beaches and coves of valencia
DESCRIPTION
Beaches and coves of ValenciaTRANSCRIPT
Hundreds of kilometres of the finest beaches in Europe Ð hidden away in coves, oropen and majestic, with fine golden sand or smooth shingle, under the shelter ofcliffs or open to the coastal plains. With warm water in summer and autumn, andlots of sun even in winter.
Along its entire length, the Land of Valencia is a major attraction for visitors andresidents alike, because local beaches are the ideal place for fun and sun, leisureand entertainment, where everyone can enjoy the sea and the weather. The CostaBlanca, Benidorm, Val�ncia Terra i Mar and the Costa Azahar are a permanent feastfor the senses, providing guaranteed enjoyment from dawn to dusk.
L A N D O F
VALENC IA
www.comunitatvalenciana.com
PROFILES
The coast of the Land of Valencia has a crescent moon shape
whose lower point is marked by the spectacular capes of La Nao
and San Antonio, near D�nia. From this point towards the
north, the Gulf of Valencia - reaching up to the Ebro river
estuary in Tarragona - includes the Costa Azahar, or "orange
blossom" coast in Castell�n province and the gently curving
coast of Valencia province, with its sandy beaches interspersed
with areas containing pebbles of varying sizes. Of note along
this flattish coast are two spectacular interruptions Ð the tiny
peninsula of Pe��scola above Alcossebre, and the cape of
Oropesa further south. The Costa Blanca, the haunt of many
tourists and the home of not a few foreign residents, combines
magnificent beaches and cliffs with enchanting coves.
The sun rises over the Mediterranean and shines on this stretch
of land for almost 3,000 hours a year, dropping into the
peninsula to create continental sunsets which are sometimes
dramatic, after which the sea looks up in search of sparkling
moonlight.
THE MEDITERRANEAN BALCONY
The coast of the Land of Valencia lines the western edge of
a sea which has been shared by a number of countries and
cultures for as long as man can remember, a sacred sea which
has given shape to the minds and morals of the modern world
through the ancient Greco-Roman culture. It has been called
the ÔworldÕs navelÕ, and of course the Romans called it simply
Ôour seaÕ. From the eastern end, Asiatic migrators made their
way across it, only to settle down and stay for centuries on
end. The Mediterranean was certainly the maritime bed that
nurtured humanity in its early days. The Land of Valencia has beaches for enjoying the fine weather all year round. La Granadella cove, a beauty spotsurrounded by cliffs (facing page); the golden sands and quiet waters of the Levante beach in Benidorm (above); thesand dunes in Guardamar del Segura, the pine trees and the sea offer an almost virgin landscape (above right).
The Rock of Ifach has been declared aLand of Valencia Nature Park. It is animpressive rock connected to theshore by a narrow headland. From thesummit there are superb views overthe coast and the inland mountains.
The Valencian coastline is mostly flat, with very long beaches of fine sand. In Canet d'En Berenguer andSagunto, the seashore is covered by sand and dunes, and beaches have a family atmosphere.
ENDLESS BEACHES
In Canet dÕEn Berenguer and Sagunto, the shoreline
recovers its attraction for all comers, thanks to sweeping dunes
and sandy beaches, with clear water and an exotic access
through the local orange groves. Sand is king here, with no
rocky interruptions. To the north of the city of Valencia there
are various beachfront holiday centres such as Alboraya, La
Pobla de Farnals, El Puig, enabling locals and inland folk to
enjoy the beach in areas that were farmlands not so long ago.
Within the Valencia city limits, the Malvarrosa and Levante
beaches offer city-style beach-life, day or night, with a
promenade, lots of caf�s and restaurants and leisure and sports
areas. Southwards again, the El Saler beach allows nature to
take over once again, as the Albufera Nature Park is a protected
reserve with a Mediterranean pine forest growing on sand dunes
facing the sea, with the freshwater Albufera lagoon behind it.
The long sandy beach provides varying degrees of privacy even
in midsummer. Further on, the beaches of Sueca, Cullera,
Gandia and Oliva combine beautiful landscapes with lots of
sports and recreational facilities in an area intended for fun and
enjoyment. Fine sand and clean water, with a backdrop of
rugged mountains in the interior, provide scenic views well
worth seeing.
ORANGE BLOSSOM SEA
From north to south, the scenic and historic attraction of
Pe��scola is unquestionable. It has a good accommodation
lineup and many complementary attractions, sharing the fun-
and-sun attractions for a growing tourist turnout each year
with nearby Benicarl� and Vinar�s.
The last spurs of the Irta mountains flank the sea for a num-
ber of kilometres down to Alcal� de Xivert and its beachfront
satellite area Alcossebre, which has its cliffs, small rocky
coves and one broad sandy beach with fresh-water springs bub-
bling up from the seabed. Located south of the protected
nature reserve called Prat de Cabanes-Torreblanca, is Orope-
sa del Mar, where sunbathers and swimmers take over again
on the handsome beach of La Concha. The coast keeps a low
profile until it becomes a wide sandy beach in Benic�ssim, a
family holiday centre with apartment buildings and leisure
attractions. All the towns and villages in the proximity of Cas-
tell�n have their little roads to the beach.
