QSD Lifestyle 02 jan05

QSD Lifestyle Num. 2 - Four-monthly issue Dunes: pure nature

Elche: Europe’s palm grove

Benidorm, Round-theclock leisure

Carrascar de la Font Roja national park

The tastiest dishes in the Mediterranean

A hidden paradise: Costa de AlmerĂ­a

SUMMARY

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BEACHES

Dunes: pure nature Costa de Almería

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VILLAGES

Elche, Europe’s palm grove

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QSD NEWS Finance and Insurance Department

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ON THE ROAD Finestrat, Mediterranean and mountains

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Lifestyle

BENIDORM

Benidorm, round-the-clock leisure

INTERVIEW

Amparo Ferrando, Councillor for Tourism in Alcoy

NATURE

Carrascal de la Font Roja national park

The source of the river Mundo

The Route of the Castles

New and resale properties

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GASTRONOMY

Today we’re eating at...

Mesón El Granaíno FESTIVITIES QSD COMPETITION INFORMATION

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Chairman: José Ángel Quesada Editor: Alberto García Contributors: Richard Hart, Roberto Payá, María Giménez Advertising: David Merino Printed by: Gráficas Díaz Distribution: Logical Dismarket Edition, photography, Design and layout:

CULTURE

QSD PROPERTIES

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Published by: QSD Group Avenida de las Naciones, 1-6 local 52 03170 Ciudad Quesada - Rojales Alicante - España Tel. +34 902 111 272 Fax +34 96 671 71 21 www.qsdgroup.com e-mail: info@qsdgroup.com

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COUNTRY LIFE

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QSD

Also...

José Juan López e-mail: tabarcamg@ya.com Published by:

LEADER

Welcome to QSD Lifestyle

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n April of this year our publishing company put forward the idea of creating a magazine that would give our readers a first-hand view of the exceptional attractions that Spain has to offer. It is a hospitable country with rich traditions and we thought that these customs and traditions should be presented in small doses every four months to households across Europe.

We achieved our initial objective with the first issue published in August 2004, as many of our readers already know. Indeed, I would like to thank these readers for the hundreds of appreciative letters and suggestions that we have received and I am sure they will help us to keep on improving in our further issues.

In this second issue we explain how the exotic sand dunes that dominate the southeast coast of Spain – a great tourist attraction - are formed. Then we drive a couple of hours south to inform you about the attractive and varied region of Almería, whose visitors are pleasantly surprised by the unspoilt coastline and mountains with very limited urban development.

In the section devoted to Spanish towns, in this issue it is the turn of Elche. In the article you can find all the information about this important town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its numerous palm groves. We take you on a sightseeing tour visiting monuments and the palm groves, a legacy of the Muslim culture.

QSD Group has also contributed to this edition and describes the development and operations of its financial and insurance department.

For those interested in landscape and culture, we invite you to accompany us on an interesting alternative route mixing sea and mountains from Benidorm to Finestrat.

And once again our journalists have made another pleasurable visit to Benidorm in order to show you the range of leisure activities and services that the town offers both during the day as well as at night.

In the interview section on this occasion we talk to Amparo Ferrando, councillor for tourism in Alcoy and former member of the Spanish parliament. She tells us about some of the projects aimed at promoting tourism in this attractive inland town whose national park, Carrascal de la Font Roja, is featured in our nature section.

A spectacular landscape can also be found in our rural tourism section which in this edition presents the source of the river Mundo, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful parts of Castilla La Mancha and only two hours’ drive from Alicante.

Finally, our culture section invites you to follow the trail of medieval castles in Alicante province while our culinary recommendations put the finishing touch to what I hope you will consider an interesting and entertaining second edition of QSD Lifestyle.

Until the next issue.

Alberto García Editor

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Dunes: pure nature

Beaches are formed through the sedimentation of sand dragged by the waves. On low-lying parts of the coast where the cliffs have been pushed back the erosive effect of the sea is lessened and this allows sandy beaches to be formed. When these areas of sand reach a certain level of development the upper section is no longer affected by the waves, the sea breeze brings sand and mounds and hills are created called coastal dunes. The formation of dunes may be considered an advanced stage in the development of beaches.

The Playa del Carabassí, in the municipal area of Elche, is a good example of a sand dune system

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his could be a more or less technical description of how sand dune systems are formed on the coast. In the southeast of Spain there are a considerable number of ecosystems of this kind and many of them have become an idyllic destination for tourists looking to avoid the crowds and enjoy the sun and the sea. In this article we are going to look at the best dunes on the Costa Blanca, Costa Cálida and the Costa de Almería.

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COSTA CÁLIDA Between the south of the Costa Blanca and the north of the Costa Cálida of Murcia we find the national park called Las Salinas y Arenales de San Pedro del Pinatar whose

outstanding feature is the protected Playa del Mojón, which has access from the promenade. Moving south, we can enjoy more of Murcia’s dunes in the Calblanque national park (next to La Manga del Mar Menor), which is one of the best preserved and unspoiled protected areas in the province.

BEACHES

COSTA DE ALMERÍA

Dunes in Arenales del Sol

COSTA BLANCA The largest dune system in Alicante province is situated between the pine forests of Guardamar del Segura and La Marina (Elche) and along the 15km. stretch we can find some of the best sandy beaches on the coast.

Guardamar has taken advantage of its natural resources and landscape to make the town into a place of great appeal for tourists. Its dunes were formed by sediment from the mouth of the river Segura and from the Mediterranean which covered a considerable area of land. From north to south we can see beaches and dunes surrounded by pine and palm trees. Good examples are Los Tusales, a completely virgin beach for nudists; Los Viveros, next to the Marina de las Dunas; El Moncayo, south of the town and surrounded by vineyards and orchards; Playa

del Campo, at the bottom of gently sloping dunes dotted with pine and palm trees; and Les Ortigues, next to municipal area of Torrevieja.

Just to the north of Guardamar we find the district of La Marina, belonging to Elche, and here the dunes seem to be a continuation of those of Alicante. The most interesting are the Playa de La Marina (situated in the town centre), El Rebolledo and Les Pesqueres in the south and El Pinet in the north, next to Las Salinas de Santa Pola national park.

Other districts of Elche located near the airport also boast well preserved dunes and El Altet, Arenales del Sol and Carabassí all have long sandy beaches and areas for nudists.

Alongside, the Playa de Urbanova of Alicante adds the finishing touch to this magnificent expanse of dunes.

Large dune systems can also be found in the Costa de Almería, particularly in the Cabo de Gato-Níjar national park, which is a magnificent reserve for both flora and fauna. The second largest beach in the park, Los Genoveses in San José, is a fine example of a horseshoe-shaped bay protected by cliffs.

The Playa de Cerillos in the municipal district of El Ejido stretches along four and a half kilometres next to the salt flats of the same name.

Dunes and pine forests surround this beach and you may go scuba diving in reasonably shallow water although as it is a very open beach care must be taken with the swell.

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A hidden paradise: Costa de Almería

In a country like Spain, where tourism has been consolidated over decades, it is not easy to find places on the coast that still retain their virgin and unspoiled appearance of centuries ago. However, this is certainly the case of the Costa de Almería, the easternmost province of Andalusia and probably the least known of the region.

