Santa Pola

Santa Pola is one of Spain's most important fishing ports and the embarkation point for the only inhabited island in the Valencian Community — Tabarca. It combines a busy commercial harbour, a 16th-century fortified castle in the town centre, two large salt-flat nature reserves (full of flamingos) and long, family-friendly beaches that stretch south toward Gran Alacant. Just 20 minutes from Alicante airport, it remains visibly Spanish and offers strong value for buyers.

Roman port (Portus Ilicitanus), fortified in the 16th century against Berber pirates by Felipe II, and grew through fishing, salt production and — from the 1970s — tourism around the Gran Alacant resort.

Authentic seafaring town life — fish auction, port-side tapas, beach days and ferry trips to Tabarca — alongside the more resort-style atmosphere of Gran Alacant.

• 1.Take the ferry to Tabarca island and snorkel its marine reserve
• 2.Visit the Castillo-Fortaleza in the main square
• 3.Watch flamingos at the Salinas de Santa Pola natural park
• 4.Climb to the lighthouse and Cabo de Santa Pola viewpoint
• 5.Watch the afternoon fish auction at the lonja

One of the best fish ports on the Costa Blanca — caldero, arroz a banda and seafood rices built around the day's catch, plus salted-fish specialities from the salt flats.

Mid-range seafront hotels in town, larger resort hotels in Gran Alacant and a handful of small guesthouses on Tabarca for overnight stays.

Continue exploring the Central Costa Blanca.