The picturesque peninsula of Pe��scola rises up from the Costa Azahar, surmounted by the ÒPapa LunaÓ castle (Pope Benedict XIII)(above). The last rays of the sun are reflected in the waters of the bay of Torreblanca, an open invitation to swimmers (aboveright). In Oropesa del Mar (facing page), the Concha beach and the marina are two magnificent ways to enjoy the sea.
The Cullera shoreline is a bustling place,particularly in the summer months. Thelong beach and numerous leisure facilitiesmake this an outstanding tourist destina-tion.
Gandia beach (above left) has ample space for its numerous sports and recreation facilities. In Piles and Oliva(above right), the beaches are tranquil places, ideal for enjoying the sun, the sea and lots of water sports.
L A N D O F
VALENC IA
are breathtakingly beautiful, creating cliff-faces, hid-
den coves and sharp, sloping beaches, some with sand,
others with shingle. J�vea, Teulada, Benissa, Calpe,
Altea and La Vila Joiosa... these are true seafarer
villages, sitting on the coast, looking out to sea, and
inviting visitors to partake of their delights and disco-
ver their secrets. In Benidorm, however, the bravado
of the coast seems to tone down once again, opening
out to create an incredibly broad stretch of southerly-
facing sand enjoying year-round sun. This was SpainÕs
first tourist enclave, and it is still going strong.
LA MARINA
From D�nia to Benidorm, the coastline acquires
monumental proportions. Left behind in the north are
the flat, fertile orchards and the leisurely lowlands.
Here the mountains dip their feet in the sea, breaking
off abruptly on this coastal area of the Land of Valen-
cia, where crystal-clear waters, attractive seabeds
and bright, sandy beaches are always part of the
landscape. The capes of San Antonio and La Nao,
Moraira, and a little further south, the Rock of Ifach,
Above, a view of the Luis Campomonas marina in Altea, a place to breathe the Mediterrane-an and cosmopolitan airs that suffuse this seaside town.
Transparent water, nautical sports, a busy night life... On the Costa Blanca, by the sea, fun is gua-ranteed. Below from left to right: water sports in Moraira, a caf� terrace with Benidorm island inthe distance, Benitachell cove, and the Mal Pas cove in Benidorm.
The immense Levante beach inBenidorm is internationallyfamous and welcomes visitorsfrom all over the world throug-hout the year.
L A N D O F
VALENC IA
SALT AND SAND
Deeper into the south, El Campello, San Juan and
the city of Alicante itself complete this vacation
showcase, whose sun and fun products more than jus-
tify a lengthy and leisurely stay.
Near the southernmost tip of the Land of Valencia,
totalling 466km of coastline, visitors again encounter
fine, sandy beaches at Orihuela and Elx, and La
Dehesa de Campoamor, becoming saltier in the salt
flats of Torrevieja and Santa Pola, then changing to
picturesque dunes in Guardamar del Segura, and
finally turning into small-scale cliffs in Cabo Roig and
the coast of Pilar de la Horadada.
BLUE FLAGS
The Blue Flag flutters over the beaches of the Costa
Blanca, Benidorm, the Costa Azahar and Val�ncia Terra
i Mar, as a distinctive badge of the water and beach
service quality. You will find all kinds of facilities and
services here: play areas for children, sports facilities
including basketball and volleyball areas, moored rafts,
eco-friendly footbaths that use desalinized sea-water,
cleaning and maintenance services, waste-paper
baskets, walkways, etc.
The Alicante coast is noted for its long sandy beaches and the quality of itswaters. Postiguet beach (above) and San Juan beach (facing page).
The palm tree is an attractionthat is found all along the coastli-ne of the Land of Valencia and isa symbol of this part of thecountry. Below, an exotic beach inTorrevieja.
The Costa Blanca shoreline offers calm, transparent waters in which tomake the most of the sea and the water sports while on holiday.
Alicante's Postiguet beach takes part in the urban life of the city and hasall kinds of facilities for both children and adults.
