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The
land
of
Valencia
has
many
jewels
and
the
town
of
Santa
Pola
is one
of
them.
To get
here
take
the
N332
highway
from
Alicante
and
head
south
for
about
18km.
The
airport
is
located
just
8km
away.
The
town
is on
the
southernmost
stretch
of the
province
of
Alicante,
lying
on a
calm
bay.
its
mild
climate
and
the
hospitality
of its
people
make
this
major
fishing
port a
must.
On
arrival,
your
first
stop
should
be the
tourist
office
at the
end of
Ctra,
Elche,
next
to the
Parque
El
Palmeral.
Here
you
will
find
the
most
helpful,
multi-lingual
tourist
guide
in
Spain.
His
passion
for
the
town
will
enable
you to
see
and
know
everything.
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Whilst
in
this
area,
explore
the
park
behind
the
tourist
office.
There
is a
wonderful
Roman
mosaic
on
display,
as it
was
discovered,
see
above.
The
park
is a
cool
place
to
rest
under
the
tall
palms.
In the
same
area
you
will
see
the
remains
of the
Portus
Illicitanus,
a
Roman
villa
and
the
Roman
fish
factory.
pictured
left.
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In the
centre
of the
town
stands
one of
the
most
impressive
castles
and
fortresses
in the
area,
see
below.
It
dates
from
the
16th
century
and is
still
used
today.
It now
houses
an
impressive
museum
as
well
as a
chapel
dedicated
to the
Virgin
of
Loreto.
Entry
to the
castle
is
free
but
there
is a
small
charge
for
the
museum.
The
museum
is
closed
on
Mondays. |
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Opposite
the
entrance
to the
castle
is the
Plaza
de la
Glorieta,
a 20th
century
construction
that
offers
shade
and
somewhere
to eat
and
drink.
At
night
the
Plaza
comes
alive
as all
the
locals
meet
to
chat.
The
town
also
offers
a
marine
museum,
located
close
to the
police
station
and
the
beaches,
several
towers
and
viewpoints
and a
boat
ride
to the
nearby
island
of
Tabarca,
costing
around
10€,
see
photo
below. |
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The
resort
has 6
beaches,
all
with
golden
sand
and a
fully
operational
fishing
port
and
sports
marina.
All
manners
of
water
sports
can be
found
here
and
because
of the
fishing
industry,
fresh
fish
can be
found
all
over
the
town's
restaurants.
Daily
markets
have
fresh
fish,
straight
off
the
boats.
The
Saturday
market,
near
the
park
is a
bargain
hunters
paradise.
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Pictured
right
is the
market
where
all
the
goods
are
fresh.
If you
tire
of the
beaches
then
take
an
outing
to the
nearby
natural
park
of Las
Salinas
and
discover
the
beauty
of the
salt
flats
where
you
may be
lucky
enough
to see
the
resident
Flamingos.
Pictured
below
is the
local
National
costume. |
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Sports
and
recreation
The
well
organised
marina
offers
all
manner
of
water
based
sports
including
sailing,
fishing
and
regattas.
The
Santa
Pola
Nautical
Club
is one
of the
finest
sites
on the
coast.
It has
a
rowing,
sailing
and
canoeing
school.
Diving
is
also
popular
in the
clear
waters.
Because
of the
heights
of the
Santa
Pola
Cape,
you
can
also
enjoy
paragliding
and
hang
gliding.
Cuisine
Santa
Pola
offers
a wide
range
of
delicious
foods,
mainly
derived
from
the
sea.
its
salazones
are
dried
fish
and
are
tasty
appetisers,
as are
the
fresh
gambas
or
shrimps.
A
local
fish
stew,
caldero
santapoler
is
something
you
have
to
try.
Arroz
negro,
rice
with
squid
ink
and
Arroz
a la
marinera
or
sailor's
rice
are
both
local
favourites.
Some
of the
popular
local
catches
are
Anglerfish
and
Cuttlefish
as
well
as
fresh
octopus.
Local
bakeries
churn
out
ample
sweets
and
cakes.
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Fiestas
Throughout
the
year
Santa
Pola
has a
number
of
important
festivities
in
which
locals
and
visitors
participate.
The
year
starts
with a
colourful
and
noisy
fiesta
to
break
the
winter
monotony.
In
March
and
April
come
the
Mig
Any
or
half-year
pageants
of the
Moors
and
Christians.
In
June
there
is a
Romeria
or
pilgrimage
to the
hermitage
on the
cape
and
just
before
mid-summer,
on
July
16th
the
local
sailors
pay
tribute
to
their
patron
saint,
La
Virgen
del
Carmen.
The
highlight
of the
year
has to
be
between
1st
and
8th
September
in
honour
of La
Virgen
de
Loreto
with
street
processions,
parades
and
giant
parties.
The
year
finishes
its
fiesta
cycle
on
December
10th
with
the
arrival
of the
Mother
of
God,
by
sea.
We
visited
Santa
Pola
as
part
of our
Costa
Blanca
tour
and
found
it to
be one
of the
highlights.
It is
a
wonderful
town,
thriving
on
tourism
yet
managing
to
retain
its
culture
and
tradition.
The
town
is
stumbled
across
when
travelling
between
Benidorm
and
Alicante
in the
north
and
Torrevieja
in the
south.
The
local
residents
were
so
friendly
and
enthusiastic
about
their
surroundings,
and
they
should
be for
Santa
Pola
has
everything.
Miles
of
golden
beaches
stretch
the
full
length
of the
town,
the
port
is a
hive
of
activity,
day
and
night
and
the
town
has an
ambience
that
suits
all
ages.
Beautifully
laid
out
squares
intermingle
with
busy
streets
and
historic
ruins
lay
round
every
corner.
The
town
sits
alongside
the
N332
highway
that
links
with
the A7
motorway
making
it
easy
to get
to.
The
airport
at El
Altet
is
just
8km
away.
Santa
Pola
is
also
on the
main
rail
route
from
Alicante
(18km)
and
all
other
major
cities
in
Spain.
The
tourist
office
are
keen
to
promote
Santa
Pola
and
because
of
this
it
will
always
be a
place
worthy
of
visiting.
From
here
we
drove
inland
to
Elche. |
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