Calpe has a beautiful old town located at the top of a steep hill. At the top of the
main shopping street, simply take
any of the samll side streets on the left hand side, and you'll soon find yourself in an area of winding
cobblestone
lanes, beautiful churches, tiny museums and side walk cafes and bodegas.
In Calpe's old town, don't miss the beautiful painted and tiled murals loated on walls and houses all over town
and
take photos of some of the pretty lanes lined with potted plants and colorful flowers. Have a glass of Sangria,
the
delicious Spanish wine-mix, at a traditional bodega and don't miss ordering a plate of the Spanish national dish,
paella.
One of the most beautiful parts of Calpe are the long tiled promenades, stretched
along the beach from one side of the
town to the other.
Walk along the promenades from one end to the other, and you'll get a workout that will last several kilometers.
While
walking, check out the lovely beach side cafes you pass, watch the sand artists creating sand sculptures of
enormous
crocodiles, beautiful mermaids and exostic castles, and take photographs of the stunning ocean views and Calpe
Rock
from every angle.
After the fishing boats come back at the end of the day, that day's catch is taken to
the Calpe Auction House down by
the harbor and auctioned off to the numerous restaurants and hotels around Calpe. Anyone can go to the auction
house and
settle in to watch the fish beings hauled off in crates and on slabs, hurriedly auctioned off to the highest
bidder,
then hauled off again.
It's fun, it's fast and it's exciting and you won't have a clue what's going on, but you'll have a great time.
After
the auction head out to the one of the many fish restaurants close to the harbor and order some of the freshest
fish
you'll ever eat. Prices are inespensive too.
One of the most fun and best things to do in Calpe, if you just feel like a morning or
afternoon relaxing, is to sit at
a beach side cafe (and there are hundreds of them), order a cafe con leche or a Lumumba (hot or iced chocolate
with
brandy) and watch the crowds walk by.
Sitting at a beach side cafe in Calpe is the perfect way to see the world go by without moving yourself. Plus,
don't
miss the specials most cafes offer - apple pie and coffee, tea or coffee and scones, an English breakfast and
more.
Calpe Rock is an unusual volcanic rock formation jutting out into the ocean. Called
Peñón de Ifach in Spanish, Calpe
Rock is visited by hundreds of thousands of people a year, many of whom actually climb the rock to the lookout
point
hear the top.
If you're visiting the town of Calpe, the number one best thing to do in the city, and one not to miss, is walk
to the
top of Calpe Rock. The rock itself is a natural reserve, full of wildlife and plant life, and the walk through
the long
tunnel to the lookout point is one of the most beautiful walks you'll ever do, with the resulting view from the
top
simply stunning.