Denia

Costa Blanca

Province: Alicante - Alacant / Autonomous Region: Valencia
Tourist Office: Plaza Oculista Buigues, 9 - 03700 Denia (Alicante - Alacant)
Tel. +34 966422367 Fax +34 965780957

Just Why Is Denia In Alicante So Popular?
Anyone that visits the Costa Blanca in Spain would no doubt end up visiting Denia that lies just eighty-five kilometers north of Alicante, especially as this city is famous for its many holiday attractions. If you are one of those that love a long drive then you can reach Denia using the N-332 that is a wonderful road that takes you along the coastline of Costa Blanca to the city itself. The other road you may want to use is the A7 highway.

Anyone that visits the Costa Blanca in Spain would no doubt end up visiting Denia that lies just eighty-five kilometers north of Alicante, especially as this city is famous for its many holiday attractions. If you are one of those that love a long drive then you can reach Denia using the N-332 that is a wonderful road that takes you along the coastline of Costa Blanca to the city itself. The other road you may want to use is the A7 highway.

The N332 provides you with wonderful opportunities to discover for yourself the beauty of the area and the views are absolutely spellbinding, which you will be sure to love. An even more suitable way of reaching Denia would be to use the narrow gauge railway that connects Denia and Benidorm as also Alicante. In any case, Denia lies between the southern town of Javea and has Gandia to the north, and is a place most visited during the summertime.

It also is situated just outside the mountain named Montgo and it allows the visitors excellent surfing prospects as well. The weather can become very hot with temperatures reaching forty degrees Celsius in the summertime, though it is only four degrees in the winter. Among the most visited tourist attractions in Denia is the castle that was built between the eleventh and twelfth centuries and from where you can get a spectacular view of the sea, and the city as also the backlands.

The castle itself holds the Palau del Governador and a museum are among the more interesting museums in Denia is the Museo Etnologico that provides visitors with an idea of the rich history and also the culture of Denia. The city also holds much by way of attraction in its many bars and small restaurants and when in Denia, makes sure to taste the very tasty cakes and the abundant sweets made at the local confectionaries and bakery shops because these delicacies are what also make Dernia very famous among tourists.

There are also great golf courses in Denia and you will get occasion to play some very good rounds of golf at the many courses here. Denia is also a place where real estate market is booming in this Costa Blanca region and as you enter the city you will be confronted by many real estate agencies and you also won’t be able to miss the great amount of construction that is taking place, especially on the outskirts.

Also, don’t forget to take a boat round trip to Javea, Benidorm and Altea. If you like, you can also choose to rent a car and do some visiting as there are plenty of great places to see. Among the many other tourist cities in Spain, Denia is perhaps the most frequented by tourists and today it is a very modern city where you can enjoy spectacular views while sampling the cuisine, especially tapas that are very small portions of tasty food. Along with an accompanying glass of beer or wine, you will certainly not have anything to complain about in the beautiful city of Denia.



 

The Romans dedicated Denia to the goddess Diana, and turned its port into one of the most active in the Peninsula. Up to this day, Denia has not ceased to be visited.
The Muslim castle keeps many examples of its heritage at the Archaeological museum. The city also has remarkable monuments such as the church of Asunción, from the 18th century, with Renaissance and Baroque reredos; and the City Hall, which still has in its façade two memorial tablets from the ancient temple of Diana. The avenue of Marqués de Campo, the cosmopolitan setting for the festivities of Moors and Christians, is complemented by the fisherman's quarter, the most popular and gregarious area in town. Denia has a commercial port and a marina. In one of the piers, they celebrate the fiesta of "Bous a la mar" (bulls in the water), declared to be of National Tourist Interest.

Denia has a twenty-kilometre-long coastline, which presents fine sands in the northern part, yet steep and rocky sections to the south. The municipality has countless one-storey houses scattered around, with white façades, red-tiled roofs, and the typical porches from this region, called "riu-rau". We can access the Montgó Nature Reserve from the road that goes to Jávea, which passes through Las Rotas, and San Antonio Cape. A lighthouse sits on this cape, on top of a cliff that is 163 metres high.

 

Dénia is situated at the north of the province of Alicante, Costa Blanca North in a place with a special warm weather and a great many sunshine days with a mean average annual temperature of 20ºC.

Dénia’s beaches are of a remarkable beauty and it has a historic centre where the castle raises majestically right in the centre of town. Mount Montgó, declared a Natural Park, is only a few metres from the sea and fishing boats come and go whilst they mark the rhythm of everyday life and provide Dénia with the best of the sea, making it the celebrated cuisine haven it has become. We propose a climb to the castle, a visit to museums, churches, streets and old quarters, a walk in Montgó Natural Park, watch how ships arrive to the fish exchange, enjoying sand beaches or encouraging you to practice a sport, living local fiestas with us and getting to know the surroundings, amongst many other activities.

Beaches of Dénia
All is beauty: sandy beaches and rocky coves… blues and greens of the Mediterranean Sea.

20 km of coast with different beach typologies:

To the north of the district there is the area known as les Marines (or las Marinas), where you will mainly find long fine sandy beaches.


To the south of the district there is the area known as les Rotes (or Las Rotas), which starts with a sandy beach and gives way to rocky coves which, colourful and hidden, display a crystalline landscape of unique beauty.

All the beaches in Dénia have been awarded International Iso 9.001 certificates – for quality management- and Iso 14.001 –for environmental management-. Year after year, most beaches in Dénia receive the Blue Flag award, a symbol of the clean seas of Europe. Furthermore, the diversity of Dénia’s sea bottom has been granted a PIC award (Places of Community Interest).
 