Eastern Almería

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he coast in the north of the province, which stretches from the border with Murcia to the Cabo de Gato-Níjar national park, offers an attractive contrast of wide sandy beaches with steep cliffs concealing coves that often require imagination to reach. It has four Blue Flag beaches: one in Vera (Las Marinas-Bolagas), one in Garrucha and another two in Carboneras (El Ancón and Los Barquicos). The village of Vera is famous all over Europe for its marvellous unspoiled beaches that

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are a nudist’s paradise, whereas Garrucha has maintained its fishing village atmosphere with a multitude of restaurants specialising in all kinds of fish and seafood.

However, Mojácar, a charming village perched on the top of a mountain, is without a doubt the tourism capital of eastern Almería. Over the last twenty years the village has gradually spread out towards the sea with a proliferation of developments, hotels and golf courses.

BEACHES Almería-Cabo de Gata-Níjar

El Mónsul beach in San José

The effect of the waves creates curious rock formations such as this on one of Mojácar’s beaches

The area from Aguamarga to San José is the most unexplored and unchanged part of the province. Its traditional isolation has prevented the urban development of the villages here and thus they have kept their particular appeal, unaffected by outside influences. And this is precisely their charm. In the Cabo de Gata-Níjar national park, a Biosphere Reserve, there are perfect beaches that are ideal for snorkelling and can be enjoyed almost in private e.g. Cala de la Polacra, Playa de los Genoveses, Mónsul, or Cala de la Media Luna.

The beach of Mónsul was in fact used as a location for the Harrison Ford film “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”. Another highly recommended place is the Arrecife de las Sirenas (Sirens’ Reef).

If we continue towards the south we arrive at the provincial capital of Almería where we can relax on six Blue Flag beaches: Cabo de Gata Sur, Retamar, San-Miguel-Las Conchas and Zapillo, as well as Aguamarga and San José, which belong to Níjar.

Beach in Almería Town

Western Almería The western coast of Almería is undoubtedly the most developed from the tourism point of view, having a less complicated landscape that facilitates services and transport links. Nine of its beaches have been awarded the Blue Flag: La Romanilla, Urbanización Roquetas and Playa Serena in Roquetas de Mar, San Miguel-Poniente, Balerma and Levante-Almerimar in El Ejido and finally San Nicolás-Levante and Poniente in Adra.

Villages such as Aguadulce, Roquetas de Mar, Almerimar, El Ejido or Adra also offer excellent beaches to enjoy the sun and the Mediterranean Sea as well as modern marinas that attract a significant amount of residential tourism. Despite the level of development in this area there are still unspoilt beaches and natural areas to be found, such as Punta Entinas-Sabinar and Las Albuferas nature reserve in Adra, the Arrecife Barrera de Posidonia (Posidonia Sea Grass Reef) in Roquetas de Mar or the Guardias Viejas salt flats.

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Elche, Europe’s palm grove

Elche is the capital of the Baix Vinalopó region and a town where the modern and the traditional live side by side. Its rich history goes back more than five thousand years and its has produced treasures such as the figure of the Dama de Elche, a masterpiece of Iberian art, the Palmeral (palm groves) - product of the Hispano-Arabic culture - and the Mystery Play of Elche, the last remaining testament to medieval religious theatre. These three elements could be considered the main credentials of the town but it has much more to offer: beautiful natural surroundings, beaches and dunes and excellent gastronomy.

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he past merges with the modern elements of a young and dynamic town which in turn is assimilated into the largest palm grove in Europe, giving Elche a unique urban landscape. The palm grove is a legacy of the Andalusí agricultural culture and has been declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. Elche also has a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity: the Mystery Play. This is a lyrical religious drama performed every year in August and is the only living testimony to medieval religious theatre that still survives in Europe.

With respect to economic activity, Elche is one of the leading footwear manufacturers in Spain and this industry has contributed to the town’s active, open and hospitable character. Situated in the south of Alicante province, Elche enjoys a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot summers. The average temperature ranges from 26º in summer to 17º in winter.

A STROLL THROUGH THE OASIS Over two thousand years of history have left a rich heritage that we can enjoy by strolling through the streets and parks of Elche and by visiting its museums and the archaeological remains of Alcudia, where the Iberian bust of the Dama de Elche was discovered.

We can begin our walk at the Visitors’ Centre in the Municipal Park. Here there is an audiovisual show that in a few minutes gives us a good overall view of the town.

The Tourism Office, located at the park exit, can supply us with all the necessary information for our visit. From here we can head towards the Palacio de Altamira, which is a former military fort that now houses the Archaeological Museum. From the castle we can easily make

out the magnificent Basilica de Santa María de la Asunción where on 14th-15th August the famous Mystery Play is performed. More information about the Play can be found in the Museo Municipal de la Festa, located in Carrer Major.

Dama de Elche

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VILLAGES THE OLD TOWN Once we have immersed ourselves in the most significant cultural heritage of the town we can move on to the Town Hall, which is the oldest in the south of Alicante province, and is situated next to the Torre de Calendura, a clock tower where the popular characters of Calendura and Calendureta strike each quarter and on the hour.

Our path now takes us down the traditional shopping streets of Corredora and Hospital to the Glorieta, whose cafés and bars are a favourite meeting place for the inhabitants of Elche. This square also houses the Gran Teatro, the focal point of most of the town’s cultural activity.

The Carrer Ample will then take us to the 14 th century convent of

Palacio de Altamira

Nuestra Señora de la Merced in whose basement we can visit the recently restored Arab Baths, a symbol of the long Muslim history of the town. Opposite the convent is the Calahorra, the remains of the defensive wall of Arab origin that once surrounded Elche.

Molí Real

VISITING THE PALM GROVE Along with the Mystery Play and the Dama de Elche, the palm groves are the outstanding feature of the town and can be found scattered all over the district. One of the most interesting groves is the Huerto del Cura (Priest’s Garden), whose gardens are a listed artistic monument and include the Imperial Palm, a unique date palm with seven “arms” branching off the same trunk.

It was given this name after the visit of Empress Elisabeth “Sissi” of Austria in 1894. Other groves that have been converted in gardens are to be found in the Municipal Park – home to a 18th century mill, and the Filet de Fora park.

The park in the foreground with the castle and the Basilica de Santa María behind

GASTRONOMY

For those interested in tasting the delights of Elche’s cuisine the town offers a wide range of possibilities with fine restaurants both in the town centre as well as outside. One dish that the visitors must try is the typical “arroz con costra” (rice with an egg crust). Other traditional Elche dishes are rice with rabbit (arroz con conejo), snails (caracoles) and stew with dumplings (puchero con pelotas). One of the prime ingredients of the desserts is the fruit grown in the area: pomegranates, dates, figs, as well as the typical “tortada de Elche” (a type of almond cake)

Museum of Alcudia

HOW TO GET THERE

Elche is 20km. from Alicante, 50km. from Murcia and 70km. from Benidorm, along the A-7 motorway. Its municipal area includes the international airport of El Altet, which receives thousands of tourists every year.

Elche also boasts beautiful beaches

Photos by kind permission of Elche Tourism Institute

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Finance and Insurance Department

Richard Hart, Managing Director of QSD Group

Richard Hart is the Managing Director of QSD Group and he is responsible for coordinating and supervising the departments that complement property sales, the so-called full or added value services that we offer all our customers: - Legal advice - Financial advice - After-sales - Rental In addition to these responsibilities, he also contributes to the financial management of the company. In the next couple of pages Richard Hart is going to give us a detailed description of these services so that we can find out more about the internal functioning of the company.

