From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Costa Blanca (English: White Coast) refers to the over 200 kilometres of coastline belonging to the Province of Alicante in Spain. The name "Costa Blanca" was devised as a promotional name used by BEA when they launched their air service (for £38.16s.-) between London and Valencia in 1957. It has a well developed tourism industry and is a popular destination for British and German tourists. It extends from the towns of Denia in the north, beyond which lies the Costa dels Tarongers, to Pilar de la Horadada in the south, beyond which lies the Costa Calida. It includes the major tourist destinations of Benidorm and Alicante.

Jávea/Xàbia	Penyal d'Ifac	Altea	La Vila Joiosa
Alicante Harbour	Monjas-Santa Faz Place in Alicante	Coveta Fumà	Beach in Calpe
El Montgó	Denia Fortification	Palm trees in Elche	Street in Altea

History

In 711 A.D. the Moors invaded Spain through Gibraltar and would occupy the region of Alicante by 718 A.D. Their occupation was to last nearly four hundred years and would mould the landscape of the region. The Moors introduced irrigation and the planting of oranges, peaches and almond orchards. The terraces seen on the hillsides throughout the region are an everlasting Moor legacy. The Moors would not be completely expelled until 1492, when Ferdinand and Isabella, the Catholic monarchs, finally took control of Granada. In 1095 Spain became part of the North African Berber Empire and for another four hundred years the Moors and Christians would fight over control of Spanish soil. Alicante was gradually regained from the Moors in 1248 by Jaime I of Aragon. After their expulsion, the Moors continued to attack Spain. Between 1500-c1650 Berber pirate attacks were frequent all along the Mediterreanean coastline. The first Spanish constitution was written in 1812 and following this the provincial boundaries were established, establishing the regions including Alicante and Murcia as they are today. In 1923, Miguel Primo de Rivera took control of Spain as a dictator, eventually forcing Alfonso XIII into exile. The Spanish Civil War, (1936-1939) would divide the country. Alicante and Murcia would remain supporters of the Republican movement. In 1939 General Francisco Franco, the leader of the Nationalists took control of Spain. During the 1960s and 1970s tourism exploded throughout the region to nearly 4,000,000 visitors a year.

External links

• The official site for Costa Blanca Tourism

Coordinates: 38°21′14″N 0°24′29″W / 38.354°N 0.408°W / 38.354; -0.408

List of the Spanish Costas Costa Brava  · Costa Dorada  · Costa del Azahar  · Costa Blanca  · Costa Cálida  · Costa de Almería  · Costa de Granada  · Costa del Sol  · Costa de la Luz  · Costa de las Rías Bajas  · Costa da Morte  · Costa Verde  · Costa Vasca

From Wikitravel

The Costa Blanca is the popular tourist coastline in the Spanish province of Alicante. Over 200km long, it is very popular with British and German tourists.

• Alicante
• Benidorm
• Denia
• Torrevieja
• Javea