Santa Pola
Santa Pola is and always has always been closely associated with the sea, more than this, the sea governs its economy, culture, gastronomy and character. In ancient times Santa Pola was the port of Elche and eventually held one of the largest fishing fleets of the entire Mediterranean.
In the centre of Santa Pola stands one of the most impressive castles and fortresses in the area. It dates back to the 16th century and is still used today. Today it houses an impressive museum as well as a chapel dedicated to the Virgin of Loreto. Entry to the castle is free but there is a small charge for the museum.
Located to the west are the salt-flats (Salinas) which are a hugely interesting contribution to Santa Pola. The potential of of the salt-flats began at the end of the 19th century and an area of over 880 hectares produced 100,000 tons of salt per year. The Salinas area is now a Nature Reserve where many migratory birds pass the winter and also the natural habitat of several aquatic species such as albatrosses and herons.
On the beautiful Santa Pola beaches you take your pick at playing beach volleyball, beach football, hire jet skis or do step aerobics. The Sierra de Santa Pola protects the bay from strong Eastern wind and keeps mild climate with an annual average temperature of 20º C. Temperatures can reach the high 30's in the middle of summer.
To the east of Santa pola is the Sierra de Santa Pola which is largely covered by pine trees.