The Dependability of the top companies Bankinter is Spain’s fifth largest banking group and a specialist in company and personal banking. It is an efficient and highly profitable company perhaps thanks to its conservative attitude to risk. It committed itself to online and telephone banking from the very beginning, aware of their future importance in the international market.

For Richard Hart, being Bankinter’s agent implies several advantages over the competition: “We already know the customer and the risk that he can take on, we know the product

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that is to be financed i.e. the real value of the property, and as QSD Group is a real estate company, our aim is to offer our customers a service. We do not see financing as a business but rather we take advantage of our personnel and material infrastructure to offer our clients more favourable conditions than the competition.”

Liberty Seguros is a Spanish company that belongs to the American group Liberty Mutual, one of the world’s leading insurance companies. Richard Hart believes that “it is an internationally recognised brand and offers good support

as it supplies its policies in English and in German. In our offices we can provide the client immediately with a duplicate of the policy and the special conditions so that he is insured from the word go.”

“Most of the policies are for house insurance, which is very important for foreign residents in Spain. Although it is not very well known at the moment, another product for which there is going to be great demand in the future is funeral insurance where repatriation to the country of origin in the event of death can be contracted.”

QSD NEWS

House insurance

Silvia Gálve, Manager of QSD Group’s Finance and Insurance Department

Finance Department Silvia Galve Martí is the manager of QSD Group’s Finance and Insurance department and is the person who has most contact with customers with regard to these services. Silvia explains the steps to be followed in order to obtain a mortgage with Bankinter: “The first thing we do is open an account for the client in order to set up direct debits and a standing order for the property.

This takes five minutes and there is no need to queue up or wait in the office. The customer can go home with his account opened and having received highly personalised

treatment.”

With respect to the procedure for applying for a mortgage “an important point is that our customers can send us all the paperwork by e-mail and do not need to be present.

If the operation is viable we ask for payslips and tax returns in order to check the customer’s annual income and then all the documents, together with a detailed report of the client’s characteristics, are sent to our head office. Of course, we accompany the surveyor when he goes to value the property to be mortgaged and within a week we will have an answer.”

The maximum amount that can be financed is 70% in the case of non-residents and 80% if the buyer is resident in Spain

QSD Group is an agent of Liberty Seguros and can therefore offer a wide range of insurance products.

Through us you can contract any type of insurance. The most common is house insurance, through which your home will be protected against any damage or incident that may arise. Silvia Galve tells us “the details needed for the policy are recorded in our office at the same as the customer requests the insurance, meaning that it is effective from that moment. We have access to a simulator in order to offer exact estimates that can be modified if the property has security systems such as an alarm, grilles on the windows, etc., which reduce the final cost. In addition, the policy can be printed in English or German and the customer receives it at his home within just a week.”

Another important aspect is “the speed with which this company deals with claims and the professional staff who solve any kind of problem rapidly.”

Preferential interest rates It must be remembered that once the property has been surveyed the maximum amount that can be financed is 70% in the case of non-residents and 80% if the buyer is resident in Spain. The interest rates that we offer are highly competitive. Once all the documents are in order the mortgage is formalised with a notary public and this is the only time that the customer must be present. However, through its economists, lawyers and real estate experts QSD Group organises everything needed for the formalisation of the mortgage.

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Finestrat Mediterranean and mountains

It is a rare pleasure to find a village that offers an incomparable contrast between sea and mountains but Finestrat, in a district of the Marina Baixa region of Alicante and under the influence of the all-powerful Benidorm, gives us just that chance. The centre of the village was an old Muslim farmstead and castle and it grew in the shadow of the Puig Campana (1,410m.).

Only ten kilometres away we will find its cosmopolitan beach bathed by the Mediterranean.

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n order to reach our destination we take the CV-767 from Benidorm’s Playa de Poniente and drive just six kilometres. On the way we will see a modern shopping centre on the left, Terra Mítica theme park on our right and various attractive Mediterranean style developments. As we approach Finestrat our eyes will be drawn to the imposing figure of a mountain, the Puig Campana, one of the most important landmarks in the

region. This legendary peak is now part of a protected area that attracts mountaineers and hikers alike and from the top we have a panoramic view over all the Marina Baixa. The route up the mountain starts off from the Font del Molí (Molí Fountain) in the village of Finestrat and there are different paths to choose depending on the experience of the adventurer: marked paths for a climb with little danger or more difficult paths for expert climbers. In any

case, reaching the top and surveying the vast landscape with the Mediterranean sparkling in the background is an unforgettable experience.

As this is a protected area there are a great variety of indigenous plants that share their habitat with diverse animal species: falcons, eagle owls, kestrels, foxes, wild boar, genets, partridge, rabbits and especially the majestic Bonelli’s eagle.

THE VILLAGE The village of Finestrat nestles at the foot of the mountain, at a height of 238 metres above sea level. At the centre there used to an Arab castle but this space in now occupied by the Ermita (Chapel) del Remedio and a pretty new park with marvellous views of the nearby coast. The village has adapted itself perfectly to the complex landscape and has maintained its traditional air and clearly Moorish roots, with its narrow streets (forget about visiting them by car) ideal for a quiet afternoon walk in a place where time seems to have stopped. Breathing fresh air only eight kilometres

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from the beach is reason enough to visit Finestrat, with its typically Mediterranean landscape of pine forests, orchards, olive groves and carob trees.

It has excellent links by road to towns such as Benidorm, Villajoyosa and Altea and many families, attracted by the possibility of living between the sea and the mountains, have taken advantage of this to settle in the developments that have been constructed over the last few years.

View of Finestrat at the foot of the imposing Puig Campana

ON THE ROAD LA CALA It is surprising to think that Finestrat, an inland village, has one of the most beautiful beaches on the coast.

La Cala is situated eight kilometres from the village and is bordered by Benidorm on one side and Villajoyosa on the other. The explanation for this is simple. Historically Finestrat

was a key defensive point against the attacks of the Berber pirates because its watchtower afforded an unbeatable view of the coast.

For this reason the municipal area of the village was awarded the strip of land that connects the village to the beach.

Nowadays La Cala has a good number of hotels and residential buildings that are home to millions of European tourists every year thanks to its mild climate and convenient access to the variety of leisure activities offered by Benidorm. The beach is set in a safe and calm bay and is considered one of the most attractive beaches on the Costa Blanca. It is well worth climbing the hill at the end of the bay to take in the superb view of La Cala and the island of Benidorm.

PLACES TO VISIT

Walking up to the old Moorish castle

Finestrat’s old town

The remains of the fortified Muslim castle from the Almohade era, of which only the foundations and a strategic viewpoint over the coast remain.

In its place the Ermita del Cristo del Remedio was built after the Christian conquest and there is now also a park.

The Baroque church of San Bartolomé, consecrated in 1751 in honour of the local patron saint, is situated next to the Town Hall as we go down from the viewpoint. Another essential visit is the Font del Molí, the most important fountain in Finestrat with its 15 spouts that produce 20 litres of water per second. As a complement to this construction we can find two subterranean aqueducts dating from Muslim times.

