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Beautifully flood-lit at night, this cliff-top castle is perched right on the cliff edge.

One of the best places to try an authentic paella , this brightly lit eaterie is a favourite with locals and tourists alike. It also serves tasty, simply grilled local meat.

This huge discoteca has four spaces: “La Discoteca” for the latest dance music; “Dream” for techno and house; “Happy” for pop music; and “La Terraza” for ambient sounds.

Alcoi (see Círculo Industrial, Alcoi (Alcoy), Moros y Cristianos (Moors and Christians)) is famous in the region for traditional sweets first introduced by the Arabs. Most cake shops sell sugared almonds and the tasty sugar-coated pine nuts called peladillas .

The peaceful medieval village of Aledo is huddled tightly behind vestiges of ancient walls, on a rocky outcrop that juts out alarmingly over the surrounding valley. Perched at the tip of the village is a watchtower, surrounded by a modern walkway offering beautiful views over the terraced hillsides and distant peaks. Three km (2 miles) away, an elegant 18th-century sanctuary with a richly carved artesonado ceiling houses a much-venerated image of the local patron saint, Santa Eulalia. Aledo sits on the borders of the wonderful Regional Park of the Sierra de Espuña.

This small agricultural village is well known for its hearty traditional cuisine, particularly cured sausages. The local wine, a strong, earthy red produced under the D.O. of Alicante, is perfect with regional dishes.

The ultimate one-stop shopping destination, Alicante has the biggest department stores, plus plenty of large high-street chain shops, all lined up along the Avenida Maisonnave.

Alicante’s Modernista-style market has all kinds of delicious fresh produce, and pretty flower stalls.

Alicante’s main wine-producing regions are around Monóvar and El Pinós (see Wine Towns), which make robust reds and a famous sweet dessert wine called El Fondillón. Teulada also produces good sweet dessert wines called mistelas .