| |
The emotions will be even more apparent if you are finding your perfect Central Coast California real estate house. But to do so, you will need some house buying tips and I am going to share with you 5 tips to finding your perfect central coast California real estate house at a bargain.
DETAILS ON THE AREAS
ALICANTE & THE COSTA BLANCA
ALICANTE, is located in the centre of the Costa Blanca and runs along the coastline. The Santa Ana Castle of Arabian architectural style overlooks the whole city. Alicante offers a wide variety of entertainment options. The promenade “Paseo Marítimo” and the old part of the city are worth a visit. The Castle, which can be reached by an elevator, offers a complete view of the town, the port and the Paseo de la Explanada. The Church of Santa Maria with its façade representative of the Valencia Baroque style and set in the heart of the old quarter, the Town Hall, the church of San Nicolas and the mannerist and Baroque façades of the buildings on Labradores Street are the main monumental landmarks in this city. Amongst the most interesting places to visit in the Alicante region are: Guadalest a little town founded on top of the mountains and only accessible by foot or mule in some parts. Elda, Villena, Elche, that have more that a million palm trees planted between the three of them. And the church where the mistery of “Elche”, a medieval religious celebration takes place every August.
SANTA POLA is only 18km from Alicante and the fishing port has always enjoyed an excellent reputation, thanks to the magnificent prawns and red mullet which are brought in by the fishing boats. The town has managed to preserve all of the noisy and traditional ambience of the ancient Lonjas (Commodity Exchanges) in the daily sales of the fish which are taken right off the boats. In the heart of town, an ancient fortress built in the 16C reminds of the times when Santa Pola served as the port for Elche and it was always threatened by Berber attacks. The Cape of Sant Pola, near the town, offers a very broad view of the area and the nearby island of Tabarca which itself is well worth a boat trip.
GUARDAMAR DEL SEGURA is the next town we come to standing out on a long beach, it is surrounded by sand dunes covered with pines, eucalyptus and bushes. The section of land which separates Santa Pola from Guardamar del Segura is surely a fine example of the horizon which characterises the Vega Baja. An extension of salt deposits located near the endless beaches defines this land which at some points is even below sea level.
TORREVIEJA is just 15km further south near the vast salt deposits which were once constituted one of the main sources of income in this province. The gleaming flooded land which takes on unique tones at dusk and the blinding white mountains of salt offer a unique and immensely attractive landscape. Torrevieja also has a popular yacht and fishing harbour and takes its name from the old Vigilance tower "Torre Vigia". There are many interesting places to visit including: La Torre del Moro, the old Casino, the theatre, "Eras de La Sal" the old salt deposits, the roman dock in la Mata, the masonary bridge of "El Acequión", the archpriest temple, the museum of the sea and the salt and the social cultural centre. No matter what time of year you visit you will be able to enjoy the street market established permanently near the Marina in Torrevieja throughout the whole year.
The coast of Torrevieja is a low coast, dotted with superb beaches including: Los Locos, El Cura and Los Naufragos. Very close by are the beaches of Orihuela; Punta Prima, Playa Flamenca, Cabo Roig, La Zenia, Dehesa de Campoamor and El Pilar de la Horadada. Due to the excellent climate the beaches can be enjoyed for many months each year.
The natural park of la Mata and Torrevieja salt lakes is one of the most important spots on the Alicante coast. The combination of salt marshs and fresh water lakes attract the presence of a rich variety of fish and birds.
ORIHUELA is a pretty Spanish city, which has played an important role in every historical period, preserves the best and most extensive monumental catalogue of these lands.
POPULAR CELEBRATIONS AND TRADITIONS
Two of the most spectacular celebrations of the entire Spanish repertoire are held along the Costa Blanca. Moros y Cristianos and the Misterio de Elche, are, without a doubt, events to capture anyone’s interest. However, there are many other festivities which cannot all be mentioned here and though they cannot match the splendour of the two we have just mentioned, they are indeed worthy to watch. The central motif is the commemoration of the Christian victory over the troops of al-Azraq. The dates for the majority of the towns which celebrate the Moros y Cristianos are around the 22nd and 24th of April.
