Costa Blanca Travel Guide

Javea / Xabia, 108 km (67 mi) southeast of Valencia, 92 km (57 mi) northeast of Alicante and 8 km (5 mi) south of Denia is a labyrinth of tiny streets and houses with Gothic windows which can only be appreciated by walking on foot. This ancient fishing village still holds its charm even with extensive tourism facilities. Javea's careful planning policies - restricting the height and type of new buildings -  have preserved the beauty of the town and combined it with the modern and have made sure that Javea stays a true jewel of the Costa Blanca.

One of Javea's gems, is the church-fortress of San Bartolome, built in the 12th century. Soler Blasco, an ethnological and archaeological museum, which can found on the Calle Primicias, has a superb collection of Iberian jewellery, discovered in 1904, during excavation works.

Standing guard over Javea and Denia, is Montgo, at its highest point, 753 metres, and only a few hundred metres from the coastline, this imposing promontory helps to protect Javea from bad weather and the town is said, by the World Health organisation, to have one of the best climates in the world. 

View live webcam of Javea/Xabia 

Being a coastal town, fish and seafish dishes prevail. Around the port, the Aduanas del Mar area is sprinkled with restaurants serving arroz al la marinera (seafood paella) and many other local dishes. Cocas (small pizza-like pastries with peppers and tomatoes or oil and anchovies) and empanadillas (pastries filled with vegetables such as peas or spinach, or with pepper, tomato, tuna and boiled egg) are typical of Javea. Garlic and olive oil are the two basic ingredients of any dish and are essential ingredients for a healthy Mediterranean diet.

Following south from the town, the beach transforms itself into strange, small rock formations with numerous rock pools. After a mile or so, is the blue flag beach, Playa del Arenal, with fine sand and shallow waters, and many amenities including, motor boats, natural and artificial shade, vigilance services and numerous restaurants and cafes.