Entertainment in Spain Essential Guide to What's on in Spain  Spanish Fiestas, Concerts, Festivals, Events   Javea. Xabia.
Home   Today   Agencies   Bands   Best Things    Beautiful   Bulls   Carnivals   Charities   Cities   Concerts   Cuisine   Culture   Dancers   Days Out   Entertainers   Events   Festivals   Fiestas     Forums   Free Things   Gigs   Holidays   International   Hot   Local   Looking   Map   Months   Musicians   Nights   News   Places   Special   Singers   Contact Us   Advertise   Register   Forums	Javea Province: Alicante - Alacant  Autonomous Region: Valencia Tourist Office: Plaza de la Iglesia, 6 - 03730 Jávea (Alicante - Alacant) Tel. +34 965794356 Fax +34 965796317   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.   Xàbia (Spanish: Jávea) is a coastal town located in the comarca of Marina Alta, in the province of Alicante, Spain, by the Mediterranean Sea. Situated behind a wide bay and sheltered between two rocky headlands, the town has become a very popular small seaside resort and market town. Flat agricultural land stretches for miles inland, cut by small streams and used primarily for growing citrus & olive trees. The Natural Park of Montgo was declared in 1987, dominated by the 753m peak of Montgo, the second-highest peak so close to the sea in the whole Mediterranean. The park stretches across the area of La Plana to the Cape of Saint Antoni. If you drive up to this point and walk down the path a few yards, you can gaze in wonderous delight at the view overlooking the bay of Javea.   Old and new The old quarter of Javea hasn't changed much over the centuries and remains an attractive place for a stroll. It leads on to the fishing quarter, dominated by the church of Our Lady of Loreto, built in 1967 and dedicated to the fishing community. Its modern lines sit surprisingly well amongst all the gothic architecture and inside the bare walls and soft light create an atmosphere of peace beneath the hull-shaped ceiling. Take glass-bottomed ferry to Calpe, an hour down the coast. There is a twice daily service between Altea and Denia, stopping off at Javea and Calpe en route. Javea's indoor market used to be a nunnery before it was converted in the 1950s. It's now a very superior grocers. Taste the paella Calpe is famous for two reasons, the massive rock that dominates the skyline and its daily fish auction. There is even a spectators gallery to watch the days trading. Not surprisingly, seafood plays a big part in the local cuisine, particularly paella. This dish dates back to the seventh century when farmers working their paddy fields would add whatever they had to a bowl of rice. Touristic and maritime town, situated between the San Antonio and La Nao capes, enjoying the impressive and magnificent protection of the Montgó mountain (753 m). A clear and pleasant Mediterranean washes its 25 km of beaches, coves and cliffs. The old town has an interesting historical center with tosca porticoes, gothic windows, iron windows bars and balcony railings, luminous patios. The fortress church San Bartome, is an example of late gothic with a defensive character. Aduanas del Mar is the urban center developed around the harbour. Visit the Santa Maria de Loreto Church, fine example of expressionist architecture build during the 60. The Arenal area is the commercial and recreation center of the town. In the Montgó Natural Park (Les Planes) the visit of the windmills is a must with lovely views over the bay of Jávea.   Sightseeing in Javea Drive or better still walk along the Avenida del Mediterraneo from Javea harbor area to the Arenel you will find many restaurants and bars as well as a wonderful view of the sea and coastline. In the summer the rocky coast line sees several small wooden bars spring up where you can sit, drink and enjoy the views almost 24 hours a day. Enjoy the sunset and then the stars. Visit the church Iglesia de San Bartolome, which was built in the 12th century. Also of interest is the museum Soler Blasco, which can be found in the calle Primicias. The museum displays a copy of the treasure of Javea, which consists of jewelry from the past centuries. The original treasure of Javea can be seen in Madrid.  Enjoy wonderful view from the Cabo de Nao San Martin or Cap St. Antoni or Cabo de Nao.  The best views in Javea and a match for anywhere in 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. 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.   