Just as Finestrat mixes the influence of the sea and the mountains in its culture and urban landscape, so does the local cuisine. Typical inland dishes such as “arros amb fresols i naps” (rice with beans and turnips), “tarongetes” (meatballs) or “coca” (a savoury pie) made with vegetables grown in the region can be found side by side with typical coastal dishes: fresh fish, fish stews, rice and seafood. However, the great variety of restaurants allows the visitor to choose from an enormous variety of national and international cuisine.

Peak of Puig Campana

THE LEGEND OF THE PUIG CAMPANA The unmistakeable silhouette of the Puig Campana is without doubt worthy of its legend. The top of the mountain has a depression in the shape of a “U”, which the inhabitants call the “Portell” (Gash) or the “Tall de Roldán” (Roldan’s Cut). According to legend, the giant Roldán, furious because of the death of his lover, plunged his sword into the top of the mountain thus carving out the space that we now see. The huge rock then fell into the sea and was transformed into the island off Benidorm, now the world-famous home to international tourism.

FESTIVALS Finestrat holds the festival in honour of its patron saint, Saint Bartholomew, from 20th to 25th August and it combines the fun of the festival with religious devotion. These celebrations include floral offerings, processions, fireworks and rockets, as well as open-air dances. Another curious celebration is that held “In honour of tourists” at the end of September.

Font del Molí

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Benidorm round-the-clock leisure

A day on the beach in Benidorm with the island in the background

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he first rays of sunlight from the east mark the awakening of this town that lives every hour of its day, every day of the year, for tourism.

Early risers take advantage of the morning sun and the beaches gradually fill up with people from an infinite variety of countries. Thanks to Benidorm’s magnificent climate visitors can enjoy the beach practically every day of the year, whether it be winter or summer. This is

undeniably the town’s prime attraction.

However, Benidorm is much more than sun and sand. It boasts a wide range of theme parks such as Terra Mítica, which recreates Greek, Roman, Iberian and Egyptian cultures, Mundomar, with its marine animals and exotic birds, the Aqualandia water park and even a park for the youngest members of the family – Festilandia – where we can take a train that takes us on a tour of the town.

From morning…

Visiting the town If you feel like a walk through the old town we recommend visiting monuments such as the San Jaime church, the Castle with its marvellous viewpoint on top of the great rock that separates the two main beaches, and Elche Park, situated at one end of the Playa de Poniente. A walk along the promenades of Levante and Poniente beaches is also not to be missed and you can breathe in lots of fresh air

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in L’Aigüera Park, designed by the architect Ricardo Bofill and home to the Benidorm Song Contest.

The small port at Mal Pas beach is the starting point for all kinds of nautical activities, including diving in the crystal clear water, or a boat trip to the nearby Benidorm Island, an interesting nature reserve which is famous around the world as the symbol of the town and its beaches.

The viewpoint is a visitors’ favourite

Snorkelling is one of the water sports on offer

Rides in Terra Mítica

BENIDORM

... Till night

Into the early hours At sunset the ideal place to be is in the high streets in the eastern part of town.

After a fun-filled day the view offers us a moment of peace to admire the sunset and to prepare body and mind for the evening’s frenetic activities. It is difficult to imagine the sheer range of activities that Benidorm opens up to us once the sun goes down. The leisure capital has a thousand and one suggestions and our choice simply depends on personal taste and staying power.

Beginning the night with a good dinner

The best way to start off the evening is to taste the gastronomic pleasures offered by Benidorm’s myriad restaurants where you can enjoy almost any type of cuisine from around the world. On this occasion we have opted for a fun dinner in “Picamar” on the Playa de Levante, with its typical seafaring atmosphere where the waiters dressed in naval uniforms ranging from captain to cabin boy announce the seafood delights that are on offer.

Well after midnight the action moves to the disco area known as Área Disco Benidorm, where we can find some of the most modern and famous clubs in the country. They attract young people from all over the province and are the favourite destination for hen and stag parties.

The night may be long and tiring but it’s well worth the effort. Finally, one piece of advice: don’t drink and drive.

The first drink Once we have a reasonably full stomach we can then move on to an ice cream or the first drink of the night on one the terraces along the Playa de Levante promenade, which at night is transformed into one big beach party.

All along the promenade the friendly PR staff of the pubs and elegant bars will try to convince us to try out their

place and if we are good negotiators we may end up with a free drink in KM, Penélope, Ku….

For those in search of a variety of different atmospheres Benidorm is certainly the place to be. There are European-style bars, typically Spanish taverns, bars that make suggestions difficult to refuse, bars for bikers… We can also choose from a range of bars with live music, exotic and even erotic shows in the Molino Benidorm or variety shows in Benidorm Palace, one of the best-known in the province.

The Playa de Levante promenade becomes one big party

Relaxing on the terrace bars

Almost 24-hour shopping

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Amparo Ferrando, Councillor for Tourism in Alcoy Alcoy is a good illustration of how a town in the mountains, marked by industrialisation since the 19th century, can succeed in providing an alternative to coastal tourism by attaching great importance to its historical, cultural and environmental resources. María Amparo Ferrando Sendra is the Councillor for Tourism in Alcoy and is the best person to tell us about the experience of a town that started from scratch but thanks to the effort and support of its inhabitants has become a tourist destination

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mparo Ferrando entered the world of politics in 1995 when she joined the Popular Party. Her career took a great leap forward when her party won the elections in Alcoy and Ferrando became a member of parliament. She has worked in the areas of town planning, housing, heritage and social services but it is her position of Councillor for Tourism that most interests us. This department did not exist in Alcoy until 2000 and in the four years that it has been operative the inhabitants of Alcoy have really begun to identify themselves with their town as a tourist destination.

- It must be exciting to create a new project, to have nothing behind all the future in front of you…

- I’m satisfied because when I started there was nothing, not even a person assigned to the function of tourism and I think we’ve made a lot of progress in four

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years. It’s interesting because on the one hand, as there is nothing to refer to, you don’t know how to start. But on the other hand nobody compares you to another person or to how the job was done before. It’s incredibly satisfying because in an industrial town like Alcoy, where we’ve always spent our time talking about industrial estates or town planning, suddenly in the last four years we’ve not had a single working session or a single conversation without discussing the town itself.

At least people are now aware of their surroundings. The people have received the department with open arms and the opposition and the media have collaborated in this respect. The Tourism Office now has three employees, as well as trainees, and they are all highly dedicated workers. We make a very good team that can push forward

“In the last three years we have succeeded in making the inhabitants of Alcoy aware of what they have because in order to show the town first we needed to make them feel proud of it” new activities.

- Setting up an initiative like this involves all the sectors of the town because tourism is not just a product of political will. How does the average inhabitant of Alcoy react?

- The problem is that nobody in Alcoy had ever really heard of tourism so we set ourselves short, medium and longterm objectives. The short term was until Christmas, six months after we were elected in July 2000. We had no budget but with the help of the Valencia Tourism Agency we began to take action: we decorated the San Jorge bridge with fantastic ornamental lights and inaugurated the Tourism Office, which was the most important innovation. In the medium term, which is up to now, our focus has been on promotion and heightening awareness. And in the long term, from now to 2007, we want to make the most of the resources that we have to provide Alcoy with services for tourists. In the last three years we have succeeded in making the inhabitants of Alcoy aware of what they have because in order to show the town first we needed to make them feel proud of it. Now that we have managed to do this we must exploit it and we aim to attend all the fairs to promote the attractions that our town possesses. Two years ago we created the first tourism association in the Alcoy and La Montaña region and now we collaborate with the 130 members.