VALENCIA
BENIDORM
ALTEALÕALFËS DEL PI
CASTELLîNde la Plana
ALICANTE
N
EO
S
VINARñS
BENICARLî
PE�êSCOLA
ALCALç DE XIVERT
TORREBLANCA
OROPESA
BENICËSSIM
MONCOFA
CANET DEÕN BERENGUER
SAGUNTO
SUECA
CULLERA
TAVERNES DE LA VALLDIGNA
GANDêA
OLIVA
D�NIA
XËBIA
TEULADA-MORAIRABENISSA
LA VILA JOIOSA
EL CAMPELLO
SANTA POLA
GUARDAMAR DEL SEGURA
TORREVIEJA
PILAR DE LA HORADADA
Mar Xica / Morrongo / Caracola
Triador/ Fortí / Fora ForatEl Clot
Norte / Sur / Calas de la Costa Sur
ALCOSSEBRE
Platges de Ribamar / Les Fonts / CarregadorRomana / Moro / Tres Playas / L’EstanySerradal / Capicorb
Norte / Torrenostra
Amplaries / Morro de Gos / Concha / Les Platgetes
Voramar / Almadraba / Torre San VicenteEls Terrers / Heliópolis
L'Arenal
NULES Nules
Playa Norte / Playa Sur
Grau / Masbó
BURRIANA
Corinto-Malvarrosa / AlmardáPuerto Sagunto
Racó de Mar
LA POBLA DE FARNALS
ALBORAYA
EL PUIG
Port-Saplaya Norte / Port-Saplaya / Patacona
Plans-Barri de Pescadors-Santa Elvira / Puig Val-Play Puig
Malvarrosa / Cabañal-Arenas / Pinedo / El SalerLa Devesa / Recatí
Playa Norte / Playa Sur
El Perelló / Les Palmeretes / ReyBega de Mar / Mareny Blau
Mareny de San Llorenç / Dossel / El Faro / Los OlivosCap Blanc / Racó / San Antonio / Marenyet / Estany / Brosquil
Playa de Xeraco
Tavernes de la Valldigna / La Goleta
Pope o Tangó / La Grava / Muntanyar I / El Arenal / Cala BlancaCala Sardinera / La Barraca o Portitxol / Ambolo / La Granadella
Les Deveses / La Almadrava / Les Bovetes / Les MarinesPunta del Raset / Marineta Cassiana / Les Rotes
D’Ahuir / Playa Nord / Venecia / Rafalcaid
Les Bassetes / Del Mallorquí / Calalga / Levante o La Fossa / Del PenyalEl Racó / Cantal Roig / Arenal-Bol / La Manzanera / Puerto BlancoLes Urques / Gasparet / Racó del Corv
Cala Ti Ximo / La Almadrava / Levante / Mal Pas / Poniente
Del Torres / Almadrava / Estudiants / Tio Roig / Playa Centro o Ciutat / Playa ParadísPlaya Bon Nou / La Caleta
Cala de Finestrat
Playa de San Juan / Playa de la Albufereta / Playa del Postiguet / Playa del Saladar / Isla de Tabarca
Carrer la Mar / Almadrava / Mutxavista / Calas del Campello
L’Altet / Arenals del Sol / El Pinet / La Marina / Les Pesqueres-El Rebollo / El Carabassí
Tabarca
El Serradal / El Gurugú / El Pinar
CHILCHES
ALMENARA Playa Casablanca
XERACO
FINESTRAT
ELX
ORIHUELA
Terranova / Burguera / Pau-Pi / Les Aigües BlanquesL’Aigua Morta / La Devesa
Los Pedregales / Daimús
CABANES La Ribera de Cabanes / La Torre de la Sal
Pla de la Torre / Ben-AfeliALMASSORA
MASSAMAGRELLMELIANA
BENITACHELL
DAIMòSGUARDAMARBELLREGUARD
MIRAMARPILES
Del MoraigDel Portet / L´Ampolla / Platgetes / L’Andragó
Baladrar / Advogat-Lobella / Els Pinets / La FusteraCALPE
Platja del Mascarat / La Barreta de Gualda / La Solsida / Platges de l’OllaCala de Soio / Cap Negret / La Roda / Cap BlanchPlaya del Albir
Calas del Cabo / Calas Sant Pola del Este / Varadero / Llevant / Playas de Santiago BernabeuGran Playa / Playa Lisa / Tamarit / El Pinet / La Gola
Els Tusals-Los Tusales / Els Vivers-Los Viveros / Playa Centro/ La Roqueta / El MoncayoPlaya del Campo / Les Ortigues
Playa de la Mata / Playa de los Locos / Playa del Cura / Playa de los Naúfragos
Punta Prima / Playa Flamenca / Playa de la Zenia / Playa de Cabo Roig / Dehesa de Campoamor / Mil Palmeras
Mil Palmeras / Jesuitas-Cala Rincón / Puerto / La Villas-Higuericas / El Mojón
Playa de Massamagrell
Playa de Meliana
Playa de GuardamarPlaya de BellreguardPlaya de Miramar
Playa de Piles
BEACHES OF THE LAND OF VALENCIA
MEDITERRANEANSEA
OUR BEACHES
The beaches of the Land of Valencia possess excellent qualities that ena-
ble them to be enjoyed to the full. Below is a list of beaches along the
coastline, with symbols describing their major characteristics.
open beach cove rustic beach semi-urban beach urban beach
virgin beach fine sand coarse sand shingle pebbles
rocks nudist lifeguard state of the sea disabled access
red cross tourist information point footbath and showers walkways sports area
playground moored rafts toilets hotels campsites
restaurants sailing windsurfing water skiing seafront promenade
car park public telephone bus stop taxi rank railway