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Sink into the cushions at this magical Arabic-style tearoom and bar, where you can choose from more than 80 different infusions – plus wonderful Moroccan pastries.

The mountainous inland regions are fantastic for adventure sports. You can try your hand at canyon-descent, bungee-jumping, canoeing, rafting, hang-gliding, quad-biking or off-roading.

The romantic dry-stone ruins of this ancient Arabic village close to Alcalà de la Jovada in the Vall de Gallinera are great for picnics. A stiff path leads to the rocky peak of La Fordada for fantastic views.

Agost’s long ceramic-making tradition dates back for centuries, and dozens of shops sell the earthenware water jars (botijos ) typical of the region, along with a range of ceramic items from pots to platters.

This delightful mountain village topped by a ruined castle makes the perfect starting point for exploring the gorgeous Sierra Mariola, with hiking trails and the traces of abandoned snow wells.

Águilas’s lighthouse stands guard at the southern end of the bay, near the town’s pretty fishing port. Painted in black and white stripes, it looks like something out of a storybook. To complete the picture, above it looms the dramatic castle.

Nudged up against the border with Andalucía, this quiet resort curls around a broad sandy bay, with spectacular rocky capes at either end and a scattering of volcanic islands rising abruptly from the sea. The delightful port sits at the foot of a steep cliff at the southern end of the bay; it’s full of working fishing boats, which supply delicious fresh fish to the local restaurants. The Castle of San José, beautifully flood-lit at night, looms dramatically from the clifftop. In February, the town hosts one of the biggest carnivals in Spain.

The elegant curve of Águilas’s bay is broken by strangely shaped volcanic islands, perfect for snorkelling. Long, fine sands and plenty of amenities have made it extremely popular with families.

Águilas is beautifully set on a curving bay against a backdrop of distant mountains. There are some handsome 19th-century squares, a dramatic castle high on a cliff above the fishing port, and dozens of secluded coves on the outskirts. Development has been largely low-key.