COAST WITH THE

Javea is one of Europe’s best places to locate in thanks to its climate and mountain backdrop

FOR a coastal destination like Javea it’s strange that a mountain means so much. The honey-coloured Montgo massif is only 753m tall. But that’s enough to make it a photogenic backdrop as well as giving Javea one of the best microclimates in the world.

According to one of the world’s first major microclimate studies conducted in the 1990s, Javea shot to number two behind Rio de Janeiro, also backed by its famous mountain. The Montgo blocks icy, arctic winds from ruining winter (20C days in January are common) while cool sea breezes keep scorching summer temperatures to between 23C to 27C. This geographical stroke of luck has turned Javea into a top retirement destination for expats from around the world.

And Javea understandably swells in summer as the well-to-do from Valencia and Madrid flock down to enjoy their well-earned holidays.

For them, Javea has become something of a status symbol thanks to the entrancing paintings of Joaquin Sorolla, as well as being the birthplace and home of Spain’s former world no.3 tennis player David Ferrer.