In the thirties writers such as Hemingway spent their summers in Calpe. Calpe’s first hotel was established next to the Peñón Rock: the Ifach Parador. The Morro del Toix and the Peñón de Ifach mark the extremities of Calpe’s bay. The Peñón de Ifach (Ifach means north in Phoenician) is the symbol of Calpe and, by extension, of the Costa Blanca. It is the highest rock in the entire Mediterranean and divides Calpe’s shoreline in two. The limestone mass is 332 metres high and penetrates one kilometre into the sea, forming a first-rate geological feature. Since 1987, a Natural Park has preserved its unique ecological treasures such as the Ifach carnation. The summit of the rock can be visited in organized groups and in the Nature Auditorium the rich fauna and flora of the park is explained. There is also one of the best views of the Costa Blanca from the top of the rock.
Prehistoric, Iberian, Phoenician and Roman remains have been found immediately next to the Peñón and on the isthmus which links it to the coast. At the foot of the Peñón are the ‘Baños de la Reina’ (literally, The Queen’s Baths) that, in reality, was the site of a Roman ‘factory’ for the drying and salting of fish. The Peñón was also an extremely good watchtower for the people that lived at its base. The Morro de Toix was another place used to watch over the Barranc del Mascarat, which provided access to the coast. During the course of the centuries, the village retreated more inland for greater protection and, following an attack by pirates, protective walls were built around the village in the 15th century. The only sections of these walls remaining are the Peça Tower next to which is found the only church built in a Mudejar-Gothic style in the entire Valencian Region. Between Les Bassetes and the Morro de Toix Calpe there are 11 kilometres of sandy beaches - for instance the Levante and Arenal beaches - and coves like the one at La Manzanera where there are three buildings designed by Ricardo Bofill, and the Les Urques cove where scuba diving and fishing are possible. The Cueva dels Coloms, in the Morro de Toix, which faces towards Altea, is a freshwater cave that is only accessible from the sea. The nature of Calpe can be appreciated through nautical excursions and walks. The Peñón de Ifach is renowned by climbers for its difficulties and unique features, and it can be climbed by a number of routes of varying difficulty. Potholing is possible on the steep banks and peaks of the Monte Oltá and the Barranc del Mascarat. Calpe´s attractions have made the village a tourist destination of note for both national and international visitors, who live together all year round in peace and harmony.
Calpe has an extensive offer of restaurants ranging from those specialising in internacional food to those offering typical dishes of the area, principally based on fish and rice. "Llauna de Calp" and "Arròs de Senyoret" are typical dishes followed by many more such as Putxero de polp, paella, arròs amb fesols i naps amb bledes and al forn without forgetting the delicious cocas and home-made cakes and pastries. All this accompanied by the wine of intense ruby with purple sparkles that is a homage to this region.
Crafts using marine products.
In the old town, next to the Moorish suburb of Arrabal, rises the estate formed by the Torreó de Peça, the Ramparts and the Old Church, the only example of a gothic-mudejar style in the Community of Valencia. Bordering on the coast we can find Banys de la Reina, a Roman fish hatchery. The chapel of San Salvador and the chapel of la Cometa are both from the 18th century, as well as the Casa del Cocó, Casa Nova and Pou Salat. From 19th century is the Torre Molí del Morelló a flour mill. The Llavador de la Font was the Town’s old fountain and public washhouse.
The Peñón de Ifach declared Nature Park has a height of 332m and goes
into the sea up to the point of Carallot. A path leads all the way up to the summit from where you can enjoy a magnificient view. The antique
Roman salt mines at the food of the rock are an important ecological
landscape that shelters a great number of migrating birds. At the
south the bay clothes with Morro de Toix whilst the heights of
Cometa, Oltà, Mascarat and Collao in the Interios of the district
alternate with fields of cultivation, shaping a beautiful countryside.
The coast combines the cliffs of ifach, Toix and Mançanera with inlets
of Racó, Urques, Mallorquí, Calalga and Bassetes and with the fine
sandy beaches of Fossa, Arenal-Bol, Cantal Roig and Puerto Blanco.
Festivals Museum: C/ Jose Antonio 6. Collectionism Museum: Pza. de
la Villa. Archaeological: C/ Francisco Zaragoza, 2. Casa de la
Senyoreta Museum: C/ Santísimo Cristo, 7.
San Antonio in January, Carnival and German Carnival in February,
Day of Andalusia in February, Fallas of San José 19th March, Cruz de
Mayo in May, Bonfires of San Juan 24th June, Virgen del Carmen 16th
July, Fair of Andalusia in June, Virgen de las Nieves 5th August, Beer
festival in October, Moors and Christians and the Santísimo Cristo del
Sudor, Around 22nd October.
A walk through the old-town with typical streets of a seaboard town
and paintings in fresco, a visit to the museums and the town’s
squares and finally climb to the hill to the chapel of San Salvador.
A climb up to the Peñón the Ifach in order to contemplate the splendid panoramic view and a walk along the ecological promenade Principe
de Asturias that borders on the sea. In the afternoons watch the
arrival of the fishing boats and the auctioning of the fish afterwards
from the lookout of the commodity exchange. In summer time Calpe
offers furthermore sightseeings by the little tourist train, cinema on
the beach, and craftsmanship fair in the old town.
The airports L’Altet (Alicante) and Manises (Valencia) at 70 and 125Km
from Calpe respectively allow a link with the main capitals through
national and international flights. On the road, the main links are the
A-7 (exit 63 and 64) at 8 Km from Calpe and the N-332 (Valencia-
Alicante) that connects with the international network. The narrow
track train Trenet de la Marina that travels along the coast from
Alicante to Denia stops at Calpe station, allowing a communication
with the rest of the province. The regular bus service with a fluent
timetable links Calpe with the cities Valencia, Alicante, Madrid
and Barcelona.
It is extremely easy to access Calpe by road; there are two exits from
the A-7 and it is 1km from the N-332. There is also a narrow-gauge
railway connection. Calpe is located 63km from Alicante, and 21km
from Benidorm
If you like sport and adventure you can chose between the sea and
the mountain. In the fishing port you will find the installations of
Nautical Club of Calpe and also outstanding are the marinas of Puerto
Blanco and Bassetes. You can go in for underwater sports,
windsurfing, waterski-ing, swimming and sailing in general and you
can also attend the courses that are given at different schools.
The relief of the district also allows you to go in for more risky sport
activities such as scaling in Ifach and Toix and potholing in Oltà.
