The Costa Blanca is part of the 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 the towns and villages.
Each town has its
distinct own character, ranging from a bustling touristic Benidorm to a very Spanish and elegant Alicante.