We have also received support from the private sector, from many business people in Alcoy. We have also signed a collaboration agreement with some of the most important companies and the Chamber of Commerce whose aim is to promote and develop the tourism sector in the town.

- What is your long-term objective and how far does Alcoy want to go as a tourist destination?

- Our aim is to make Alcoy a tourist destination by the year 2007. We have a lot of potential but we have to need to look at it from all sides. With regard to the very long term we don’t want Alcoy to become too overcrowded. We want people to be able come all year round, to

INTERVIEW keep what we have, and to have quality tourism interested in culture and respectful of the environment. We are the only town in the Valencia region that has two national parks within its municipal area and we have considerable resources as we were one of the first towns to begin industrialisation on the banks of the river.

Our landscape is highly attractive with its many ravines and bridges – they say that we have the highest number of bridges in Europe – and we also possess many examples of Modernist art.

- What is the current situation of Alcoy’s rich historical heritage?

- We are renovating our infrastructure thanks to the ministry’s Tourism Development Plan, which has meant an investment of two million euros over three years to bring places of interest up to date. We are channelling the river and we are going to renovate some of the old factories to make a fantastic museum that will deal with our interesting prehistoric period, the textile industry and hydraulic power, Modernism, traditions, the environment… It’s an interactive museum

Amparo Ferrando with her team in the Tourism Office of Alcoy

that will be extremely popular providing we promote it well. It will have a café and restaurant overlooking the river and opposite we are restoring 13th century walls and towers as well as an 18th century fortress which together form an impressive historical structure. Also we mustn’t forget the region’s cuisine and wide range of products because many people travel for the food. In fact, in October this year we are going to hold the first Gastronomic Conference with a fair exhibiting all our products.

“We don’t want Alcoy to become too overcrowded. We want people to be able come all year round, to keep what we have, and to have quality tourism interested in culture and respectful of the environment” Year-round activities - One of the town’s attractions is that it offers activities practically every month of the year.

- Exactly, and this is the reason why we look to diversify and offer something all year round. One of our main attractions is the Moors and Christians festival held in April, a celebration that has been declared of international tourist interest. It’s the oldest one of its kind in Spain and more and more people come to see

it every year. It’s also ideal for people with children. The national parks receive a lot of visitors in Autumn and Spring and we organise other activities such as the Mediatic Festival, a music festival held in July, the Theatre Festival in June, in October we have the “Half Year” festival with competitions and prizes, then the Medieval Market in March and sometimes we organise guided excursions in the country.

Sant Jordi bridge

Mountains on the rise - Why are the mountains of Alicante such an unknown area?

- The Valencia regional government has taken the first step to counter this but then the work must be carried on by the private sector. It’s true that it was an area known to few people but we are working on promoting the resources of the mountains so that people come not just on a day trip from the coast but to spend weekends throughout the year. Since January 2001 the number of visitors to the Tourism Office has increased by 56%. Foreign visitors account for 12%, with the British being the most numerous, followed by South Americans, French, Germans, Dutch and Belgians. In the last year of the Tourism Development Plan, after finishing all the renovation work and being in position to offer top-quality service to visitors, we intend to carry out a national campaign to promote tourism.

17

Carrascar de la Font Roja national park

This is one of the most spectacular and best-preserved natural areas inland from the Costa Blanca. It is situated in the region of L’Alcoià, between the districts of Alcoy and Ibi, and it covers 2,450 hectares. It became a national park on 13 April 1987.

A

fter a peaceful drive up the mountain road we can park in the recreational area of the Font Roja shrine (at an altitude of 1,050m.) and go to the information centre. Here we find Pilar, one of the park’s professional guides, waiting to show us all the marvellous sights.

Our first stop is Pla de la Mina where a lime kiln, a symbol of the traditional crafts in these mountains, is being rebuilt for educational purposes. Here we find a viewpoint that looks over the north of the park. The path continues and a few metres further on we discover one of the characteristic trees of the area, the Valencian or gall oak. At an altitude of 1,195 metres we reach the Pilatos viewpoint from where we can contemplate the beautiful neighbouring Mariola

18

Chapel covered in snow

range of mountains.

After walking 2.6km. we arrive at the Mas de Tetuán, a hundred-year old farm now practically in ruins but that was once a family run and self-sufficient smallholding. On one side there is a wonderful yew that could tell us almost six hundred years of history. The next place of inter-

From the peak of the Menejador, to 1.352 meters high, we can see landscapes of three different counties est, at 1,299 metres, is the Cava Coloma or the Pou de Carrascar, a great well dug in 1732 to store snow collected in winter.

In spring it was then sold as ice in the surrounding villages where it was used to keep food fresh or to make ice cream.

The impressive well is almost 13m. in diameter and 16.6m. deep and has a capacity of 2,200m3. There are more examples of this type of construction to be found in other areas of the park.

From here onwards the landscape changes radically on the southern face of the mountain, which is called the “solana” (suntrap). The sun and the lack of water mean there are fewer oaks, which only crop up sporadically, and bushes and aromatic plants dominate the vegetation. Our path now takes us to Pou del Canyo, another of the “snow stores”, and finally after five kilometres we reach the highest point of the Font Roja park, the Menejador (1,352m.) and if we are lucky with the weather we will be able to enjoy the magnificent panorama to all points of the compass.

Figure of the Virgin of the Lilies

NATURE

Cava Coloma

Paths through the Font Roja

FAUNA AND FLORA The different habitats in the park lend themselves to the conservation of numerous species of animals. Wild boar are particularly abundant, although difficult to spot.

Other mammals to be found in the park are genets, weasels, wild cats and badgers. There are rare birds such as the Bonelli’s eagle and the eagle owl and uncommon animals such as the beech marten. Other birds that we may spot are robins, goldcrests and chaffinches and it is a nesting area for sparrowhawks and northern goshawks.

From any of its viewpoints the Font Roja offers spectacular panoramas of a wide variety of landscapes where nature is in its purest form. The kermes oak (Quercus ilex) forest, at the peak of its development, is the best known and most

extensive part of the park and can be found at an altitude of between 600 and 1,250 metres. It is complemented by other species such as ash, maple, ivy, honeysuckle, etc.

In the lower reaches of the mountains, areas are being reforested with pine trees.

If we continue climbing over 1,250 metres we will find (in the darkest and dampest corners of the north of the park) deciduous trees such as gall oaks, ash, maple, whitebeam and yew. The range of colours is a spectacular sight when the season changes and is not to be missed.

On the south face, punished by the sun, bushes abound and among the wealth of aromatic plants we can detect the unmistakeable smell of thyme, pepper, sage, lavender,

HOW TO GET THERE

Recreational area

The park is 61km. from Alicante. From San Vicente del Raspeig take the A-7, which almost reaches Alcoy, with one last section along the N-340. At the entrance to Alcoy take the CV-797 and continue 13km. to the destination. It is a relaxing drive through an unspoilt environment to the information centre and reception.

