Javea is a gem of a town situated on the Northern Costa Blanca. It's rugged coastline is indented with secluded coves and sandy beaches. These hidden caves and bays were once used by pirates and smugglers in the Middle Ages but are now used by sunbathers, snorklers and scuba divers.
Javea is situated on the most easterly point of mainland Spain about 100 kms from Valencia and 90 kms from Alicante.
Javea has been voted environmentally near perfect by the World Health Organisation and boasts 320 days of sunshine a year.
New building developments in Javea are subject to height restrictions which mean there are no high-rise buildings unlike in other Costa Blanca towns such as Calpe or Benidorm.
Many would argue Javea is the finest place on the whole Costa Blanca. We wouldn't argue too strongly with this.
Javea, or Xabia as the locals call it, is split into three distinct areas.
JAVEA OLD TOWN
There is the Old Town of Javea where you can wander down ancient narrow streets and visit the local market on a Thursday. Built with original Tosca sandstone it's rich in medieval history.
The Gothic fortified church of San Bartolome dominates the centre of Javea's town. This building dates back to the 15th century. At the side of the church is a beautiful building which houses the indoor market where you can buy local fresh produce daily.
THE PORT OF JAVEA
Many people's favourite area of Javea this has a fascinating charm factor hard to define.
Whitewashed houses surround the bay. Watch the fishermen bring in their fresh catches or watch the sailing boats set off from the marina. Eat at the fantastic seafood restuarants.
There are also many good shops, bars and cafes - it's bustling with activity. The Port area of Javea has a real Spanish feel, this is an area where locals live and work in harmony with the tourist elements. It is a lively bustling area with many shops, cafes, bars and restaurants.
The landmark of the Port area is the church of Our Lady of Loreto with a roof which imitates the hull of a ship.
THE BEACH OF JAVEA (ARENAL)
The bustling Arenal area is basically the sandy blue flag beach which is surrounded by shops, bars and restuarants. It's a great place to walk along the promenade in the evening. It's very touristy obviously and is the least Spanish part of Javea but nevertheless it is a crucial part.
During the evening in the summer there are various stalls here selling a variety of handmade crafts. Many of the bars have live music and there are several discotheques.
The Arenal is very good for families. The beach is large and very wide. the water is very shallow and calm as it is in a sheltered bay. You can easily sit in a cafe or bar and be able to see your children. Generally Spain is very family-orientated and you can feel much more relaxed about your kids safety than you would anywhere else.
This is the place where you can eat tapas, paella but also fish and chips and English breakfast. The great thing about Javea is the choice of the three very different parts. It's almost like visiting a theme park and entering different worlds!
In the centre of these three areas are plenty of apartment blocks of which many are for rental. Surrounding Javea are beautiful green hills peppered with very expensive villas. These can make a great choice for a holiday if there are a few people. They can work out very cheap per person but you can spoil yourself as many of them are the definition of luxury - palm trees, swimming pools, entrance gates, jacuzzis etc.
Mark Eastwood is one of the thousands who are fleeing their homeland of England to go live in sunny Spain. For more tourist information about Javea click on this link - Javea Tourist Information
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