The Montgó National Park was declared on 16th March 1987. It covers approximately 2,150 hectares situated between Xàbia and its neighbour Dénia. Standing at 753m high (2,471ft), the summit of Montgó is the second highest peak so close to the sea in the whole of the Mediterranean; on a clear day the island of Ibiza can be seen on the far horizon. The park has numerous archaelogical remains dating back several thousands of years as well as flora which includes a large number of Iberian endemic plants. A range of abandoned windmills crown La Plana, most of which date back to the 18th Century. The town's market day is on Thursdays, except when there is a local or national holiday. There are also three main fiestas: the Fogueres de San Juan (June) are pagan in origin, commemorating the arrival of the summer solstice, and are widespread throughout the Valencian Community, the Moros y Cristianos (July) parades, noisy and colourful, take place in the port area and celebrate the defeat of the Moors by Christian forces in the 13th Century, and the Nuestra Señora de Loreto (September) with the bull-running on the harbour walls and a firework display. A large range of sports and hobby activities are catered for in the area, including cycling, diving, fishing, golf, horse-riding, mountain-biking, photography, sailing, trekking; there are many shops & rental centres that serve these pursuits.	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 sports. La costa de Xàbia, 25 kilometres long, with beaches and creeks which stand out because of their natural beauty, their transparent waters and the Mediterranean forest which surrounds them. From north to south, the Capes of Sant Antoni, Sant Martí, Negre and La Nau mark the coastline. Jávea has a great variety of beaches to choose from:     Granadella Cove & Beach Arenal Beach   Jávea has many restaurants where one can try international cuisine as well as local dishes. Our town has a rich culinary tradition which has been entirely preserved and which can be sampled, in the form of "Tapas", in most bars of the town.   Since it is a coastal town, fish and shellfish dishes prevail. Try the delicious fish stews "cruet de peix" and "suc roig", or fried dishes such as "peix fregit". Also typical are fresh salted anchovies, tuna and the tasty "borreta de melva" as well as Xàbia´s delicacy "bogamarins" (sea urchins). Rice is a main ingredient of many dishes, such as "arròs al forn" (oven-baked rice), "arròs amb costra"(covered with a crust of omelette), "arròs amb fesols i naps"(rice with beans and turnips),"arròs a la marinera"(literally, fixherman´s rice), or "arròs a banda"(rice with fish stock), "arròs amb bledes"(rice with beet) and, of course, the traditional Paella. Also typical of Xàbia are "cocas", small pizza-like pastries with pepper and tomato, or oil and anchovies, and "empanadillas", pasties filled with vegetables such as peas or spinach, or with pepper, tomato, tuna and boiled egg, "putxero", a hearty stew with local vegetables and meat balls, snails, salted fish and sausages. Two basic elements of any dish are garlic and olive oil, essential ingredients of a healthy Mediterranean diet. United they form "All i oli", garlic mayonnaise which brings its intense flavour to a multitude of dishes. As for desserts, local fruit is predominant (oranges, apples, pears, grapes, watermelon, melon, strawberries, pomegranates and figs) as well as almonds, raisins and dried figs. Pastries include "Pastissets de moniato", pumpkin fritters, Easter cake, and almond tarts to name but a few.   Historical Center Porta de la Mar and Garden of l'Oreto Church - Fortress of Sant Bertomeu Town Hall Gothic houses (Carrer Nou, placa de la Iglesia etc) Porxes of l'Ajuntament (Portal) Chapel of Santa Anna Convento Agustinas , Municipal market Palau d'Antoni Banyuls (Archaeological and Ethnographical Museum) "Port Zone" modern church of Nuestra Señora de Loreto Lonja del Pescado (Fish exchange) with the traditional auction Touristic Lookouts Els Molins, Cap de Sant Antoni, Punta del Castell Séquia de la Noria, Cala Blanca, Creu del Portitxol La Falzia, Punta del Cap Negre, Cap de la Nau Les Pesqueres, Punto d'Ambolo, La Granadella Fiestas 5th January: procession of the Three Kings 27th April - 3rd May: Jesús el Nazareno June: International Festival 10th - 24th June: Fogueres de San Juan (principal fiestas of Jávea) 2nd half of July: Moros y Cristianos (Moors and Christians) 1st - 8th September: Nuestra Señora de Loreto 13th December: procession to the Ermita Tourist Info Puerto Pl. Almirante Bastarreche, 24 Aduanas del Mar, Puerto de Jávea 03730 Jávea Tel.: 96 579 07 36 Fax: 96 579 60 57 e-mail: xabia@touristinfo.net Tourist Info Playa Arenal Carretera Cabo de la Nao Urbanización La Plaza Playa del Arenal 03730 Jávea Tel.: 96 646 06 05 Oficina Municipal de Turismo Plaza de la Iglesia, 4 03730 Jávea Tel.: 96 579 43 56   Old Quarter The old town was once a walled town to protect the inhabitants from marauding pirates that once sailed this coast and there is still evidence of the presence of these fortifications; stone crosses mark the original gates in three locations. In the centre of town, mostly built in original Tosca stone hewn from the rocky shore, sits the impressive Church of Sant Bartolomé which dates back to the late 14th Century but there is evidence that some of the structure may date back a further 300 years. The church suffered extensive damage during the Spanish Civil War and its southern and western walls remain pockmarked