DK Travel : Costa Blanca

Sun, sea and sand are excellent reasons to visit the Costa Blanca, but its attractions don’t stop there. Inland, you can explore magnificent Natural Parks, wild sierras and remote hill villages, or visit historic towns with fascinating museums and a wealth of fabulous architecture. The engaging capital cities of Alicante (Alacant) and Murcia are crammed with great shops and tapas bars, and a string of lively resorts along the coast offers splendid beaches, fantastic nightlife and plenty of opportunities for fun. Best of all, there’s always a secret cove or rugged cape to be discovered if the crowds get too much.

El Viscayo, Castalla

This friendly country eatery makes its own embutidos (see Embutidos), and is famous for its delectable gazpachos , a shepherd’s dish made with meat and game, and served with flatbread.
Elda

Elda is a big, industrial city, and one of the largest shoemaking centres in Spain. Numerous factory outlets on the outskirts of the town offer excellent shoe bargains.
Elx (Elche)

Come around Easter to see Elx’s famous and elaborate palm crosses being made for the Easter Sunday parades (see Hort del Cura, Elx (Elche)). At any time of year, dozens of shops sell fresh dates and delicious date sweets and cakes.
Elx (Elche)

Famous for its palm grove (see Hort del Cura, Elx (Elche)), Elx holds its weekly market on Mondays.
Elx (Elche)

The immaculate town of Elx is best known for its celebrated palm groves, introduced by the Phoenicians more than two millennia ago, and in particular for the “Priest’s Garden” (see Hort del Cura, Elx (Elche)), a luxuriant botanical garden filled with palms and tropical flowers. Most of the town’s historic sights are clustered around the vast Basílica de Santa María, the setting for the Misteri d’Elx (see Misteri d’Elx (Elche) (Mystery of Elx)), (see Basílica de Santa María, Elx (Elche)). An important Iberian settlement, Illici, is still being excavated on the outskirts of Elx, and it is here that the famous Dama de Elx, the most accomplished Iberian sculpture in Spain, was discovered.
Embalse de Guadalest

This huge, deep blue reservoir at the foot of the valley overlooked by the picturesque village of Guadalest is a wonderful place to stop for a picnic after a hard morning’s sightseeing.
Embutidos

Inland Murcia is celebrated for its cured pork sausages (embutidos ), including a dark blood sausage known as morcilla , as well as countless other types of varying spiciness and flavour. They are easily found in butchers’ shops and markets, and regularly feature on the menu at tapas bars.
Empanada de Liebre, Arroz y Conejo

A hearty meat pasty made with chunks of hare and rabbit mixed with rice.
Empanadas

Empanadas , deliciously light pastry parcels stuffed with all kinds of fillings from tuna to ham, are common throughout Spain, but the best are made in Murcia. The perfect picnic dish, they are available in almost every bakery and tapas bar.
Enoteca Bernadino

Choose from over 2,500 wines, including an excellent regional Spanish selection, as well as imported wines from France, Chile and Argentina.

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Restaurant price categories

For a three-course meal for one with half a bottle of wine (or equivalent meal), taxes and extra charges.
- under €20
- €20–€30
- €30–€40
- €40–€50
- over €50