Another alternative is to walk from Alcoy along the paths that lead to the park.

Spectacular winter image of the Font Roja forest

THE VIRGIN OF THE LILIES The Font Roja is associated with a miracle that has marked its evolution over four and a half centuries.

On 21st August 1653 a local priest, Antonio Bonaventura Guerau, was meditating in the area when he found an image of the virgin Mary carved on a lily bulb. This miracle led to the construction in 1663 of a chapel dedicated to the Virgin of the Lilies, renovated in 1744 and again in 1886 when a hostelry was added. In 1924 a magnificent hotel with views over the mountains, Alcoy and even as far as the sea was built next to the chapel and stayed open until 1975.

In 1995 the chapel was restored for a third time and an environmental centre will shortly be opened in the building of the former hotel. A fountain next to the chapel is a reminder of the miracle and on the third Sunday of September the inhabitants of Alcoy organise a multitudinous procession to the Font Roja where twelve thousand people pay homage to their virgin.

Procession

19

In a little more than two hours from the Alicante coast we will discover one of the most beautiful part of La Mancha, the land of Don Quixote that we imagine to be immensely flat and full of windmills.

However, few people know the other side of La Mancha, the abrupt and leafy southeast with the mountain ranges of Alcaraz and Segura, spectacular home to the source of the river Mundo.

The source of the river Mundo

T

he Segura region has specialised in inland tourism and one of the most popular areas is the district of Riópar, in the very centre of the mountains. It is home to one of the most surprising corners of this province: the source of the river Mundo. The amount of water that oozes from every pore of the land seems incredible but even more spectacular is the source of the river, which gushes out of the earth and is called the “jets of the river Mundo”. In the mounthe Calar tain range known as del Mundo the jets o f water originate in a series o f caves

20

situated at a great height and fall into a pool that has become the ideal background for millions of visitors’ photos.

As we reach Riópar we take the road just opposite the petrol station that goes via the mountain pass of El Arenal. This will take us along the six kilometres to the path that leads to the source of the river. Then there is a descent of another three kilometres (we recommend going on foot as it is a beautiful walk) and from this distance we

begin to make out the sheet of water that falls from a height. A stepped path will lead us up to our objective and we can stop to admire the rock pools carved out by the river and bridges designed as viewpoints. Without too much effort we finally arrive at the place where the jets of water meet the earth, forming a natural pool that begs to be immortalised in a photo.

COUNTRY LIFE

Calar del Mundo

Lamb stew

Riópar

Following the river Mundo From its source the fast-flowing river Mundo passes through beautiful villages such as Mesones or Los Alejos where it is possible to swim in complete safety, or lofty villages such as Ayna or Liétor where the river has carved out sheer cliffs. The Mundo dies little by little and eventually gives up its water to the Segura.

For lovers of rural tourism a wide variety of accommodation has been developed over the last few years: wooden cabins, rural hotels, gues-

The old Riópar

thouses, hostels, camp sites…all enjoying spectacular views of the river or the pine forest that envelops the mountain ranges of Peralejo, Las Crucetas and El Arenal. Time and patience is needed to explore this area well and among the places well worth visiting we could mention the villages of Alcaraz, Ayna, Yeste, Letur and Villaverde de Guadalimar and areas such as Arroyo Frío, the Ruidera Lakes and the Sierra del Agua.

The village of Riópar was originally situated on the top of a hill and was surrounded by a defensive wall of which we can still see remains. In 1773 bronze factories, the royal Factories of San Juan de Alacaraz, were set up four kilometres away and the inhabitants started to move there.

The old Riópar emptied little by little and was practically abandoned.

However, in the last few years its houses have been restored in order to transform them into rural hotels and thanks to tourism the old village with its walls, cemetery and church has gradually come back to life.

How to get there

Riópar is approximately 225 kilometres from Alicante. From any point in Alicante province take the A-7 towards Murcia and before reaching Murcia take the Albacete-Madrid motorway. From here take the Hellín exit and after passing Elche de la Sierra take the road that leads to Riópar.

The river Mundo flowing gently through the village of Mesones

The “reventón”

If the source of the river is a magnificent sight on any day of the year,

the experience of the “reventón” (blow-out) is unforgettable. The “reventón” is a natural phenomenon that occurs sometimes during winter when specific conditions of wind and rain coincide. Suddenly, a deafening explosion spits out a vast amount of water from the caves and continues to do so during one or two days.

Typical village

Paseo de los Plátanos in Riópar

21

The Route of the Castles

If we really want to understand the present there is nothing better than going back in time through history in order to discover the events that have marked the evolution of our country. Alicante province possesses a rich historical heritage that illustrates the life of its inhabitants through the centuries and one of the most important is the so-called Route of the Castles. This route takes us along a magniďŹ cent series of medieval forts strategically situated on the tops of mountains, thus converting them into impregnable vantage points.

The castle of Villena is one of the best conserved in the county of Alicante

T

he most important examples can be found inland in the regions of the Medio and Alto VinalopĂł and in Hoya de Castalla. These forts were mainly built around the watchtowers that the Arabs constructed from the beginning of their conquest in 711 until they occupied practically the whole of the Iberian Peninsula. Most date from

the eleventh and twelfth centuries. The Christian reconquest, which lasted until the Catholic Monarchs took the town of Granada, brought about a substantial change in the appearance of many of these castles but in the last three decades local and regional governments have made great efforts to restore these buildings, many of which are real works

The castle of Petrer is declared to be of historical-artistic interest

22

of art, and to open them to the public.

Our route begins in La Mola castle in Novelda. It was built on the top of a hill by the Arabs in the 12th century and three centuries later the Christians added an original triangular tower, ďŹ fteen metres high, which has been kept intact and is now one of the few triangular towers in existence.

Castle of Novelda with the triangular tower

CULTURE

The castle of Sax is erected majestically on a great rock

From Novelda we move on to Petrer whose Moorish castle is 461m. above sea level, dates from the 12th century and was conquered by the Christians in 1258. Its most outstanding feature is the keep in the centre of the construction.

The castle has been restored and is a magnificent illustration of conservation work. In 1986 it was declared a monument of historical and artistic interest.

Going up the Vinalopó river we come to Sax castle, which did not fall into Christian hands until 1240. It rises up majestically from a great rock, dominating the village, and is impregnable from its eastern side with two fortified areas and two well preserved towers. Next to the keep there is a large cistern that now houses a museum of the outfits used in the Moors and Christians festival.

The medieval castle of Villena The spectacular castle of Villena, also known as La Atalaya (the Watchtower) was declared a national monument in 1931 and is one of the finest examples of medieval architecture in Spain. It fell into Christian hands in 1239 and its most outstanding feature is the square keep that rises up over the rest of the building. Thanks to the continuous repairs carried out during the 20th century

it is currently in excellent condition.

Near to Villena we find the castle of Biar, also a national monument since 1931, of which only the tower remains from the Almohade era. This castle began to take on strategic importance during the time of King James I and underwent significant alterations during the 15th century. It has a double wall and a 17m. keep that have been well restored and are in good condition.