The Misteri d'Elx (Mystery of Elche) holds an entirely different atmosphere, that of the religious celebrations. During the middle of August a play about the Assumption of the virgin is put on in the El Transito Basilica in accordance with a libretto and musical score of medieval origin. Though the key dates are the 14th and 15th of August, abbreviated performances, which last for four hours, are put on during the preceding week.
THE CRAFTS
Of the old crafts, only two have managed to maintain a sufficient level of productivity in order to resist the onslaught of industrial competition. Near the coast there are two towns which are almost exclusively dedicated to the making of all kinds of baskets -in the case of Gata de gorgos- and jugs, bowls and other recepticles made from the best clay in the town of Agost.
Gata (very close to Javea) produces basket work made from esparto, wicker, straw and palmetto, including furniture made with plant fibres which are much sought after. The pottery work also has four production centres of great activity in this area. Agost holds first place with fifty workers, who still produce jugs and pitchers of white earth, ideal for keeping water cool and refreshing because of the extraordinary porosity of the raw material. Orba, Onil and Biar also have active potters who produce both glazed and non-glazed objects.
THE COSTA CALIDA
THE COSTA CALIDA region is located at the south of the Valencian area “Comunidad Valenciana”. The Murcian coast (part of which is included in the Costa Blanca) has some very popular tourist complexes: La Manga del Mar Menor, La Unión, Carboneras, Puerto de Mazarrón, Aguilas & Cartagena.
CARTAGENA is the main coastal town and was founded (as the name indicates) by the Carthaginians in the year 221 b.c.
THE MAR MENOR is a broad, salt-water lagoon of 170 square kilometres, almost entirely closed off by a natural breakwater made up of sandy deposits. It seems that it originated as a small bay, like so many other found along the Mediterranean, but with time, the Manga (sleeve) began to progressively close off the cove to the point where today only a system of canals and sluices keep the Mar Menor in direct contact with the open sea. Due to the fact that it is really a dammed up sea, of limited depth and very salty waters, the lagoon has always been home to a very unusual fauna, which proves especially delicious on the dinner table. After the first six kilometres, the urban developments begin to disappear which makes it possible to admire the view of the Mediterranean and the Mar Menor. To the left, the more tranquil warm waters where one has to walk quite a great deal in order to reach a section of any depth for swimming. To the right, the beaches of the open sea, where the swimmer can enjoy the fun of ocean waves, which are practically non-existent on the Mar Menor. The beach and the summer holiday buildings extend without interruption until Santiago de la Ribera. Farther on are the installations of the San Javier military airport.Eight kilometers away is Los Alcázares, and old health spa. The scenery here is a cross between farmland and seascapes defined by the windmills and the palm and lemon trees.
LA MANGA del Mar Menor is a wonderful place located 30 Km. North of Cartagena (Southeast Mediterranean coast of Spain), in the Autonomous Community of Murcia. The most important tourist centre in the region, stretches between the Mediterranean and the Mar Menor, the warmest and calmest sea in Europe. It consists of a narrow, sandy slice of land with 22km of double beaches between 100 and 800m in width. The clean air, the healthy Mar Menor water (very salty, therefore good for rheumatic diseases and skin problems), the fine autumn and winter, and the sunsets in Mar Menor, are conditions hard to find in other parts of Europe. From early March to mid November the good weather is almost guaranteed and, even during the "winter" months, you will find many days with good and sunny weather. The average annual temperature is 17°. Winter is very mild, with the average temperature of the cool months not falling below 10°. Summer is invariably hot, but with a refreshing breeze.
MAZARRON
The town consists of two important centres, where the majority of the population lives.
