Discovering Finestrat village and Cala de Finestrat beach on the Costa Blanca (Spain).
Finestrat Village
Finestrat is the picturesque village with ‘hanging houses’, snuggled under the legendary Puig Campana mountain peak…winding streets of traditional townhouses, balconies filled with flowers, typical plazas and an impressive XVIII century church. The surrounding countryside is one of the best places to walk on the Costa Blanca.
Wander through the peaceful ‘old town’ and discover the secret corners of this charming place, walk up to the ‘castle’ and chapel at the top of the hill to the beautiful gardens, and enjoy the spectacular views to the Mediterranean sea and mountain landscape from the vantage point.
The origins of Finestrat date back to 1280, the historical centre built over the ruins of an ancient Moorish castle, a defensive post which stood watch over the coastline as far as Alicante city.
Traditionally the local people lived off the land, the surrounding countryside terraced with orange, almond and olive groves. Finestrat retains an olde worlde charm – it’s one of the prettiest villages on the Costa Blanca – but has found the perfect harmony between tradition, nature and modern day life.
If you fancy some local cuisine, try some tapas at the village cafés, enjoy a gourmet meal or typical dishes at one of the great restaurants.
Traditional mountain cuisine combines local ingredients to make tasty rice dishes and casseroles with game (rabbit and pheasant) and vegetables, flavoured with thyme or rosemary.
Snails are a specialty too. Ancient recipes include ‘arròs amb fesols i naps’ rice with beans and greens, ‘tarongetes’ meatball soup and a selection of different ‘cocas’ – pastry with sardines, or sausage, and tomato, peppers, onion and other seasonal vegetables.
The main Finestrat fiestas are held around St Bartholomew’s Day (August 24) with flower offerings, colourful processions, fancy dress parades and fireworks. There’s plenty of entertainment for the children, and live street music in the warm summer evenings, with dancing for everyone into the early hours.
The yearly medieval festival is another highlight in the agenda, when the ‘old town’ is decked out in feudal attire and visitors are whisked back in time…traditional craft stalls line the narrow streets and plazas, while falconry displays, barbecues with medieval fare, Arabian teashops and pastries, old-fashioned children’s games, and many more attractions make for an entertaining weekend.
Several smart outlying residential urbanisations have been developed between the village and the coast in recent years. Further away, there is an important commercial area with shopping centres and all the amenities.
La Cala de Finestrat Beach
La Cala de Finestrat is a wide bay with fine golden sands, five miles away from the mountain village of Finestrat, in the heart of Spain’s Costa Blanca.
You’ll find a great variety of restaurants and seafront eateries which serve typical seafood rice dishes as well as all kinds of international cuisine. Fresh fish is brought in daily from the neighbouring harbour in Villajoyosa.
Cala Finestrat is popular with tourists, as well as local residents, and there is accommodation available in hotels and self-catering apartments.
The mythical Terra Mitica theme park is also located partly within the borough, in the foothills of the Sierra Cortina ridge, making Cala Finestrat a great place for a family holiday.
How to Get to Cala Finestrat
La Cala de Finestrat is located 5 minutes from Benidorm by car, and 50 kms from Alicante-Elche airport. From the airport, take the AP-7 to motorway exit 65-A. Alternatively take the N-332 and follow the signs to the turnoff.
Related Post on Finestrat
Finestrat Mountain Walks (Puig Campana, Sierra Cortina…)
Related Posts about the Costa Blanca
Alicante Province – North to South
- Costa Blanca Beaches and Coastal Resorts with info on outdoor activities, watersports, local history, cuisine, fiestas, getting here…
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- Finestrat – Mountains Walks – Puig Campana
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