A town of beautiful beaches, culture and history

Javea on the Spanish Costa Blanca, is set between Denia and Moraira, about 80 kms north east of Alicante on Spain's Mediterranean coast. Javea, often called the Jewel of Spain's Costa Blanca, is spread out over a large area. There are small beaches in delightful coves, cultural and historical sites and monuments, wonderful walks and two headland lighthouses with breath taking views.

The town of Javea is divided into three distinct localities, all quite different to one another. The old town - the original Javea - set back from the coast and is the place to visit to discover Spanish history and culture. Here you'll find charming, narrow streets with shopkeepers speaking the local language "Valenciano". Javea's old town has a truly Spanish feel.

Fine promenades, great bars, restaurants and shops

The port is still a working fishing port and a delightful place to visit with its mixture of fishing vessels, luxury yachts and seafront bars and cafes. The third area is the Arenal beach - one of the most beautiful on the Costa Blanca, a crescent-shaped, sandy beach with a fine promenade lined with bars, cafes, restaurants, gift shops and ice-cream parlours.

The Montgo Mountain

Javea's most distinctive feature is the mountain known locally as "the Montgo". This provides a dramatic backdrop for the resort and those who live in Javea swear that it is an elephant, turned to stone, with its trunk dipping into the sea for a drink. It's a strange phenomenon but you can even see the elephant's eye close as the sun goes down.

Spectacular Fiestas

Depending on the time of year you visit, you will probably get a chance to savour a real Spanish fiesta. One of the town's most spectacular fiestas is the "Fogueres de Sant Joan" in mid June. This lasts for several days culminating in the burning of a huge papier-mache effigy in the old town - a tableau, which takes months to create.

Visit in mid-July and you'll catch the elaborate Moors and Christians fiestas with colourful street parades in the port. In the first week of September there are yet more fiestas in the port in honour of the Virgen del Loreto. Once again the streets will be full of running bulls, firecrackers, bands, parades and fireworks

The temperatures can reach 40°C in summer. The World Health Organisation once named it as having one of the healthiest climates in the world, enjoying more recorded hours of sunshine per year than any other place in Spain.