Holidays in Benissa, On the Costa Blanca, Spain

Benissa is one of the oldest towns on the Costa Blanca. A huge undertaking to restore the post 17th century architecture is evident with the eye attentive details paid to the churches, houses, streets and the town hall. Evidence of its superb restoration are: a hospital built for the poor in 1790; the Cathedral of the Pure Mother Mary, Casa Andrew, part of the local university; and the Lonja, an old trade building used for trials and business transactions in years gone by, now it is the Ethnological Museum.

Benissa has over 4 kilometres of coastline, unspoilt and secluded. White sanded beaches dotted with tiny pebbly or gravelled coves, some of which still remain relatively unknown to the mass tourist industry. The most well-known is the La Fustera cove, it has the most facilities with children's areas. The average annual temperatures in Benissa range from 16°C - 31°C during the day. Temperatures can drop a lot during the night especially in winter, however, it rarely ever goes below 5°C.

Sport is considerably well catered for in Benissa, from cycling, climbing, horse riding and walking in the Bernia mountain range to the coastal pleasures such as scuba diving, snorkelling, fishing and wind surfing. Boating is another possibility too. Nearby Calpe offers clubs and boat hire for some of these sports and excellent up to date facilities.

Whether your day has been spent exploring. Taking in the sun's rays or adventuring, you are sure to need something culinary. Traditional food, the local delicacy of octopus stew, or international in origin such as German, Chinese or Indian; there is sure to be something unique to savour the taste of your visit. The Casa del Maco has been afforded Michelin recognition.

The best way of getting from A to B: It takes approximately one hour and ten minutes drive to get from Alicante to Benissa. This can be done through a shuttle service or through car hire. These can be arranged at the same time as booking your ticket. Even though, local transport is possible too, planning ahead can remove any potential problems.