops, bars. A Calpe car hire is going to allow you to see a good deal more of the surrounding parts, and there are some lovely parts around here. There are quite a lot of companies in Calpe where you can rent a car, or you can always select to collect from the airport as you arrive.

What to see in Calpe

According to the National statistics Institute of Spain, with a population of Calpe in 2008 was 29,228 inhabitants. Calpe is a municipality in the region of the Marina Alta in the province of Alicante. Over half of the present Calpe population represents a foreign nationality.

The history of Calpe

It is known through archaeological evidence that they were human settlers here going all the way back to the Bronze Age. This indeed can be claimed by many of the towns and villages up and down the Costa Blanca. These Stone Age inhabitants would have survived by sleeping in the caves and using the land and the sea in order to feed and clothe themselves.

The Romans used the region as an important coastal settlement. This was because it allowed maritime trade to be undertaken due to the close proximity of the sea. Many of the surrounding villages at that time survived through agriculture and fishing. Other civilizations including the Iberians, the Phoenicians, the Carthaginians, the Romans, the Moors, and finally the Christians, all valued the privileged position that Calpe and the surrounding territories gave them. This proximity to the Mediterranean allowed these settlers to exploit the natural resources of the sea.

Although the Arabs were rulers over this land for a number of centuries, they were eventually defeated and routed from the area in the 13th century. In defense of their territory, the Moors built the castle of Calpe on the hill overlooking Mascarat.

Tradition attributes the conquest of Calpe by the Christians to the year 1240. But historians tend to many in the year as 1254. It makes no difference because the crown of Aragon reconquest at the area and took Calpe. The entire Moslem population was expelled after an uprising by the Moslem leader Al-Azraq. This happened in many of the in towns and villages in this area after which the land began to be repopulated with Christians.

The town passed to the Aragonese admiral Roger de Lauria who set about building and the town of Ifach. It was during the reign of Peter the second of Aragon that fortified walls were added to the town to prevent any further Moorish attacks. In the war known as de los dos Pedros, the War of the two Pedros, which occurred in 1359, the town of Ifach destroyed, with the inhabitants of the town taking refuge in Calpe itself. The benefit of this was to allow Calpe to become strong in terms of its economy and it laid the foundation for all future development. Various families tried to exercise control over the jurisdiction of Calpe right up until 1837.

The original village of Calpe had a wall for protection. Yet, in 1637, the Barbary pirates attacked the village and captured 290 inhabitants. These inhabitants were kidnapped and taken to Algiers where they were held hostage until an exchange was made for pirate prisoners and a large quantity of gold. The amount of time that these Spaniards were held in captivity was five years.

Several projects were put forward in the middle of the 18th century in order to give the city some new walls. The increasing population, during the 17th century, had the effect of forcing people to move outside of the city in order to find space to live. New plans were drawn up in which the town of Calpe and the areas around it would be consolidated.

The 19th century saw the town developing westward. One of the key features of this growth was the road that led to Alicante from Altea. During the second part of this century there was marked increase in fishing activities and all the associated industries that go with that. But it was the 20th century that saw the real developments in town. During the 1930s, hotels and began to appear along the coastline. The first hotel to open here was the Ifach Parador which opened in 1935.

During the period of the 1940s to the 1950s, there was a rapid growth which just reinforced the emerging tourist industry, with many hotels being built along the seafront. Calpe was one of the earliest towns to see the possibilities in tourism and to seize the opportunities, and it was not until the 1960s that other areas along the coast began to catch on. By this time, Calpe was well on its way to becoming established as a tourist resort. Today, tourism is the biggest industry in the city. Agriculture and fishing still play a part, but the main economic focus is definitely surrounding the holidaymaker.

Some of the churches and monuments of religious significance include Ermita del Salvador is on a hill which is overlooking the beautiful scenery of the bay. This building dates from the 18th century and was rebuilt in 1945 and 1992. The Ermita San Juan de la Cometa is on the outskirts of the town. Also, the parish church which is dedicated to the Lady of the snows as in the heart of the old town. The construction dates are between the years 1973 and 1975 and it is very modern in form.

Some of the enchanting places that you should visit include Los Baños de la Reina (the Queen’s Baths) which dates back to the Roman period. Also you should visit the Castle Fortress which way is the ruins of the Muslim Castle of Calpe are located. He will find the remains of a watchtower which was built in the 16th century in order to prevent the Barbary pirates from attacking.

