Calpe first, in every corner of its 23.5 square kilometres, and then the other 32 towns of the Marina Alta. Here is what we need to know to find you in each part of it.
From the old walled town on the hill to the towers along Arenal-Bol, from the port and the
fish market to La Manzanera and the villas on the slopes of the Sierra de Toix, each part of
Calpe asks for a slightly different approach before the lock is even touched.
Old town
Buildings: Terraced town houses, some split into flats, and a handful of shops.
The old walled centre sits on the hill around the Torreó de la Peça, with stepped and cobbled lanes such as Carrer Puchalt and Sant Roc. The van parks at the edge and the last stretch is on foot, so say which square or stairway is nearest.
Arenal-Bol and the town beach
Buildings: Apartment towers on the promenade and the avenues behind it, some over eighteen storeys.
Most jobs here involve three locks before the flat door: the street door, the lift or garage fob and sometimes a floor gate. Tell us the building name, the tower if there are several, and whether a concierge is on duty.
La Fossa and Levante
Buildings: Apartment blocks and a few villas facing the beach under the Peñón.
The busiest stretch in July and August. Terrace doors take the salt spray directly, so aluminium sliders and their locks wear faster here than a few streets back.
Las Salinas
Buildings: Blocks and newer towers around the salt lagoon between the two beaches.
The lagoon sits inside the town and splits it in two, so say which side of it you are on. Calpe to one side, La Fossa to the other: the drive between them is not the short line on the map.
The port
Buildings: Fishing harbour, the fish market, the sailing club and flats above the quay.
Boats land their catch for the afternoon auction on weekdays, so the quay is busy then. For premises on the harbour, a phone number for whoever holds the keys saves a wasted trip.
La Manzanera and Puerto Blanco
Buildings: The 1960s and 70s development with Bofill’s La Muralla Roja and Xanadú, apartments, townhouses and villas on the slope.
La Muralla Roja is a maze of courtyards, stairs and bridges. Send a pin and the name of your staircase or block, not just the street address.
Maryvilla, Ortembach and the hillside urbanisations
Buildings: Detached villas with pools, gates and large glazed doors, plus Oltamar, Gran Sol, Colina del Sol, Empedrola and Garduix.
Villas are spread over the slopes and a car is needed to reach the beach. A WhatsApp location pin is worth more than any address, and if there is a barrier or a code on the gate, say so when you call.
Cometa and Carrió
Buildings: Bungalows, semi-detached houses and villas with gardens, two to three kilometres from the beaches.
The largest spread of houses in Calpe, and the greenest. A house here usually has a garden gate, a front door and a back or patio door, so say which one will not open: they rarely share a lock.
Beyond Calpe
Every town in the Marina Alta
The whole comarca is covered, coast and valleys, from the neighbouring towns along the N-332
to the villages inland. The same service, the same price-first rule, and the same 24-hour
phone. The further out, the more a location pin matters.
Benissa
Teulada (Moraira)
El Poble Nou de Benitatxell (Benitachell)
Xàbia (Jávea)
Dénia
Els Poblets
El Verger
Ondara
Pedreguer
Gata de Gorgos
Senija
Llíber
Xaló (Jalón)
Alcalalí
Parcent
Murla
Benigembla
Castell de Castells
Orba
Tormos
Sagra
Benidoleig
Beniarbeig
Benimeli
Sanet i els Negrals
El Ràfol d’Almúnia
Pego
Adsubia
La Vall d’Alcalà
La Vall d’Ebo
La Vall de Gallinera
La Vall de Laguar
Hard to find?
Hillside urbanisations are where time gets lost. A barrier with a code, a lane with no sign or
a number shared by several houses can each cost a wasted loop.