The tower of the castle of Villena

Ascent to the castle of Petrer

At a height of 785 metres in Castalla we find a pentagonal castle. Nothing remains of the original Islamic construction and it was rebuilt during the 15th and 16th centuries, although it fell into ruins again in the 19th century. It is said that that the fort played a key role in defeating Napoleon in the Wars of Independence, driving the French out of the southeast of Spain. Of the parts of the castle that still remain the most interesting is its “Torre Grossa”, a circular tower.

Finally, the castle of Bañeres, of Almohade origin, dates from the second half of the 12th century and is situated on top of the Tossal del Águila, a peak of 830 metres next to the river Vinalopó. This strategic point overlooks three provinces: Alicante, Valencia and Albacete. It has a magnificent keep with three floors.

At the end of the 19th century it was practically in ruins but the work carried out since 1983 has restored it to perfect condition and it now houses an archaeological and a festival m u seum.

23

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GASTRONOMY TODAY WE’RE EATING AT...

Mesón El Granaíno (Elche)

Using the best and the freshest ingredients has always been the key to success in Mediterranean cuisine. This is also the secret of El Granaíno, one of the most prestigious restaurants in Elche that has prepared this exquisite menu for QSD Lifestyle’s readers.

First course: Gazpacho with lobster Ingredients: 750 gr. red tomatoes, 250 gr. cucumber, 150 gr. carrot, 70 gr. Italian green pepper, 60 gr. onion, 250 gr. red pepper, 75 gr. breadcrumbs, 125 ml. olive oil, 500 ml. water, 15 gr. salt, 40 ml. vinegar and 1 lobster Preparation: Wash and chop the vegetables and place them in a bowl or pan with the breadcrumbs, oil, vinegar and salt. Add the water and liquidise.

Strain and leave to chill in the fridge. Cook the lobster in salted water, peel and extract the meat.

Serve the gazpacho in a bowl with pieces of lobster sprinkled on top.

Odón Martínez, manager of El Granaíno

Dessert: Date ice cream

Ingredients: 300 gr. egg yolk, 400 gr. sugar, 175 gr. egg white, 75 gr. sugar, 700 ml. cream, 700 gr. dates, 200 gr. almonds, 200 gr. caramel.

Preparation: Whip the egg yolks with the 400 gr. of sugar in a bowl over a bain marie. Whip the egg whites with the 75 gr. of sugar. Whip the cream. Make the caramel.

M i x everything together with the dates, place in a mould and freeze.

Main course: Cod with vizcaina sauce and caramelised onions Ingredients: 800 gr. cod in 4 pieces, 500 ml. olive oil. Vizcaina sauce: 1 “choricero” pepper, 500 gr. ripe tomatoes, 500 gr. onion, 300 gr. leeks, 300 gr. carrot, 2 cloves of garlic, peeled, 225 gr. red pepper, 225 gr. green pepper, 100 ml. olive oil, 150 ml. white wine. Caramelised onions: 250 gr. onions, 75 ml. oil, 100 ml. Pedro Ximénez wine, 50 ml. salt and sugar.

Preparation: Vizcaina sauce: Scald the “choricero” pepper without the seeds and peel off the skin. Place the onions, the red and green pepper and the garlic (all chopped in medium-sized pieces) in a pan and fry on a low heat for about 45 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook for a further 30 minutes. Add “choricero” peppers, the wine and a little water. Cook a little more. Liquidise the mixture and strain. Check the seasoning and let the sauce reduce. Caramelised onions: Chop the onions finely, place in a pan with the oil, salt and sugar and cook on a low heat for an hour. Then add the Pedro Ximénez wine and cook a few minutes more. Poach the cod.

Place the cod on the plate, then the vizcaina sauce and finish off with a little caramelised onion.

28

FESTIVITIES The Three Wise Men’s Procession

Christmas celebrations in Spain are particularly attractive thanks to the deep-rooted tradition of the procession of the Three Wise Men (Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos) held on the eve of Epiphany. The Magi – Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar – came from the East to bring gifts to the infant Christ and since then they have delivered Christmas gifts to all the children on Cabalgata de Reyes Magos this magical night.

The town of Alcoy holds the oldest procession of this kind in Spain (and possibly the oldest in the world), dating from 1866. Here the celebrations begin on the Sunday before Epiphany with “Les Pastoretes”, where boys and girls dressed up as shepherds go to see the newborn child. On 4th January a royal messenger arrives to announce the visit of the Magi and the children give their letters with their Christmas wishes.

On the night of 5th January Melchior, Caspar and Balthasar ride into Alcoy mounted on camels. They are surrounded by torches and accompanied by pages, soldiers and young shepherds. During the procession the pages climb up ladders to the windows of the houses to leave presents, much

to the joy of the children on this most magical night of the year. The celebrations in Alcoy have been declared of National Tourist Interest.

If we stay in Alcoy we can also discover the Belén de Tirisiti, an original puppet show based on the Nativity play dating back over a hundred years. It combines religious traditions with more popular local matters and characters such as Tirisiti, Tereseta, L’Agüelo (The Grandfather), El Sereno (The Nightwatchman), La Sagrada Familia (The Holy Family), Los Reyes Magos (The Three Wise Men) or the Festeros de Moros y Cristianos (Moors and Christians) are manipulated from under the stage with astounding dexterity. Shows are held from the beginning of December and during the first two weeks are attended by the schoolchildren from Alcoy and from many villages of the province.

Afterwards the show is open to all and among the audience we can find spectators of all ages and from all over the world. It lasts about 30 minutes and there are shows throughout the day.

Every year the play is repeated more than a hundred times and is seen by over fourteen thousand spectators.

Belén de Tirisiti

Festivities OCTOBER -Benidorm: Moors and Christians festival at the end of the month.

-Calpe: Santísimo Cristo del Sudor festival from 22nd October with Moors and Christians, live music and dancing and fireworks.

-El Campello: Festival in honour of Santa Teresa in the middle of the month with Moors and Christians and the spectacular re-enactment of the landing of the Moors.

-Pilar de la Horadada: Festival of the Virgen del Pilar on 12th October. Religious celebration and a procession with floats the following weekend.

-Villena: Festival of Nuestra Señora de las Virtudes from 9th-12th October, with Moors and Christians of great interest for tourists. Fair from 20th October to 10th November.

-L’Alfás del Pi: Festival of Santísimo Cristo del Buen Acierto from 7th-10th October.

-Benidorm: Festival in honour of the Virgen del Sufragio and San Jaime Apóstol during the second weekend.

NOVEMBER -Cocentaina: Highly interesting traditional All Saints fair on 1st November.

-Monóvar: Santa Caterina fair on the last Sunday of the month.

-Teulada-Moraira: Santa Caterina festival and cultural week from 25th November.

DECEMBER -Agost: Traditional and historical “Danzas del Rey Moro” (Dances of the Moorish King) from 24th-31st December.

-Benijófar: Festival of La Purísima on 8th December.

-Dénia: Romería de Santa Ana (Santa Ana Procession), 13th December.

-Elche: Venida de la Virgen (Arrival of the Virgin), 28th December -Ibi: Traditional winter festival with carnival atmosphere and traditional dances, 26th-29th December.

-Monforte del Cid: Festival of La Inmaculada, with procession and Moors and Christians, 8th December.

-Santa Pola: Performance of the arrival by sea of the Virgen de Loreto, 10th December.

-Torrevieja: Festival in honour of La Purísima, 1st-17th December.

