We will visit the 2nd most important city of the Comunidad Valenciana, Alicante, and we will also have the opportunity to climb the Peñón de Ifach, a rock that rises more than 300m above the sea and offers spectacular views.
We're going to ALICANTE and to PENON DE IFACH
We'll leave Valencia early in the morning and come back around dinner time.
Alicante
The city was founded by the Greeks more than 2,500 years ago under the name Acre Leuca ('Cerro Blanco'), then the Romans renamed it Lucentum (City of Light) and the Arabs named it Al Lukant.
Tha main attraction in Alicants is the Santa Barbara castle. This castle is is located on cliff Benacantil at an altitude of 166m above sea level, and has always been an important strategic point during the battles for the city. Today from the castle you can admire the breathtaking view of the city of Alicante, and the sea with its beaches and neighboring villages. Also there is now a museum of history in the castle.
One of the great attractions of the city is the Paseo Explanada. It is a universally known scenic spot to rest for visitors and locals. The floor of the street is designed as a magnificent mosaic, which is made up of 6 million stones.
In the center of the old town is the magnificent building of the Basilica of Santa Maria which has been here since the sixteenth century and was originally a Muslim mosque.
Peñón de Ifach
It is a symbol of the Costa Blanca, the limestone rock that juts deep into the sea and has an area of approximately 50,000m2. The height of the cliff is 332 m, and its length is 1000 m The mountain is connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus. The Rock is impressive with its unusual shape and beauty and it is considered an amazing natural attraction of the Mediterranean coast.
On both sides of Peñon de Ifach are golden sandy beaches and crystal clear waters.
At the foot of the Rock is the Royal Yacht Club of Calpe (Real Club Nautico Calpe) and a fishing port where the daily catch is delivered by dozens of ships. This is what has made Calpe the capital of fish dishes in the province of Alicante.
It is worth noting that the Ifach has long been a place of regular meetings of climbers and divers from around the world. They come here to defy the forces of nature, and to conquer the vertical walls and the deep sea.
Before it became a National Park there was an attempt to rob ths area of its natural beauty and its plants and birds. A hotel was to be build and they even started building the foundations. Fortunately for the rock, those who visit come to surround themselves in nature, and the idea shocked them. The idea of a hotel completely exploited this idea.
During the days from the National Park you can clearly see the Cabo de Huerta which is near to Alicante, Denia and Moraira, and even the distant outline of Ibiza.
Right at your feet you can see the port which is quite small in compasiron to the large hotels and tourist villas and a nesting site for flamingos - the marshes of El Salter.
The climb to the summit doesn't take long, however the last part of the route requieres a certain skill, ability and the right shoes! Along the path you can see all sorts of flowers and plants and animals and the park is home to more than 80 species of birds (Peregrine falcon, the yellow-legged gull, the long nose cormorant, and the warbler) and there are around 400 species of plants. Some of which are only found here.
We'll stop in Calpe first to climb up the Penon de Ifach. We'll also eat here in Calpe so you can bring your own food and have a picnic on the beach.
In Alicante we will have a guided visit where we will learn all of the history and discover the main monuments of the city.
We will also walk up to the Castle of Alicante which boasts incredible views of the city and the beaches. You will be able to take the elevator to the top of the mountain (166m) and feel the magic of one of Spain's most historic and well preserved castles.
We will see the Galeon Santisima Trinidad which is now is now moored in Alicante and is a replica of one of the types of Spains naval ships with a lot of history.
We'll leave Valencia early in the morning and come back around dinner time.
Alicante
The city was founded by the Greeks more than 2,500 years ago under the name Acre Leuca ('Cerro Blanco'), then the Romans renamed it Lucentum (City of Light) and the Arabs named it Al Lukant.
Tha main attraction in Alicants is the Santa Barbara castle. This castle is is located on cliff Benacantil at an altitude of 166m above sea level, and has always been an important strategic point during the battles for the city. Today from the castle you can admire the breathtaking view of the city of Alicante, and the sea with its beaches and neighboring villages. Also there is now a museum of history in the castle.
One of the great attractions of the city is the Paseo Explanada. It is a universally known scenic spot to rest for visitors and locals. The floor of the street is designed as a magnificent mosaic, which is made up of 6 million stones.
In the center of the old town is the magnificent building of the Basilica of Santa Maria which has been here since the sixteenth century and was originally a Muslim mosque.
Peñón de Ifach
It is a symbol of the Costa Blanca, the limestone rock that juts deep into the sea and has an area of approximately 50,000m2. The height of the cliff is 332 m, and its length is 1000 m The mountain is connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus. The Rock is impressive with its unusual shape and beauty and it is considered an amazing natural attraction of the Mediterranean coast.
On both sides of Peñon de Ifach are golden sandy beaches and crystal clear waters.
At the foot of the Rock is the Royal Yacht Club of Calpe (Real Club Nautico Calpe) and a fishing port where the daily catch is delivered by dozens of ships. This is what has made Calpe the capital of fish dishes in the province of Alicante.
It is worth noting that the Ifach has long been a place of regular meetings of climbers and divers from around the world. They come here to defy the forces of nature, and to conquer the vertical walls and the deep sea.
The high status of the Ifach was acquired long before the tourist boom of the late twentieth century. 3000 years before the Phoenicians and qualified sailors believed that the Peñon de Ifach was one of the cornerstones of the world, and therefore it was given a meaningful name - the North Mountain. The Arabic word "Ifach" represents the same part of the world (north), preserved in the modern name of the rock.
However, the government of Valencia took a long time to recognize this obvious fact but eventually declared the are surrounding the rock as a natural park in 1987.
However, the government of Valencia took a long time to recognize this obvious fact but eventually declared the are surrounding the rock as a natural park in 1987.
Before it became a National Park there was an attempt to rob ths area of its natural beauty and its plants and birds. A hotel was to be build and they even started building the foundations. Fortunately for the rock, those who visit come to surround themselves in nature, and the idea shocked them. The idea of a hotel completely exploited this idea.
During the days from the National Park you can clearly see the Cabo de Huerta which is near to Alicante, Denia and Moraira, and even the distant outline of Ibiza.
Right at your feet you can see the port which is quite small in compasiron to the large hotels and tourist villas and a nesting site for flamingos - the marshes of El Salter.
The climb to the summit doesn't take long, however the last part of the route requieres a certain skill, ability and the right shoes! Along the path you can see all sorts of flowers and plants and animals and the park is home to more than 80 species of birds (Peregrine falcon, the yellow-legged gull, the long nose cormorant, and the warbler) and there are around 400 species of plants. Some of which are only found here.
We'll stop in Calpe first to climb up the Penon de Ifach. We'll also eat here in Calpe so you can bring your own food and have a picnic on the beach.
In Alicante we will have a guided visit where we will learn all of the history and discover the main monuments of the city.
We will also walk up to the Castle of Alicante which boasts incredible views of the city and the beaches. You will be able to take the elevator to the top of the mountain (166m) and feel the magic of one of Spain's most historic and well preserved castles.
We will see the Galeon Santisima Trinidad which is now is now moored in Alicante and is a replica of one of the types of Spains naval ships with a lot of history.
