Informationen about Calpe at the Costa Blanca in Spain:
Calpe (in Valenciano Calp) has about 20.000 inhabitants (2016) and is a very popular tourist destination on the Costa Blanca. Calpe hosts like many places on the Costa Blanca international pensioners who spend their retirement in Spain.
There are more than 60 urbanizations in Calpe like Maryvilla, Canuta, Gran Sol and Ortembach.
Calpe has many skyscrapers near the beach which is reminiscent of Benidorm. the apartments of these skyscrapers are mostly empty In winter.
Calpe has a good infrastructure with rail connection (Denia-Alicante) and the motorway junction 64 to AP 7 about 5 km away before Altea (Alicante-Valencia)
Calpe has a wide range of hotels, pubs, restaurants, bars and shops.
Popular destinations in Calpe are the mighty Cretaceous rock Penon de Ifach (in Valenciano Penyal d’Ifac) which rises out of the sea and is very popular with mountaineers and hikers. Another popular spot are the Sierra Bernia mountains inlands of Calpe.
Worth to see is the Calpe´s old town with its restored old town wall and the many small streets with some very original tapas bars. Also the church Nuestra Senora de la Nieves, la Iglesia Vieja (old church) Torreon de la Peca (tower and city walls), Forat de la Mar (part of the fortress wall) are interesting to see. Festival Museum, Museum of Archeology, Museum of the Association of Collectors (Del Coleccionismo) for those who want to know more about the local culture.
Calpe has two large sandy beaches: the 1.5 km long Playa del Arenal-Bol on the bay of Calpe south and the 900 meter long Playa de La Fossa north of the Penon de Ifach. There are also several smaller sandy beaches and several small coves (calas) with gravel or rocky beaches. Along the beaches leads a beautiful promenade with countless boutiques, souvenir shops, restaurants, bars and a disco. There are playgrounds on the beach, an access facility for handicapped customers, the red cross and also bay watchers (Soccoristas) who watch the tourists from their wooden tower.
In the port of Calpe you will find the Lonja (fish hall) where every day takes place an auction of fresh fish and seafood (starting at 5:00 pm . That is the best opportunity for the general public to buy some very fresh seafood.