Javea, Costa Blanca, Spain

Jávea / Xàbia offers a wide range of celebrations rooted in the maritime and obviously Mediterranean traditions of its people: the chief protagonists in whatever festivals take place throughout the year. Religious and pagan festivals thread through the festive calendar with one common denominator: the participation of the people. Xàbia misses no opportunity to display the open and extrovert character of its inhabitants.

If the carnival and the “Enfarinà” anticipate the celebrations, the summer is announced by the “Fogueres de Sant Joan”, a festivity rooted in the Mediterranean like no other, which in Jávea / Xàbia still retains its magic and ancestral meaning. Fire takes on great importance in the middle of June, as in other towns along the Costa Blanca. Papier-mâché monuments, sometimes alluding to current affairs, decorate the streets of Xàbia, reminiscent of the ancient tradition of burning old junk on the 23rd of June in the magical belief of purifying body and soul before the summer solstice. The “Focs de Sant Joan”, which light the streets of the town, are small bonfires over which young people leap, one by one, wearing garlands and flowers which are burned when the last fire has been jumped. Finally on the 24th of June, the feast of Sant Joan, all the monuments are burnt putting an end to the festivities.

The largest religious festivals are celebrated in honour of the Nazarene at the end of April. The Calvari Hermitage becomes one of the main scenes of the celebration. From there, the statue of Jesus of Nazareth is taken in procession to the San Bartolomé Church, one of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful places of worship, situated in the old town. This takes place on the Third Sunday of Lent in a display of popular faith. On the 3rd of May, the statue is taken back to the Calvari Hermitage. Within the framework of its larger festivities appear the famous “ els bous”, a remarkable celebration based on young people running with young bulls. In addition, fireworks light up the sky. Coinciding with these celebrations is the “Creus de maig” competition, in which neighbours of Jávea / Xàbia compete in the making of bright and colourful crosses.

Religion, pagan traditions, the Mediterranean and History. The town of Xàbia has also taken on a typical celebration in the Alicante area: Moors and Christians, which is celebrated in the port between the supporters of the Cross and the Crescent Moon. Entertainment in Spain. Best things to see and do in Javea. Best things to see and do on The Costa Blanca.

The festive cycle ends its main celebrations in the first week of September, with the festivity in honour of the Mare de Déu de Loreto, which takes place in the Parish Church of Aduanas del Mar, a most remarkable church situated near to the Fishing Port. Then “els bous” appear once more in the locality, although this time the celebration takes on a new meaning as it takes place in the fishing port itself. This is the popular “bous a la mar”.

The Mare de Déu del Carme, on the 16th of July; the Mare de Déu dels Angels at the beginning of August and Santa Llúcia on the 13th of December are other celebrations of a clearly religious nature which make up the traditional festive calendar of Jávea / Xàbia.

Back

Bulls v Village idiots

Javea/Xabia
Festival of Our Lady of Loreto.

Last week in August and first week in September
Javea "Bous a la Mar" (Bulls to the Sea).
A temporary stand is constructed in the port area with seats looking down on a small man-made "beach" which is no more than 70m long by 20m wide. Along one side of this sandy area is the stand for spectators and at the other side is the sea.
The bulls arrive. A single firework goes off and the first bull runs out into the open sandy area where locals run around attracting its attention. The idea is to trick the bull to fall into the sea.
What tends to happen is that the bull, which is not a stupid animal, quickly works out the plan and runs along parallel to the water's edge showing its horns to the local lads who throw themselves into the sea over and over again. A new bull replaces the existing one after a while and the whole debacle starts again. Occasionally a bull does end up in the water and is rescued immediately.
Many locals who have seen it all before prefer to place themselves at the large temporary bar area which is set up next to the bull run area and spend the week drinking beer and eating freshly cooked sardines. Definitely the more interesting option.
Other events during Javea's festivals include Chess Championships, a basketball tournament, a table tennis competition and various tournaments of typical local sports. There is something for everyone with a special children's days which includes a parade, games and free drinks and ice-cream for all the children and a senior citizen's day which involves a lot of music and dancing and free sangria. On various evenings there are large neighbourhood dinners where everybody brings there own food and enjoys the company of friends.
In the Valencia area fireworks and bangers are central to all festival and Javea is no different. Often you will hear a cacophony of noise which is from firecrackers strung up in the streets and their bangs echoing off the surrounding houses. As in all "fiestas" in Spain music is very important and many bands and groups play on different nights. The whole festival is finished off by a spectacular firework display at approximately 1 a.m. on the last night in the port area.
The festival of Jesus Nazareno is celebrated from the 28th April till the 3rd May. This involves taking the statue of Jesus from the Calvari Hermitage to the San Bartolome Church on the third Sunday of Lent and then returning it on 3rd May. During this festival there is also a competition of crosses made of fresh flowers.
During the last 2 weeks of June there is the Fogueres de San Joan which involves large papier-mache 'sculptures' often of famous people in sport or current affairs. On the 24th June, the feast of San Juan, these large sculptures are burnt. In the days preceding this there are many small bonfires in the streets which young people jump over to purify their bodies.
At the end of July Javea celebrates Moros y Cristianos (Moors and Christians) with mock battles and parades.

