Calpe is a coastal municipality on the Costa Blanca that is perhaps best known for its cliff, white beaches and many good restaurants.
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It is also known for having a high proportion of people from the UK who own or rent in one of the many modern blocks of flats overlooking the Mediterranean.
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But Calpe also has a well-preserved old town that is less well-known but more charming than the new ones.
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As in other coastal towns in Spain, the people of Calpe have built their houses on a hill slightly set back from the shoreline and surrounded by a fortress wall to provide protection against attacks by pirates.
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The area that was originally within this wall constitutes the old town. Today you can see the remains of the wall at the old watchtower - Torreó de la Peça - where you will find the Museo de Coleccionismo which has exhibitions of public and private art collections.
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If you are interested in history and archaeology, you can also visit the Museo de Historia in Casa de la Senyoreta.
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The old town has narrow streets, but also open spaces where people can gather.In most streets, people have decorated around doors and windows with flowers.
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The staircase, painted in the colors of the Spanish flag, is one of the most photographed places in the city.
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But there are also other nicely decorated stairs.
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The quote: "There are three kinds of men - the living, the dead and those who go by sea" which can be found on a pavement, can also be seen in other coastal towns that want to highlight their fishing traditions.
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The old town of Calpe has many murals.
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The town also has a couple of springs that are still in use.
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When you wander around the old city streets, you get something nice to look at in every single street.
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At the city's highest point just outside the old town is a park with the Ermita de San Salvador chapel.
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Here you can enjoy the beautiful view, or relax in the shade on one of the benches.
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Calpe was originally an agricultural municipality where farmers lived by growing almonds and extracting salt from the shallow waters of the salt lake at the back of the town.
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Today, this is a nature reserve where you can see flamingos and other birds up close. Read more about Les Salinas de Calpe.
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The famous cliff just outside the city is also located in a nature conservation area. Although it looks difficult from the town side, it is possible to climb this from the other side.
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A nice path has been created where you can hold on to ropes on the steepest passages. Read more about the route to climb the cliff of Calpe here: peñón de Ifach.
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Between the city center and the cliff of Calpe lies an archaeological excavation area with finds from Roman times.
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In addition to a tower and foundation wall from old settlements, you can see traces of the Roman bathing pool carved out of the rocks by the beach.
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More excursions: www.turideer.com
Excursion of the week: The Old town of Calpe on Costa Blanca.
Suitable for: Everybody.
Get there: Search for "Aparcamiento Plaza Mayor Calpe" on Google Maps. It leads you to a parking garage right at the entrance to the old town. Then go up the hill right next to the car park, then you will come straight into the old town - Casco Antiguo.