Rafal

Written by Admin - 0 Comments
Categories: Alicante Province, Rafal

What is the location of Rafal?

The location of Rafal is in the South East of Spain, in the district called the Costa Blanca. The town is situated amongst some of the most heavily populated areas of the province of Alicante when it comes to ex-patriots. Rafal is placed between the towns of Almoradi and Callosa de Segura. You can take the AP-7 from both San Javier Murcia Airport in the southern province of Murcia and the local Alicante airport, which is just outside Elche, Alicante International. There is also an airport to the north, Valencia airport goal is quite a distance at just over 244 km, about two hours and 20 minutes drive.Once you reach Catral you will come off the motorway and head of the CV-914 towards Orihuela. Halfway between the motorway and Orihuela you will come across the turnoff for Rafal. This is an excellent place to stay because it is not too far away from the coast, and the town is close enough to the larger cities of Orihuela, Torrevieja, Elche, Alicante, and Murcia in the South. All the while, you will find some peace and quiet in Rafal.

Accommodation in Rafal

There are many different places where you can stay in the Costa Blanca in general. One of the best areas to stay which is close enough to Rafal is the seaside resort of Guardamar del Segura. Here you will find a whole array of cafes, bars, restaurants, and a beautiful beach with a promenade which is packed with great seafood restaurants and ice cream parlors. Many people who come to this region of the Costa Blanca tend to stay in the larger towns and villages in the area. Here you will find all different styles of accommodation from top-class hotels in cities like Benidorm, Alicante, and even Torrevieja, to bed-and-breakfast accommodation and self catering villas and apartments. But, if you are trying to find accommodation specifically in Rafal, you should be able to find at least self catering apartments or bed-and-breakfast accommodation. You can make enquiries at the local Spanish tourist office or ask one of the locals about any, nation that is available in the area. You should also try some of the smaller towns and villages that surround Rafal such as El Mudamiento, San Bartolome, Palmeral, La Campaneta, Callosa de Segura, and Redovan.

Rent a car in Rafal

This area is not very good when it comes to transportation. The municipal transportation is very poor and unless you are willing to hire a bicycle or walk around the area you will need to rent a car. All the major car rental companies have offices at the airport and you can book a car over the Internet so that it will be ready upon your arrival. Also, you will find many local car hire companies with cheaper rates in the local towns and cities. These local car hire companies may even deliver a car to Rafal for you. This is the closest to Rafal car hire that you are going to get. Why should you hire a car? Well, there is so much to see and do in this area. Even if you are based in one of the provinces larger towns, and you can walk to all the bars and restaurants, there is a lot of unspoiled countryside and beautiful villages just waiting to you to explore.

About Rafal

If you are looking for a place to visit that has still has the traditional feel of old Spain yet built with modern conveniences then look no further than Rafal. It is a village built in a valley, 12 meters above the sea level. With an extremely fertile land, villages have not left their old ways, continuing to farm lands with vegetables and citrus fruits. Yet, the village has also tried to keep up with the times with all of its government institutions built with a contemporary feel. It is a good, balanced mix of both worlds.

Historical documents indicate that Moorish settlers have been living in the area as early as the 13th century. The families were forcefully evicted by a Christian conquest during the mid 13th century and were replaced by approximately 42 families of Christians. Its name is derived from the Arab term Rahal pertaining to a farmhouse under the Orihuela municipality. Through the centuries the term was slightly modified to Rafal, the name which is used today.

As a Christian village, the colonizers erected a parish church within the village which stands up to this day. Travelers may come to see this 17th century relic, as well as other periodic structures such as the canning industries, built during the 1950s in an attempt to provide more work to its constituents. Unlike the other villages in the area, the village of Rafal is also renowned for its continued passion in music. During the beginning of the century, a music group known as the Musical Art was instituted and has continued to obtain wide recognition and acclaim.

Unlike other villages in the area, the number of individuals that have decided to stay and reside in Rafal from 406 at the start of the 20th century to almost 4000 in 2007. This may have been due to the community’s continued efforts to change and keep up with the times, constructing modern facilities and services. One of these is the Valencian Health Service.

Much like other villages in Spain, the villagers love their fiestas. These festivities draw crowds with the parties that are done during these celebrations. Besides the Musical Art band, tourists will enjoy seeing and celebrating several festivities. Its patron saint is the Nuestra Senora del Rosario with festivities held during the first Sunday of October. As a predominantly Christian village, Easter is another big celebration with processions of reenactments of the meet between Christ and his mother Mary.

For a taste of old Spanish culture with modern amenities, come to Rafal. It is a testament that both old and new influences can be combined to make a unique and enjoyable experience.

Of course, once you stay in Rafal, this is not the only place for you to see. Only a short car drive away you will find the beaches of the Costa Blanca. This is what the Costa Blanca is famous for, it white beaches. Along these beaches you will find the tourist resorts that are mostly packed to capacity during the high season. These tourist resorts, such as Benidorm to the north of Alicante city, attract people from all over northern Europe because of the almost guaranteed sun. Closer to Rafal are the cities of Alicante, Elche, Torrevieja, and the seaside resort of Guardamar. Here you will find many activities based around the water and the beach. You will have fun even if your idea of an activity is to lie all day underneath the Spanish sun sipping sangria. For the more active minded person there are many water sports to partake in such as windsurfing, diving, kayaking, fishing, or maybe just paddling on the seashore.

Or why not head inland to discover the land-based activities that will be at your fingertips. These include hiking around the hills in the area, especially the further north you go. Rafal golfing is closer than you think. Although there is not a golf course in Rafal itself, there are plenty of golf courses for you to choose from in the region. Each individual golf course will have their own rules and regulations and will cater to different levels of experience.

Almoradi Square

What can you eat in Rafal

This locality of Spain boasts cooking from many parts of the planet. To specify a small number of, there is Spanish, German, Chinese, Dutch, English, Cantonese, and Hungarian. The Spanish have a way of cooking their food using the freshest ingredients. The Muslims had a great influence on the food of this region when they introduced their fantastic irrigation systems and radically transformed the agriculture of Alicante and much of southern Spain during the years of Arab conquest. Today, you will see many types of fruit and vegetables available especially from the markets, most of which has grown locally and by small farmers. There is a weekly market on a Saturday morning in Almoradi where you will find many different stalls selling their wares. Also, being so close to the Mediterranean offers the diner a unique opportunity to partake in freshly cooked seafood dishes. A couple of the restaurants in Rafal include Antonio Gomez ÑiguezPlaza de Ramón y Cajal, 1, 03369 , and Carnicas Bertomeu S.l.Calle de Federico García Lorca, 5, 03369.

The weather conditions in Rafal

The climate in Rafal is in general sun-drenched, just similar to many other areas on the Costa Blanca. The winters are mild and sun-drenched the summers are wonderful and hot. Rainfall is something which is delighted in within this region, a pause from the invariable sunshine, but don’t worry because rain doesn’t come that regularly.