The Costa Blanca is part of Alicante Province and the main towns are Alicante and Benidorm.
The name was introduced
in 1957 by British marketeers to promote and grow air traffic to the region.
Punics and
Romans had settlements here in ancient
times but human inhabitation remained sparce untill the
Moors arrived in 718 AD. They introduced terrassed fruit orchards with
a smart system for irrigation, thus boosting agricultural production that facilitated population growth.
The remains of these age-old terrasses
can still be seen everywhere on the hill sides..
Later
Berber Pirates were active along the coast in seach for loot and slaves
for the thriving
Ottoman Empire. In response people build observation towers and fortified their towns.
The many white sandy
beaches and the nice climate makes the Costa Blanca a favorite tourist destination, not only in summer but also for scores of
hibernating penshionadas that escape the wintery climate in northern Europe.
A tramline connects Denia with Alicante making
it very convenient to travel between towns and villages.
Each town has its distinct own character, ranging from a bustling touristic
Benidorm to a very Spanish and elegant Alicante.
