The well known tourist town of Calpe is located on the north coast of the province of Alicante, in the Marina Alta region.
Its hallmark is Ifach Rock, an enormous limestone mass that rises 322 metres above the city, cutting half the coastline and entering the sea. In 1987 it was declared a natural park. It is a paradise for climbers and trekkers.
Calpe's history goes back to the Bronze Age, when the first settlements appeared there, on its hills and rocks. During Romanization, some of the settlements related to maritime trade and salt mining moved to the coast. The first castle - a defensive fortress - was built in the Arab period over the passage of the Mascarat.
Between 1240 and 1254, with the reconquest of Denia, the Christians reoccupied these lands.
In the 14th century, Calpe was fortified with more walls to defend it from attacks by the Moors.
Calpe was looted by Berber pirates in 1637. This is the most tragic event in its history: 290 people were taken prisoner and sent to Algiers. Five years later, they were released in exchange for gold and captive pirates. At that time, there were only 18 standing houses and 350 residents left inside the walled city.
In the Old Town you find the remains of the wall and the Old Church, which currently serves as the chapel of the Parish Church and is the only example of Mudejar Gothic art in the Valencian Community. You can also visit the chapel of San Salvador, from the 18th century, and the Molino de Morelló, built in the middle of the 19th century. The country houses with riurau - typical construction of the zone and destined to the culture of the raisin - can be seen by all the town area. One of them is Casa Cocó, which is the current location of the local Ethnological Museum. And, in the Manzanera area, you can admire the masterpiece of architect Ricardo Bofill, the futuristic residential complex Muralla Roja (Red Wall), inspired by the Arabic kasbah and designed in the 1960s.
The climate in Calpe is temperate and warm, with average temperatures of +20°C, and 300 days of sunshine a year. The city has 14 sandy beaches and many secluded coves. In 2019, three of Calpe's beaches (La Fossa, Cantal Roig and Arenal Bol) were awarded a Blue Flag in recognition of their quality.
The surroundings of Calpe are an ideal place to stroll. From El Racó beach at the foot of Ifach Rock extends the picturesque promenade 'Prince and Princess of Asturias'. In front of it is the fishing port, where you can attend fresh fish auctions by local fishermen from Monday to Friday around 7 pm.
Another interesting place is the century-old Salina de Calpe, which until a few years ago was exploited as a salt industry and is now a protected wetland. In its lagoon, you can contemplate up to 173 different specimens of birds, among which the common flamingo stands out.
Calpe, Alicante