Today’s Dénia is the daughter of several different cultures: Iberians, Romans, Muslims and Christians left their mark and enable us to follow their history, a mark we can discover through its museums, monuments and archaeological remains.
The Castle is the par excellence local Heritage Monument. The Archaeological Museum is housed within its walls. The museum offer is completed by an Ethnologic Museum and the Museum of Toys.
From the watchtowers, from the castle’s battlements, from the tower del Gerro, at the feet of Mount Montgó, history has bestowed witnesses sculpted in stone. Take a stroll along its streets and visit its monuments and museums, bearing witness of the artistic and historic wealth of a city that has been coveted by all.

Monumental Heritage
The history of Dénia is reflected in its monuments, museums, historic buildings, old boroughs and symbolic corners.
Just think how the Roman Dianium, the Muslim Daniya, the mediaeval Dénia, the bourgeois city of the 19th century must have been…
Discover our origins, enjoy the beauty of a heritage that has outlived civilisations and which is there to tell you about its permanence, its truth.

Castle of Dénia
It is situated over a smooth hill next to the sea and in the heart of the city.
Walking access: Stairway near the Town Hall.
Car access: starting at del Cid Avenue, Sant Francesc Street. You can drive your car and reach the upper part of the castle without leaving it (except if there are musical concerts in the castle or other special events.)
Phone: 96 642 06 56
Opening hours: (every day)
Nov/ March: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
 April-May: 10 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and 3.30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
 June: 10 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.
 July-August: 10 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. (Night opening hours: until 00.30 h. Except for “Music at the castle” concert days.
September: 10 a.m. 1.30 p.m. and 4 p.m. 8 p.m.
 October: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.

Museums
Archaeological Museum:
It shows the historical evolution of Dénia from its origins in the Iberian period until the 18th century.
Walking access: staircase next to the Town Hall; you can reach the castle and the museum is in the eastern wing.
Car access: taking del Cid Avenue–Sant Francesc Street. You can drive in your car into the castle and reach the upper part (except if there are music concerts in the castle or other special events.)
Opening hours: Situated in the upper part of the castle of Dénia it has the same opening hours:
Opening hours (every day):
November/ March: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
April-May: 10 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and 3.30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
 June: 10 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.
July-August: 10 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.
 September: 10 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
 October: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.
Price: Included in the Castle’s entrance fee.

Historical buildings
Town Hall
Situation : 10 Plaça de la Constitució (Constitution Square)
Interest:
We must point out the balance of its façade with 6 solid half pointed arches as well as the large windows in the two upper floors.
Two Roman inscriptions, proceeding from the forum of Dianium, can be read on the façade and the access stairway in Hospital Street.

Les Drassanes (The Olds Shipyards)
You will find them in the port, opposite the monument known as Bous a la mar (Bulls to the sea).
To be observed: the exterior of the building since the interior has been modified and currently houses a private hotel.
Historical note: old building where ships were built. It dates from the 16th c. although it was reformed during the 17th c.
Characteristics of the building: It has a rectangular plan, with a two-sided Arabic tiled roof.


Dénia is considered one of the districts in Spain with the most fiestas. Each station of the year has festivities associated to life in the quarters, streets or the whole of the local population, true to the extent that it is difficult to come to Dénia without a surprise religious or festive celebration. All public is welcome, from families to those who prefer the night.
Amongst others we must point out:
The Falles bonfires, with their passacaglia, mascletaes fireworks and the final cremà or burning of the bonfires.
The Patron Saint Fiestas in Honour of the Most Holy Blood (Santíssima Sang) and their "Bous a la mar" (Bulls to the sea), declared a Fiesta of National Tourist Interest.
The Moors and Christians, with the disembarkation, fight in the castle and, specially, the gala cortège.
The All Saint Attraction Fair, with fair attractions, specially longed for by children.

Denia Fiestas

Nature in Dénia
Dénia is surrounded by natural spaces of high ecological value. Between sea and mountain, sheltered by Mount Montgó and by the Mediterranean Sea and next to the Cape of Sant Antoni, Dénia breathes the sea air, smells of orange blossoms, Mediterranean flora, and nature.
The Mount Montgó Natural Park was officially declared as such in 1987 thanks to its landscape values, flora and fauna.
Mount Montgó extends forming the impressive Cape of Sant Antoni, which reaches the sea forming a 160 m. high cliff. At the feet of the cape there is the Cape of Sant Antoni Natural Reserve, with a high level of preservation, which gives it a high environmental scientific and ecological value.
The wealth of the bottom of the sea with micro reserves of flora along the rocky coast and the existence of posydonia prairies all along the coast, considered of community interest, situate us in one the Iberian Peninsula’s best enclaves for scuba diving.

Montgo Natural Park
 

Shopping in Dénia:
All you need!
The visit to Dénia’s markets and open air markets is a must. You will find all sorts of products, from fruits and vegetables to antiques or handicraft products.

Go visit the municipal market and buy sea and land products. Visit the weekly open air market on Monday and don’t forget to go to the antiques flea market on Friday. Take advantage of your walk in the port to go through the stalls in Cervantes Esplanade, buy fish at the Fish Exchange or simply go past the shops in Dénia where you’ll find a great variety of products.


“Boredom” is a word that just doesn’t fit into Dénia’s vocabulary. The city has a well developed leisure offer, which will not make your decisions easy: cocktail bars, pubs, discos, bingo, terraces bordering the sea, live music…

Find a place where the décor will surround you, where the exterior will be full of waves and the scent of orange blossoms because you deserve to enjoy your free time