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The lush Gallinera Valley has been cultivated since Arabic times, and the hillsides are still lined with tidy stone terraces full of dusky olive groves and fruit orchards. The valley is scattered with tiny, ancient villages, their Arabic origins echoed in their names – Alcalà, Benimantell, Benitaya – and reflected in the maze of crooked streets at their heart (see Val de Gallinera (Drive)).

The large, prosperous town of Villena is crowned by a story-book castle, complete with hefty, crenellated walls and watch-towers. At its feet lies a chaotic sprawl of tile-roofed houses, the heart of the medieval village. The central Plaza de Santiago is surrounded by handsome 16th-century palaces and the graceful Renaissance church of Santa María, which bears a flamboyant Baroque façade. The finest palace on this square is now the town hall, home to an archaeology museum which contains the sumptuous Tesoro de Villena, a spectacular hoard of Bronze Age gold discovered by chance in the 1960s (see Museo Arqueológico, Villena).

High above the town, this fairytale castle has crenellated towers and sturdy ramparts.

The pretty tumble of old Xàbia sits on a hilltop a couple of miles inland from the sea. The bay forms a perfect horseshoe, with a choice of pebbly or sandy beaches and a spectacular cape at both ends.

Dominated by its striking 19th-century church, the formerly sleepy village of Xaló is now surrounded by endless villas and holiday home developments. These days, tourism is its biggest source of income, but some traditions, including wine-production, have continued. There are several bodegas, with reds, whites, rosés and a sweet white mistela wine.

This ancient mountain town is known as the “City of Two Popes” – Alexander VI and Calixto III (both Borjas) were born here. Piled steeply on a hillside, the narrow streets and arcaded squares are still scattered with handsome churches and escutcheoned mansions, which attest to its medieval importance. It’s topped with a fine castle offering incredible views (see Colegiata Basílica de Santa María, Xàtiva (Játiva)), (see Museo de l’Almudí, Xàtiva (Játiva)), (see Xàtiva (Játiva)).

The Romans built a fortress here, but the current castle dates back to the medieval period.

Xixona (see Ayuntamiento (Town Hall), Xixona (Jijona)) is the biggest producer of the delicious Spanish nougat (turrón ), which is traditionally eaten at Christmas but is available all year round at countless local shops.

Yecla is the prettiest of all the wine towns in the Costa Blanca, with a smattering of historic churches and buildings. It’s best known for its red wines, which are generally light and fruity. Many bodegas offer tastings and tours.