- Mazarrón, about 5 kilometres from the coast and the
- Port of Mazarrón, next to the Mediterranean Sea.
The landscape is quite rugged, the town being surrounded by ranges of mountains of medium altitude- Mingrano, Algarrobo, lo Alto, Almenara y Moreras. In the centre of the area there is a coastal plain which opens on to Mediterranean, forming the so-called Golf of Mazarrón, bordered by the capes Tiñoso and Cope, with expansive beaches of fine sand, small bays and cliffs. Rain is very scarce from 240 to 300 mm. The climate is Mediterranean, with high temperatures in Summer and very mild temperatures during the rest of the year.
MURCIA
The region of Murcia is bordered by the dry, semi-desert plain of Almeria, whose northern countryside contains such towns and villages as Lorca, Totana and Alhama. Murcia, 70km from La Manga Club, is the capital of the region, surrounded by a splendidly fertile cultivated plain. The most important monument is the cathedral, other outstanding monuments include the Episcopal Palace, the Casino, several churches and other 19th century architecture. This small historic community made up equally of charming, intimate corners and the repeated surprise of its monumental buildings, which are at times preceded by small squares and at other times, they stand in narrow streets which are ill-adapted to the fast-paced, noisy life of the capital. Murcia has always been said to feel a close bond with the irrigated farmland, the huerta, which has affected the character of its people, the city's art, its Easter festivities and the culture of the community in general.
Caravaca de la Cruz, is one of the main landmarks on these inland routes. In addition to its enormous archaeological wealth which lays evidence to a very ancient settlement, Caravaca offers some valuable pieces from the period of the Re conquest. As an important border town, it was for a long time part of the patrimony of the Knights Templar and as of the 14th century it was turned over to the Knights of Santiago. It was in fact during this period of wars and conversions that, according to tradition, the miraculous appearance of the two-armed patriarchal cross took place, the emblem of the city, which today conserves pieces of the real Lignum Crucis.
Moratalla is 14 kms. away, surrounded by mountains and spread out at the foot of the fortress, the landscape of pine groves and oak trees and the considerable wealth of its fauna - which includes wild boar, eagles and some capra hispánica (goats) - have made Moratalla an ideal spot for nature lovers. The town (or the old section, to be more exact) dates back to the same period as the rest of the fortified hills of this region; the Moslem epoch and the subsequent domination of the military orders left a deep impression on this area.
Calasparra, in the direction of Elche de la Sierra amidst the rice paddies, is the Shrine of La Esperanza, located high in the mountains. The Shrine, carved right out of the rock, beside the source of the Segura River, combines its natural beauty with its great religious significance and is the object of popular pilgrimages. In the town itself, we should visit the House of La Encomienda (under restoration), and the Churches of Los Santos and San Pedro.
ALMERIA
The province of Almeria, is located in the South East of the peninsula and bounded to the north east by the provinces of Granada and Murcia, to the East by the Mediterranean, and to the west by the province of Granada. Almeria is above all a sunny region, registering more than 3100 hours of sunshine annually and an average temperature of 12.6°C in winter, 18.5°C in spring, 23.2°C in summer and 16.2°C in autumn. For this reason the Spanish-German astronomical centre has been installed on the outskirts of Gergal, with the most powerful telescope in Europe, and in Tabernas the most important solar energy plant in Europe. The kindness of the climate with the natural protection of the mountain range of Sierra de Gador avoiding the penetration of the north winds, has converted this agricultural zone into the most productive in Europe with more than 10,000 hectares of greenhouses, plenty of vegetables, flowers and garden production cultivated under plastic. Most of the production of 250,000 tons travel daily to many EC Countries. The white marble of Macael extracted in that locality, is being exported all over the world due to its great quality. Almeria has an extensive coast line with more than 190 km of private and public beaches which includes a great variety of little bays, inlets and cliffs where naturism can be practiced as well as all types of aquatic sports especially underwater fishing. The coast offers sports lovers a wide variety of alternatives, from golf to tennis or sailing. There are numerous marinas or schools for sailing and long sandy beaches. The eastern part of the coast, offers villages as unique and well preserved as Mojacar, a place of unspoilt beauty. A short distance from Mojacar is Carboneras and this is becoming more popular owing to the clearness of its water, its 16 km of golden sandy beaches, the quality of the sand and the beauty of the landscape. Another town well worth a visit is Vera, with Roman and Arabic heritage ot maintains some of its past through the churches of La Encarnacion and San Agustin, as well as in the interesting Museo Arqueologico. Meanwhile, its coastline, as in Garrucha, again offers a wide range of tourist activities, with the special attraction of Europe's first nudist hotel, located in the area's best known complex, Puerto Rey. Vera offers a long strip of sand of 5 km long, which is known as El Playazo.
