DISCOVER AND ENJOY THE HEART OF THE MARINA ALTA
Denia is a beautiful typical Mediterranean fisher place, still living at the rhythm of its surrounding nature and sea. The town is situated at less than 100 km from Valencia in the North and Alicante in the South. It lies at the foot of a nearly 800 meter high mountain, el Montgó. The mountain is like a giant watching over Denia on one side and Javea on its other side. The people of Denia are proud of their mountain, and they should. It’s the highest mountain of Spain so closely situated to the sea. Also, it’s recognised by the Valencian Community as a nature reserve with its proper variety of fauna and flora.
Denia also accommodates 20 kilometers of beautiful white sandy beaches (Las Marinas or Les Marines) on one side, and the famous Las Rotas or Les Rotes rocky beaches, a marine nature reserve, on the other side of Denia. The town itself is centralised around its historical castle on a central hill, now an archaeological museum with excellent views over the town.
History
Denia is a modern, cosmopolitan town offering a full range of amenities, that is a firm favourite for those with second homes in Spain. The town was founded as Hemeroskopeion by the Greeks, later taking the Spanish property for sale name Dianium under the Romans, named after the Goddess Diana. Today it is known by its Moorish name. After the disintegration of the Caliphate of Cordoba in the eleventh century, Denia existed for a time as an independent kingdom.
The port flourished commercially and culturally, at one point controlling Majorca.
Fiestas
The town’s most important festival take place at the beginning of July where young bulls are let loose close to the sea (“Bous a la Mar” fiestas). The festivities usually end with either the bull or the young braves falling into the sea. Other festivals include Moors and Christians celebrated from 14th to the 16th of August, and the Fallas celebrated from the 15th to the 19th of March.
And if you’re not convinced yet, Denia is mentioned in the Guinness Book of Records for its highest amount of fiestas throughout the year …
The temperature in Denia hardly ever drops below 18°C during day time, even in the middle of the winter ! Summer temperatures vary around 30°C.
Many European doctors recommend a stay-over in Denia or the area of the Marina Alta for its relaxing and healthy benefits. The WHO declared this region to be one of the healthiest climates in the world: not too cold in winter nor too hot in summer, and a steady high pressure zone most of the year.
Sporting Facilities
There are plenty of sport facilities all-round and all year round available, i.e. fishing, surfing, diving, waterskiing, sailing, boat-renting, several tennis courts, horse riding, 2 golf courses nearby (La Sella golf and Oliva Nova golf), water scooters, mountain hiking, you name it.
Excursions
Denia offers the possibility to get on a day-trip to Ibiza, either with one of the daily ferries or the catamaran ferry. The crossing only takes about 2 hours with the catamaran or about 4 hours by ferry. Definitely recommended !
If Ibiza might seem to far for you, then take a boat-excursion along the coast on one of the tourist boats to Javea / Xabia, the nearby village on the other side of the Montgo mountain. Or why not just a stroll along one of the luxurious yacht ports of Denia?
Links
General
Denia.net touristic information
Comunitat Valenciana Costa Blanca and Valencian Comunity
Leisure
Aqualandia Water theme park
Terra Mítica Theme park