JANUARY -On 5th January there is a Wise Kings Procession (Cabalgata de Reyes Magos) in most villages.

- On 17th January many villages celebrate the festival of San Antón with the traditional blessing of pets.

-Benissa: Fira i Porrat de Sant Antoni, a municipal fair with parallel celebrations and traditional medieval fair, 13th-17th January.

29

O

John Sheerin, winner of Prestige Club’s first international draw

n the morning of Monday 11th October, in the Spanish head office of the international real estate group QSD Group, the top management of Prestige Club gathered together to carry out the draw for a prize consisting of a cheque for a seven-night stay in a Spanish national “parador” during the 2005-2006 season. Over two hundred members of the club made up of many different nationalities took part in the draw and the winner was the Scot Mr. John Sheerin. On hearing the welcome news, Mr. Sheerin contacted the QSD Group office in Scotland and picked up his prize the following day in Edinburgh.

Here he received a warm welcome from QSD Group’s UK general manager, Jim Cormack, who travelled from London in order to be present at the event.

From left to right, Catherine Hitchcock (Client Attention of Prestige Club), Isabel García (Director of Prestige Club), Richard Hart (Managing director of QSD Group)

Jim Cormack, QSD Group’s United Kingdom general manager, presenting John Sheerin with his prize in the group’s offices in Scotland

The Costa Currency With a stream of television programmes featuring far away destinations to live and work abroad and rows of overseas property magazines on the shop shelves, it seems that buying a dream home abroad has become The Thing to do.

The dream is more obtainable, but the reality is that the purchasing process can be a stressful experience, if not done without careful consideration and planning and the one thing often left to chance is transferring your sterling to foreign currency. However, by using the services of a reputable foreign exchange company not only can the buying process be made simpler, it may even help you save money!

How can a Foreign Exchange Company help you?

When purchasing your property abroad you will need to pay for it in the foreign currency of that country e.g. for Spain this will be in euros. Your traditional high street bank may seem the obvious choice for where you change your savings, due to ease and tradition, but they are likely, offer you the ‘Tourist Rate’ on the exchange of your hard earned cash, as opposed to the ‘Commercial Rate’ that a specialised foreign exchange company will offer. By using a foreign exchange company the rates will be more favourable so you can get more for your pound.

Exchange Rate Movements – over 6 month period

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Due to the volatility of the currency market exchange rates are constantly changing, so can vary from one day to the next (as shown in the graph). However, there are various options available to help customers get a great rate.

These include, Spot Transactions – Buy now, pay now. These are ideal for anyone who needs their currency straight away as the currency is purchased today at the current rate. However, if you have time to spare before your payments are due it may be wiser to consider a Forward Transaction.

Forward Transactions – Buy now, pay later. These allow you to secure a rate for up to 18 months in advance to protect yourself against any movements in the market. A small deposit holds the rate until the balance becomes due when the currency contract matures. This option not only protects against possible drops in the exchange rate but also gives you the security of the currency you need at a guaranteed cost, regardless of fluctuations in the market.

Limit Orders allow you to place an order in the market for a desired exchange rate. This has the advantage of protecting you against negative exchange movements whilst still allowing you to gain from a positive movement. Your request is entered into the system and an automatic currency purchase is triggered once the market hits your specified rate.

Using the options above clients can save thousands of pounds on their currency transfers – what better way to kick start your life abroad?

Regular Payments.

Once you have become the owner of your dream

property, it is highly likely that you will need to send regular monthly payments from home whether for mortgage payments, maintenance expenditure or transferring pensions or salary. Using a reputable foreign exchange company can make this process hassle free and they are likely to offer you better terms than your high street bank. By setting up regular monthly direct debit payments you can benefit from extremely competitive rates without the monthly worry.

Currencies Direct If you haven’t had to deal with these sort of transactions before it can seem a little daunting, but Currencies Direct, the market leader in foreign exchange, can help give you an exciting and cost-effective start to your life abroad.

Offering a tailored service to each client, you will be assigned a dedicated dealer to talk with you, as often as you require, about up-to-date movements and general predictions on market fluctuations – in plain English! Offering competitive rates for all major currencies they will identify the best opportunities for you and your money. With no charge for registering, no obligation and no commission fee, Currencies Direct offers a stress-free method of transferring funds promptly and accurately.

The information you need to potentially save thousands is only a phone call away. To take control of your finances contact Currencies Direct on +34 965 707 971 (Costa Blanca), +34 902 310 444 (Costa del Sol), +34 902 889 030 (Almeria), + 44 (0)20 7813 0332 (London) or visit their website at www.currenciesdirect.com

INFORMATION Consulates in the Costa Blanca Country

Town

Address

4

Phone

GERMANY

Alicante

Plaza Calvo Sotelo, 1

965218300

BELGIUM

Alicante

Av. Catedrático Soler, 10 Entlo. C

965929147

DENMARK

Alicante

Plaza Calvo Sotelo, 3 - 5º B

965207938

FINLAND

Benidorm

Vikingos, 4

965853599

FINLAND

Pilar de la Horadada Mayor, 23 - 3º dcha

FRANCE

Alicante

Av. Arquitecto Morell, 8

965921836

BRITAIN

Alicante

Plaza Calvo Sotelo, 1

965216022

BRITAIN

Benidorm

Aptdo. de Correos, 26

965850123

ICELAND

Benidorm

Av. Mediterráneo - Casa Flores 13

965850863

ITALY

Alicante

Pintor Aparicio, 34

965926048

LUXEMBOURG

Alicante

Av. Juan Bautista Lafora, 3

965205333

NORWAY

Alicante

Explanada de España, 29

965218300

NORWAY

Benidorm

Pal, 1 - Ed. Aurea

965852166

NORWAY

Denia

Diana, 27

965780053

NORWAY

Torrevieja

Patricio Pérez, 7

966704501

NETHERLANDS

Alicante

Castaños, 29 - 1º

965212175

NETHERLANDS

Benidorm

Av. de Europa, 11 - Edif. Cervantes 965857012

SWEDEN

Alicante

Duque de Zaragoza, 4 - 5º D

965218520

SWEDEN

Benidorm

Av. l’Aiguera-Ed. Anfiteatro C

966805933

SWEDEN

Torrevieja

Chapaprieta, 1

965710985

966766412

8

6

5

1 2 3

7

11 13 9 12 10 Golf Clubs

1. La Sella (Dénia) 2. Jávea (Jávea) 3. Ifach (Benissa) 4. Don Cayo (Altea) 5. Alicante (Alicante) 6. El Plantío (Alicante) 7. Bonalba (Mutxamel) 8. Alenda (Monforte del Cid) 9. Campoamor (Orihuela) 10. Ramblas de Orihuela (Orihuela) 11. La Marquesa (Rojales) 12. Villamartín (Orihuela) 13. La Finca (Algorfa)

Useful phone numbers ALICANTE AIRPORT (EL ALTET)

966919000

RENFE RAILWAYS ALICANTE

965920202

GENERALITAT VALENCIANA RAILWAYS

965262731

COACH STATION ALICANTE

965130700

FIRE BRIGADE

085

NATIONAL POLICE

091

LOCAL POLICE

092

CIVIL GUARD

062

RED CROSS

965252525

TOURIST INFO

965230160

31