with bullet and shell holes. It was listed as a National Historic and Artistic Monument in 1931 and remains a centrepiece of Xàbia's 'old quarter'. The modern municipal market sits opposite on the northern side of the church and stands on the site of the convent of "Agustinas Descalzas" (the barefoot Augustine nuns). Built in 1946, the market retains the style of the area and is a popular place with locals and tourists for fresh fruit and vegetables, locally-caught fish, and meat from the local area. There is also a historical and etnographical museum ("Museo Historico y Etnografico Municipal J.B. Soler Blasco Javea") and an established art gallery in the old town, Atelier 1 with regular art exhibitions are held in the gallery at the town's library. Hidden within its narrow streets are a wide range of bars and restaurants in which one can sample both local and international cuisine. Puerto - Aduanas del Mar The port is a favourite with tourists with a range of restaurants, safe gravel beach and marina. Whilst the history of the harbour stretches back to the 15th Century, the first jetty was built in 1871 and it became an important gateway for the export of raisins. The raisin trade collapsed at the end of the 19th Century and the settlement became a mere fishing harbour. The modern harbour was built in the 1950s and 1960s. The nautical club has been in the central area of the harbour since 1963. The landmark is the church of Nuestra Señora del Loreto, built in 1967 to represent the heart and feelings of Xàbia's fishing quarter. Its shape is that of an oval boat keel and it was built to resemble a fishing vessel bursting through the waves. Arenal The busy sandy beach area is an arc of wide white sand flanked by a promenade of shops, bars and restaurants. During the summer evenings there are a number of stalls selling handmade crafts. Many of the bars offer live music and one can party away until the very early hours. Many accomplished 'sand artists' work along the Arenal beach during the summer months as well as a wide range of street entertainers. But history can be found amongst the sunbeds and bars. The 'Punta del Arenal' behind the Parador Nacional Hotel was once an important Roman settlement where the fish sauce garum was produced and despatched all over the Roman world. On the other end of the small bay once stood the Fontana Castle, built in 1424 and destroyed by the English during the Peninsular War in the early 19th Century; the ruins of the castle now lie under modern apartment buildings but some of the castle's surviving cannons sit outside the Church of Sant Bartolomé in the old town.   As in all of Spain there are an abundance of places to eat and drink at all hours of the day and night. Javea is located in the region of Spain rightly famous for its paellas and other rice based dishes such as arroz abanda, arroz negro, etc. Be sure to try some regional rice dishes whilst you are here. On the Arenal beach there are restaurants to suit every taste and budget and in the port and village you will find more typical Spanish tapas bars and cafes. For the more adventurous you can try some of our favourites.   Restaurants in Javea La Redonda II, Ctra Javea - Belittle, Pda. Lluca,55, Tel. 96 579 47 19 This large, mostly outdoor restaurant in the countryside offers great, food, especially paellas, fish & arroz abanda at a very reasonable price. Ideal for children with a playground. La Perla and Los Remos Paseo del Amancer , El Arenal, bloque 10, La Perla Tel. 96 647 07 76 Los Remos Tel 96 647 07 76 Both of these are always popular, mostly fish and seafood with great paellas. Los Remos is for the more romantic and with a more sophisticated palette whilst La Perla is superb in traditional rice recipes. Both overlook the beach and ideal for warm evenings. Children can play on the beach while you enjoy your dinner. They do take away paellas, but order in advance. El Corral del Pato, Crta Gata- Xalo km 1 - Pda Trossets no 31, Gata de Gorgos Tel: 96 575 6834 For really good traditional food such as roasted vegetables, cocas and terrific wood roasted meat try this restaurant with a peaceful garden. Ideal to combine with golf at La Sella or when shopping in Gata de Gorgos   El Santuario, Plana 56, (Ctra Cabo San Antonio) Tel: 965 795 607 The most romantic location in Javea for that special night out. Top quality food and service with a beautiful patio high above Javea. Amarre 152 La Marina, Arenal - On the banks of the canal, Port de la Fontana. Tel: 96 579 0629 This is a restaurant suitable for a special occasion where you can dress up if you want. Discreet atmosphere with white tablecloths, so ideal for your first date of a holiday romance or that special anniversary. Riu-Rau Ctra. de la Guardia, 127, Costa Nova, Tel: 96 577 02 30 A friendly and beautiful restaurant   Fiestas and Festivals in Javea Read More     LIVING CHESS Xàbia/Jávea 28th August 2007 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 Read More on Javea