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The most sumptuous Modernista mansion in the Costa Blanca has been exquisitely restored, and still contains much of its original furniture .

Alcoi, still a busy industrial town, has several Modernista buildings. The Círculo Industrial (1868) was one of the earliest. Particularly worthy of note are the flowing ironwork and ceramic details in its fine salons and library. Designed as a cultural centre, it still hosts art exhibitions and the occasional concert.

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.

Torrevieja’s celebrated seafront casino is one of the purest examples of Modernista architecture in the region. The highlight is the Mozarabic salon, with a fabulous carved wooden ceiling, horseshoe arches and shimmering mosaic tiling.

This architectural gem of the early 20th century is tucked away in the quiet wine-producing town of Jumilla. Designed by a follower of Gaudí, it boasts impressive, highly ornate ironwork by local craftsman Avelino Gómez.

Murcia’s breathtaking casino (see Casino de Murcia) is a monument to eclecticism. Each room has a different theme, from the Arabic-style entrance hall with its gorgeous ceiling which drips like icing, to the flamboyant Rococo frills and flounces in the ballroom. And there’s a special bonus for female visitors: the mural of primping nymphs in the ladies’ restroom.

The most prolific Modernista architect in Cartagena at the turn of the 20th century was Victor Beltrí, who was responsible for this beautiful mansion in the heart of the old town. Profusely decorated with shimmering tiled mosaics and topped with a brilliant cupola, its corner position was chosen to ensure plenty of natural light.

This 18th-century Baroque palace was completely overhauled at the end of the 19th century, when the property was taken over by the Casino Círculo Cartagenero, a social and cultural club. Victor Beltrí was responsible for adding the ornate Modernista woodwork, floral tiling and exuberant plasterwork, which are now sadly neglected.

Crowned with its trademark golden cupola, the most emblematic Modernista building in the whole of Cartagena, the opulent Gran Hotel, was begun in 1907 by Tomás Rico and completed by the indefatigable Victor Beltrí. Every window and archway is surrounded with swooping stone garlands. It is no longer a hotel, and visitors must be content with admiring its exterior.

The Casa de El Piñón is one of the best examples of Murcian eclecticism, bristling with florid decoration and topped with a cupola which was designed by Gustave Eiffel. The building is finally being restored after years of neglect, and will eventually house local government offices.