Calpe is located in the Spanish region of Alicante on the Costa Blanca. The town is steeped in history and offers a wealth of culture - yet this ancient fishing port has comfortably married its centuries old past with the demands of modern day tourism. Calpe is located in the Spanish region of Alicante on the Costa Blanca. The town is steeped in history and offers a wealth of culture - yet this ancient fishing port has comfortably married its centuries old past with the demands of modern day tourism. Calpe is a mixture of high rise beachside buildings geared to the needs of the 21st century tourist and charming, narrow medieval streets bearing the hallmarks of a bygone age.Calpe is located in the Spanish region of Alicante on the Costa Blanca. The town is steeped in history and offers a wealth of culture - yet this ancient fishing port has comfortably married its centuries old past with the demands of modern day tourism. Calpe is a mixture of high rise beachside buildings geared to the needs of the 21st century tourist and charming, narrow medieval streets bearing the hallmarks of a bygone age. With its ideal location, near perfect climate and many attractions, Calpe has proved a magnet for foreign tourists and homeowners alike. Thousands of British and German visitors have come here for a short visit and never returned to their native land! For holidaymakers, Calpe offers the full range of accommodation - big, modern hotels, small "hostals", self catering apartments and villas with pools. There are quality sandy beaches, excellent local shopping facilities and a wealth of bars and restaurants offering all kinds of local and international cuisine. People travel from all over the Costa Blanca to dine here - whether you want Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Lebanese, German or English food, you'll find it all in Calpe. The town's most famous and distinguishing feature is its mighty Peñon de Ifach - the huge rock which rises 332 metres out of the Mediterranean, reminiscent of the rock of Gibraltar.

The Peñon was declared a nature reserve in 1987 and now provides a safe haven for a variety of birds and unusual flora and fauna. For the energetic, a hike to the top of the Peñon de Ifach is a memorable experience - but definitely not one to be contemplated by the elderly, disabled or those prone to vertigo! Take a trip to the old town and you'll find ample evidence of Calpe's rich history in murals, monuments and museums which keep alive the town's links with its chequered past. Remains of Iberian tribes, dating back to several hundreds of years BC, have been found around the Peñon de Ifach. There are reminders of the times when Moors and Christians co-existed relatively peacefully in this town for centuries. And evidence of the measures taken to protect Calpe from the scourge of the Barbary pirates who plagued this stretch of the coast between the 14th and 17th centuries.

Wikipedia articles for Calpe

• Calp
• Natural Park of Peñón de Ifach
• Mediterranean Sea