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.

Alquiler de Estudios, Alicante (Alacant)

An ingenious mix of hotel rooms and self-catering accommodation, set in Alicante’s seductive old quarter. The four pristine studios have large en-suite bathrooms and small kitchen areas. Three larger apartments are also available.
Altea

The pretty village of (Altea) was “discovered” by artists during the 1960s and ’70s, and is filled with galleries and craft shops selling everything from watercolours to pottery and hand-made jewellery.
Altea

An art market is held every evening during summer in the Plaza Iglesia at the top of the old village.
Altea

Pretty Altea, piled on a hill overlooking the sea and topped with a blue-domed church, has long attracted artists, and the old quarter is packed with arty shops and galleries. A narrow, pebbly beach is backed by an appealing seafront promenade, where the whole town comes to stroll on summer evenings.
Aquopolis, Torrevieja

This big, fun water-park has everything to keep the kids happy, from waterslides of all heights and shapes to wave pools and assorted swimming pools. There are special areas for toddlers, and plenty of snack bars and ice-cream shops.
Arantxa Sanches Vicario

Spain’s finest female tennis champion has won several Grand Slam tournaments.
Archena

There is little to see in the sleepy market town of Archena besides the florid Baroque Church of San Juan Batista and a few neglected aristocratic mansions, but its spa (Balneario de Archena) has been famous since Roman times. Prettily located in a cool palm grove on the banks of the River Segura, the spa has grown into a miniature village, complete with a delightful chapel and 19th-century casino. There are three hotels (see Mountain Retreats), and a whole range of health and beauty treatments are on offer.
Artesanía Abellán

Murcia is famous for its beautifully crafted belenes , the figures used to decorate traditional nativity scenes at Christmas. This old-fashioned shop sells a host of figures, from angels and saints to farmers and fishermen.
Artesonado

Elaborately carved marquetry ceilings introduced by the Arabs, but absorbed into the Christian tradition after the Reconquest.
Ayuntamiento (Town Hall), Xixona (Jijona)

Xixona is most famous for the sweet nougat (turrón ) that it produces in vast quantities, but it also contains some handsome turn-of-the-20th-century buildings. The town hall sports a lovely façade, thickly covered with brilliant blue and gold tiles and painted griffons.