| Alicante City is a treat for the senses it has so | | | | of doing away with people it seems the Moors |
| much going on that it would be impossible to see | | | | had ways of ridiculing their law breakers instead. |
| all of it. The city is a cosmopolitan, bustling place | | | | For instance drunks who may have spoken badly |
| with every thing you would expect and more, | | | | about their king were made to stand in a barrel, |
| giving you a great place to explore on holiday. | | | | where upon the locals filled it with all of their |
| However the surrounding area of Alicante is | | | | rubbish and bathroom waste! |
| outstandingly beautiful with a few hidden gems | | | | For a refreshing stop on your way back escape |
| thrown in as well, the best way to explore this | | | | the heat and take a dip at the bracing Les Fonts |
| area and have your own holiday adventure is to | | | | de l'Algar. (Algar Waterfalls), near to the village of |
| hire a car. To get you started here are a few | | | | Callosa d'en Sarria. The falls are a series of |
| ideas you may want to consider. | | | | tumbling weirs and large water pools starting off |
| The Village of Guadalest in the province of | | | | quite shallow and slow running but they get |
| Alicante is regarded as one of the best days out | | | | deeper and faster as you work your way up the |
| and most rewarding places you could visit. | | | | valley. Swimming is allowed all the way up but |
| Surrounded on three sides by the Aitana, Serella | | | | remember that the current in the narrower pools |
| and Xorta Mountains it's a hidden oasis of | | | | can be very strong, make sure you have a |
| outstanding natural beauty and heritage. The | | | | chuckle at the people struggling to swim against |
| Village sits perched on the edge of a granite | | | | the flow before you jump in. |
| mountain with fantastic views down the river cut | | | | Helpfully a winding path has been added along the |
| valley. | | | | route making the entire series of crystal blue |
| The drive to the village is part of the adventure, | | | | pools accessible to everyone, at the top there |
| as the twisting road takes you around some tight | | | | are even showers and restaurants or places to |
| hairpin bends over some narrow passes which | | | | have a barbeque. |
| give the best views of the surrounding mountains. | | | | The Cuevas del Canelobre are a series of caves |
| Guadalest was built by the Moors and as soon as | | | | located only 24 kilometers from Alicante, The |
| you reach the village it becomes obvious why | | | | inner most cave boasts the highest vault ceiling of |
| they considered it such a valuable location. The | | | | any cave in Spain. More like a cathedral than a |
| castles and buildings look like they grasp the cliffs | | | | cave it's a beautiful place to observe some of the |
| and the smallest breeze may cause them to fall. | | | | best examples of stalactites and stalagmites in |
| So steep are the cliffs and peaks on which they | | | | Europe. The sheer scale and vastness of these |
| sit they are virtually unconquerable and they gave | | | | natural caves simply can't be imagined so jump in |
| the Moors a fantastically hidden strategic strong | | | | your hire car and experience this wonder for |
| hold. | | | | yourself. |
| Access to the old village is through a stone cut | | | | The enormous rock formations are stunning and |
| tunnel called the 'Portal de San José the | | | | the caves have unique acoustic properties which |
| hole through the mountain was cut some 1,300 | | | | can't be re-produced. On certain dates concerts |
| years ago and is still the only way in. once your | | | | and music festivals are held within the caves. |
| eyes adjust you'll feel as if you have been | | | | Because they maintain a very low temperature |
| transported back through time to a long gone | | | | it's the perfect place to see a beautifully eerie |
| medieval era. Stone cut houses, churches and | | | | performance in complete comfort. |
| castle remains are all on offer to be explored and | | | | After all of this history and culture one of the |
| investigated. | | | | best ways to keep the children entertained is to |
| If you can make sure you arrive early, you will | | | | take them to the relatively new Terra Mitica |
| avoid the crowds and catch the first castle tour | | | | theme park. Built in 2000 the park promises to |
| at 10 am. It starts off with a walk through the | | | | take you back in time as you adventure through |
| dungeons, a great to keep the kids entertained, | | | | any one of their 5 areas. Divided into Ancient |
| the tour explains the village's history, takes in the | | | | Egypt, Rome, Iberia, Greece and the Islands each |
| look out points and winding paths and takes you | | | | has its own theme and rides based around these |
| to parts of the castle you might have otherwise | | | | ancient cultures of the area. Think Alton towers |
| missed. | | | | with a cultural twist but definitely with out the bad |
| A slightly more macabre museum is the Medieval | | | | weather. |
| Torture Exhibition, it's not all gruesome methods | | | | |