It is a must to dine out and sample the outstanding ingredient in the cuisine of Almeria; wonderfully fresh fish. In Garrucha, squid and red mullet are served grilled, while in other towns fresh fish form part of the fish chowders, a true speciality of the region.
Almeria – the capital of the province, with an Arab fortress, and Cathedral which dates from the 17th Century.
THE CRAFTS
Almeria is a very rich place for enjoying the ceramics and pottery of Albox, Nijar, Sorbas and Vera.
OUT AND ABOUT
GOLF
One passion to discover in Almeria! Several golf courses can be enjoyed here. Almerimar and Playa Serena have 18 hole courses which are open all year round. It is possible to hire equipment.
TENNIS
All along the coast of Almeria there are several tennis courts situated in hotel grounds, apartment and tourist developments. It is possible to practice in Polideportivos Municipales.
USEFUL NUMBERS
AIRLINES
The Airport of San Javier is located near the Mar Menor and has regular daily air service with Madrid, in addition to some charter flights. For more complete information, contact the IBERIA Airline offices in Murcia at La Libertad, no.3, Tres Jardines Building. Tel: 96 28 50 93 or San Javier Airport. Tel: 96 57 05 50.
RAILWAYS
The delegation of Renfe (Spanish National Railways) in Murcia is located at Calle de Barrionuevo, 4 - Tel: 21 19 63 and 21 28 42
USEFUL ADDRESSES
AREA CODE: 968
Tourist Information Offices:
MURCIA: Alejandro Seiquer, 4. Tel: 21 37 16. Plano de San Francisco s/n. Palacio Almud. Tel: 21 98 01.
AGUILAS: Plaza de Antonio Cortijo s/n. Tel: 41 33 03.
CARTAGENA: Concejalía de Turismo. Town Hall. Tel: 50 64 83.
LOS ALCAZARES: Fuster, 63. Edificio Pintor Hernández Carpe. Tel: 17 13 61.
PTO. MAZARRON: Avda. Dr. Meca, 20 (Edif. Bahía Mar). Tel: 59 44 26.
SAN PEDRO DEL PINATAR: Explanada de Lo Pagán. Tel: 18 23 01.
SANTIAGO DE LA RIBERA: Cultural Center Príncipe de Asturias. Tel: 57 17 04.
LORCA: López Gisbert (Guevara Palace). Tel: 46 61 57.
Centers of tourist Initiatives:
CARTAGENA: Palacio Consistorial. Town Hall Square. Tel: 50 64 83.
MAR MENOR: Ctra. San Javier (Los Alcázares). Tel: 57 52 79.
ISLA PLANA-AZOHIA: Ctra. Azohía, 60. Tel: 15 20 78.
LA MANGA: Gran Vía, s/n. Bajo (Edif. Zambia). Tel: 14 07 24.
MURCIA: Avda. de la Libertad, 10 (Edif. Alba). Tel: 24 26 77.
MAZARRON: Avda. Dr. Meca, 20 (Edif. Bahía Mar). Tel: 59 00 64 and 59 02 98.
|
|