Everyone who comes to stay in Calpe is going to want to see the rock formation of Penon de Ifach. This is now a protected National Park and you can climb to the top through a tunnel which was constructed in 1918 in order to enjoy the breathtaking views over the Calpe scenery. The rock itself is 332 meters high and extends for a full kilometre out into the sea. Climbing in the summer heat can be very difficult so you should always time you visit carefully. Try to get there as early in the day as you can, not only because of the lower temperature in the morning, but also because there is a limitation on the amount of visitors that are allowed on to the rock at any one time. Other attractions that you may be interested in seeing include the fishing port, and the various museums in Calpe.

Doubtless, many people will come to Calpe to enjoy the sunshine and beaches. Well, you are lucky because Calpe has plenty of beaches which are the most part excellent. Two of the main beaches here are the Playa del Arenal which has over 2 km of sandy beach and the Playa del Cantal Roig which is a 200 m stretch of sandy beach which is near the port. Here, you can enjoy either lazing a day away sunbathing or trying out some of the many and beach activities. Another beach is Playa de la Fossa which is an excellent golden sandy beach that has excellent facilities including a bowling green, children’s play areas, and it has been awarded a blue flag. The pedestrianised promenade which runs the full length of the beach includes many Spanish restaurants, and even the odd British restaurant pops up every so often.

The local market is held in the old town every Saturday with a flea market on a Wednesday. The fish auction takes place in the port every weekday at about five o’clock in the evening. The Fiestas here include the traditional Moors and Christians festival which involves a re-enactment of the famous battles in which the Christians reconquered the land, this festival is held around April. There are also festivals here with an international flavor including the Oktoberfest which is held obviously in October. There are several Fiestas throughout the year you to enjoy.

When it comes to sports, if you get fed up with sightseeing or sunbathing on the beach, you can take part in the many seaside activities. If Calpe golfing is what you came here for then there are also plenty of golf courses in the area.

What can you eat in Calpe

There is so much tasty cuisine offered in this vicinity from numerous diverse countries counting Hungarian, Cantonese, Indian, Chinese, Dutch, German, English, and easily the most common type of food in the area is Spanish food. If you cannot find some food to suit your liking in this area then there is something not right with your taste buds. Much of the food around here, just like the rest of Alicante and the Costa Blanca is based around fish and rice. Everyone has heard of the traditional and very famous Paella, but there are also many other race dishes which involve vegetables and meat. Of course the traditional Mediterranean diet is extremely healthy mostly using very fresh ingredients.

The climate in Calpe

All the way through the year, the climate in the area of Calpe is sunny. You are nearly certain of sunshine all the way through the year. It is frequently fairly hot in the summer and balmy in the winter. Rain is something which is delighted in within this area, a rest from the continuous sun, but don’t be anxious because rain doesn’t happen that frequently.

How to get to Calpe

Directions From Alicante airport, Elche

To Calpe Spain

Distance: 76.4 km

Time: 0 hr 51 min

Start: Head east

Take the ramp to N-340/Elche/E-15/A-7/Valencia/Murcia

Merge onto N-338

Merge onto E-15/A-7 via the ramp to A-31/Madrid/A-70/Alicante/Benidorm/Valencia

Continue onto A-70
Partial toll road

Continue onto AP-7 (signs for AP-7/Valencia)
Toll road
28.8 Take the exit onto AP-7
Toll road

Take exit 64 toward N-332/Altea/Calpe/Calp
Toll road

Continue straight
Partial toll road

Take the ramp to V-31/Calpe/Valencia/Calp

Merge onto N-332

Exit onto CV-746/Av de la Diputación

Go through 1 roundabout

At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit

Turn right toward Avinguda de la Generalitat Valenciana

Turn right at Avinguda de la Generalitat Valenciana

Arrive at Calpe, Spain

Directions from Aeroport de València, Manises Spain

To Calpe Spain

Distance: 132.2 km

Time: 1 hr 24 min

Start: Head northwest

At the roundabout, take the 1st exit

At the roundabout, take the 4th exit onto CV-370/Av del Mas de l’Oli

Continue to follow CV-370

Go through 2 roundabouts

Turn left at Calle del Trévol

Take the ramp onto A-7

Continue onto AP-7
Partial toll road

Take exit 63 toward Teulada/N-332/Benissa/Calpe/Calp
Toll road

Continue straight
Toll road

Turn right to merge onto N-332 toward Benissa/Calpe/Calp

Go through 2 roundabouts

Slight left at Avinguda de la Generalitat Valenciana

Take the 1st left to stay on Avinguda de la Generalitat Valenciana

Go through 2 roundabouts

Arrive at Calpe, Spain