| La Zenia - Another of the Orihuela Costa resorts | | | | beach and promenade have given the resort a much |
| which has grown up due to heavy property | | | | needed facelift. The busy Saturday market is one of |
| development along the Costa Blanca, is the area | | | | the big attractions of Playa Flamenca and thousands |
| called La Zenia. Not a traditional Spanish village in the | | | | of shoppers head there every week looking for a |
| real sense of the word but a popular area none the | | | | bargain or two. |
| less, La Zenia has two fabulous 'blue flag' beaches | | | | Punta Prima - At the northern end of the area |
| (Cala Bosque and Cala Cerrada). La Zenia has a | | | | known as the Orihuela Costa is the beautiful coastal |
| decent range of bars and restaurants, with a new | | | | resort of Punta Prima. Best known for its huge palm |
| commercial centre being built near the motorway. | | | | trees, lined behind its 'blue flag' beach, Punta Prima is |
| Popular with Irish holidaymakers, its famous pub, | | | | a popular location for holidaymakers from all over |
| Paddy's Point, is claimed to have been the first Irish | | | | Europe. Lying close to the bustling town of |
| pub in the region. | | | | Torrevieja, Punta Prima is perfectly located for a |
| Torrevieja - Every year thousands of holidaymakers | | | | wide range of facilities, handy for the golf courses of |
| from Spain and indeed all over Europe head for the | | | | Villamartin, Campoamor and Las Ramblas, Punta Prima |
| Costa Blanca town of Torrevieja. Its great range of | | | | is also a great area for water sports and fishing, the |
| facilities, its excellent sandy beaches and its lively | | | | Go-Kart track along the N332 is very popular with the |
| atmosphere all help to make it a popular choice. | | | | children. |
| Formerly a small fishing village, Torrevieja became | | | | Formentera del Segura - Originally a Moorish village, |
| one of the major salt exporters in the world thanks | | | | Formentera del Segura was conquered by the |
| to the two huge salt lakes located behind the town. | | | | Christian king Jaime I ('The Conquistador') in 1242, the |
| An explosion in property development during the | | | | village changed hands a number of times over the |
| 1980's and 1990's caused the town to grow at a | | | | prevailing centuries until 1730 when it came under |
| phenomenal rate. | | | | control of Nicolas Pérez de Sarrio (The Lord |
| Ciudad Quesada - The story of Ciudad Quesada is | | | | of Formentera), who gave the village its current |
| completely different and unique to that of any other | | | | name. Largely destroyed by the great earthquake of |
| town or village of the Costa Blanca, or in fact the | | | | 1829, Formentera del Segura was re-built by 1840 |
| whole of Spain. It is not a story of ancient settlers, | | | | culminating in the building of the parish church. Relying |
| nor of bitter wars fought between Arabs and | | | | mostly on agriculture and citrus farming for its |
| Christians, Ciudad Quesada does not have a medieval | | | | survival Formentera del Segura benefits from an |
| fortress or an age-worn parish church built over the | | | | irrigation system put into place by the Moors |
| course of a hundred years. Ciudad Quesada is the | | | | centuries ago. One of its most popular fiestas is 'The |
| result of one man's childhood dream, a dream to build | | | | Day of the Bicycle' featuring a race involving many of |
| his own 'Holiday City' where people could live | | | | its inhabitants. |
| together in harmony, prosper and enjoy life to the | | | | Benijofar - Located on the banks of the River Segura |
| full. That dream of one Justo Quesada Samper finally | | | | between Orihuela and Guardamar del Segura is the |
| became a reality in 1972 when the city of Ciudad | | | | tiny village of Benijofar. The name of the village |
| Quesada was begun and had reached fruition by | | | | which means 'son of pearl', harps back to the days |
| 1999 when it boasted its own Town Hall | | | | of the Arab Occupation (8th - 13th Centuries). |
| (Ayuntamiento) and its own Mayor. | | | | Benijofar is an agricultural village surrounded by rich, |
| Playa Flamenca - Located in the Orihuela Costa | | | | fertile land, irrigated by the Segura river, the |
| district of the southern Costa Blanca, Playa Flamenca | | | | population of the village is only around 3,600 and it |
| could not be called a traditional Spanish village, in fact | | | | covers an area of just 4.4 km2. The 17th Century |
| up until the early 1970's it was just an area of barren | | | | church of Saint James was mostly destroyed during |
| coastline. Developed by a group of Flemish investors, | | | | the 1829 earthquake which shook this region, but a |
| Playa Flamenca has become one of the most popular | | | | few parts of the old Baroque church still remain |
| destinations along the coast, the newly improved | | | | within the re-built structure. |