BENISSA Costa Blanca

BENISSA is one of those Spanish towns that you drive through without stopping, because there seems to be nothing interesting about it. The ‘main street’ is part of the N332, the busy coastal road which was once the only communicating highway running along the coast. That was many years ago. Now the A7 has taken most of the heavy vehicles away and also much of the tourist traffic. As a thoroughfare it is still busy and architecturally has never recovered from the heavy use to which it was formerly put.

The question is – ‘What lies behind the grey houses which line the route?’ The answer is, one of the most attractive little towns in the area, situated two hundred and seventy four metres above sea level, that is over eight hundred and fifty feet, with a magnificent view of the Mediterranean. The Local Authority has taken the trouble to construct a large well-furnished viewing platform from which locals and visitors alike can enjoy the scene. Below the town, on the slopes sweeping down to the sea, are scattered pockets of attractive houses, built to take advantage of more or less the same view which features prominently the Ifach Rock at Calpe, similar in appearance to the Rock of Gibraltar. Calpe was the Greek name for the Gibraltar.

Benissa does not have a large beach on its shoreline, but is blessed with numerous small beaches along its four kilometres of coast, some sandy, some stony, and some not easy to find. All are attractive, clean and often served by one or more cafes, or a small beach bar where drinks and snacks may be purchased.

Although it is possible to find the usual supermarket chains represented in the town, part of the charm of Benissa lies in its numerous specialist shops and boutiques which are not tourist oriented but exist in the first instance to serve the local community. In this context, one cannot ignore the modern theatre where musical concerts to suit all tastes are produced, as well as plays, musical spectaculars and competitions such as poetry are held. The town boasts two markets, the usual market full of fresh local produce, and an antiques market to ‘boot’!