LIVING CHESS
Xàbia/Jávea

28th August

Ajedrez Viviente - Human Chess

Popular Holidays in Spain, Costa Blanca.
Arts and culture in Spain
National Tourist Interest

Children in Xàbia-Jávea stage a theatre performance on a huge chessboard

In August, the town of Xàbia-Jávea, in the province of Alicante, holds a unique theatre performance: Human Chess. Boys and girls from local schools, aged 6-14 years, take part in this unusual initiative, bringing a range of characters to life. Using a game of chess as its basis, each year a different story is told with script, stage design and musical accompaniment. You do not have to know the rules of the game to enjoy and understand this theatrical representation. A narrator and two players (a student and a special guest, somehow affiliated to the town) read out the movements from an outstanding match in the history of chess. The young actors move as though they were pieces on the board, giving form to the work of theatre
Province: Alicante - Alacant /

Autonomous Region: Valencia
Tourist Office: Plaza de la Iglesia, 6

- 03730 Jávea (Alicante - Alacant)
Tel. +34 965794356

Fax +34 965796317

Located between the capes of San Antonio and Nao, Jávea is one of the most important tourist destinations on the Costa Blanca. The historic quarter, located two kilometres away from the coastline, preserves a beautiful architecture, with emblematic monuments such as the church of San Bartolomé, the city's neuralgic centre. One of the main attractions of this region is its coastline. No less than twenty kilometres of sands and hidden coves where visitors can enjoy a swim and a wide variety of water sport.

From Cape Nao to Granadella Cove, Jávea offers visitors twenty kilometres of beaches and coves, ideal to enjoy the sun, the sea and water sports.
This town on the Alicante Costa Blanca shows its more tourist-related side around the area of the harbour. In addition to a wide range of accommodation, restaurants and recreational activities, in the harbour visitors can enjoy all types of water activities, such as sailing and windsurfing or a boat trip to Denia.

The beach of El Arenal is one of the most emblematic on the coast of Jávea. In this place, next to the Fontana Canal, sits the Parador de Turismo “Costa Blanca” (Inn), at a privileged location only a few metres away from the beach.

Between the islands of Portixol and Descubridor is one of the most beautiful sections of the coastline. Crystal waters and a gorgeous seabed make this the ideal setting for scuba diving.

This water sport is also popular at Granadella Cove which is, with its fine, golden sand, another attractive spot in the coast of Jávea.

The city

Located on a plain, at the foot of the Montgó Massif, the historic quarter of Jávea was erected inland, around the fortified church of San Bartolomé, a beautiful Isabelline Gothic building made to defend the city against pirate attacks.

On the streets of the historic quarter, visitors will be amazed at the local architecture, the grilles on the windows of housesand the lintels of "coarse" stone.

Another must in the journey around the city centre is the Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum, where you can learn about the history of the town.

While, on the harbour, it is worth visiting the church Our Lady of Loreto, which resembles the keel of a ship.

Culture, gastronomy and the outskirts

Jávea bases its gastronomy on typical Mediterranean foods. As is common to the rest of the Valencian towns, the most popular dish is rice. Paella is perhaps the most widely-known recipe, which is prepared here with beans and turnips or baked. The fish from this region is served both stewed or fried, as well as in soup. Garlic and oil are the main ingredients of the emblematic sauce salsa ali-oli, served to accompany numerous dishes.

Almonds, raisins, figs and oranges are the most typical fruits of this region and are usually included in dessert recipes. Almond cake, turrónand ice cream are among the most tempting. To go with it, Jávea offers wines with the label Designation of Origin - Alicante, misteleta (sweet wine) and horchata (a soft drink made with tiger nuts).

Jávea celebrates the holiday of the Virgin of Carmen on the 16th of July. A few days later, the weekend before last, the Moors and Christians festival takes place.

The outskirts of Jávea offer endless possibilities. The lighthouses and Cabo de San Antonio Marine Nature Reserve are the destinations of excellent excursions for nature lovers. The visit may continue to the Montgó Nature Reserve, where the outline of the mountains dives into the Mediterranean, creating spectacular cliffs.

It is also possible to visit the attractive town of Denia, the capital of the Marina Alta region. Teulada rises on the other side of Cape Nao. In addition, next to Peñón de Ifach Nature Reserve is the town of Calpe, a harmonious place that has managed to combine the preservation of its monumental heritage with touristic infrastructures.

Another interesting monumental town in the middle of the Costa Blanca is Villajoyosa, the capital of the Marina Baja region. Across Sierra de Aitana, the northern inland region of the province awaits, offering a journey through Cocentaina, an important medieval town, with tiled houses and Arab streets.

The mountains of Alicante conceal the rough outline of Carracal de la Font Roja Nature Reserve on the northern side, as well as the town of Alcoi, whose medieval historic quarter celebrates the festivity of "Moors and Christians" every year, declared of International Tourist Interest