Please
remember when visiting towns that the majority of shops,
cathedrals and museums close for siesta, normally between
1.00pm and 5.00pm.
Alicante
A perfect starting place is the Castillo de Santa Barbara,
which is a rambling complex of fortifications providing
a fantastic view over the town and surrounding areas.
For
a relaxing stroll in the shade the Paseo De La Explanada
De Espana is well worth a visit and a perfect spot for
that most continental of past times - people watching!
Elche (Elx)
Elche is located within Europe's largest palm forest (many
trees dating back to the 4th Century). A number
of areas within the town have been developed as parks and
gardens, the most famous being Huerto del Cura (Priests
Grove) which was designed in the 19th Century.
Murcia
This typically Spanish town has a beautiful Cathedral
and a number of museums to visit. The museums include Museo
de Bellas Artes (the development of Murcia painting
from the 15th to 20th Century and
Museo Salzillo (displaying a huge colection of work
by the 18th Century sculptor Francisco Salzillo).
There are also many pavement bars, flower stalls and interesting
shopping streets in the old quater of the town.
Torrevieja
This
town is the nearest popular town to Las Ramblas. As well
as having a very large bearch, it has numerous restaurants
and bars nearby. It has a lively nightlife and an evening
market can be found along the palm-tree lined promenade.
This typical Spanish town has a unique atmosphere of its
own, with its face to the Mediterranean and its back to
the Nature Reserve of the lagoons of La Mata, which is a
habitat for numerous protected species of birds such as
the greater flamingo.
Orhuela
Very
similar in style to Elche in that it has a Cathedral and
a number of impressive monuments and churches. This is a
great place to discover 'untouched provincial Spain'.
