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.

Monóvar

The cheerful wine town of Monóvar produces an excellent, robust red wine, as well as rosés, but it is best known for the wonderful dessert wine El Fondillón.
Montgó (Hike)

The hike to the top of Montgó begins at the entrance to the park and climbs steadily, past ancient caves and scrubby hills covered with wild herbs and flowers, up to the Creueta de Cima at 753 m (2,470 ft). The hike is easy, but it takes about three hours each way – well worth it, though, since a tremendous view of the dramatic coastline unfolds.
Moorish Sweets

The Arabic influence in Spain is all-pervasive – it’s strongly felt even in Murcia’s sweets and pastries. Try the caramelized almonds, the fresh yemas (made with egg yolks and lemon) – these are especially good around Caravaca de la Cruz – and paparajotes , exquisitely light lemon or orange pastries delicately flavoured with cinnamon. Irresistible!
Moraira

A smart enclave of whitewashed villas on a rugged coastline, with quiet coves and a marina.
Moratalla

Medieval Moratalla is a tawny huddle of stone houses steeply piled around a sturdy castle. A traditional mountain town with few monuments, Moratalla’s greatest charms are the natural beauty of the surrounding sierras and its tranquil pace of life, which continues much as it has for centuries. The local cuisine is traditional, with hearty stews and plenty of grilled meat and game. The festivals, particularly Easter Week, are celebrated in old-fashioned style. On Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, the town resounds to the sound of almost a thousand drummers making their way through the centre of town.
Moratalla

Sleepy Moratalla dreams on a hillside in the remotest corner of Murcia, a chaotic jumble of tiled rooftops under yet another ruined castle. The streets are so steep that the locals get around on mopeds. A viewing point near the castle offers fine views across the sierra.
Moros y Cristianos (Moors and Christians)

Mock battles between Moors and Christians have been held for centuries. The biggest and best is held in Alcoi (Alcoy) around 24 April, but most villages have their own version.
MuBag, Alicante

A beautifully restored 18th-century palace houses this wide-ranging collection of paintings, furniture, ceramics and engravings by Alicantino artists.
Múdejar

A fusion of Christian and Islamic art created by the Arabs who remained in Spain after the Reconquest.
Mula

Mula is clamped to a steep hillside beneath the impressive ruins of a 16th-century castle. The intricate maze of winding streets and passages at the heart of the old quarter recalls the town’s Arabic origins. Here you will find faded mansions and elaborate churches, many built under the auspices of the Marquises of Vélez during the 16th century, when Mula enjoyed its greatest period of prosperity. On the fringes of the town, the delightful spa at Baños de Mula has been famous since Roman times.