Denia Tourist Information
Denia is situated at the northern most tip of the Costa Blanca, 85km from Alicante, 100km from Valencia. 15 Minutes from Monte Pego, just up the coast from Javea. Getting to Denia couldn’t be easier; the AP7 Motorway or N332 coast road runs you straight to the town. There is also a narrow gauge railway which runs from Alicante to Denia and takes about 2.5 hrs. Well worth a trip as it takes in Benidorm.
With a population of around 30,000, which can treble in the summer months, Denia is thought to derive its name form the Arabic "Daniah" meaning low or near, and by others to be of Roman origin and taken from the Roman temple of Diana. Whichever is correct it clearly identified with a rich past!
The Northern Costs Blanca (The White Coast) is a holidaymaker’s paradise. Denia envelops you in as being vibrant, historical, cultural and still typically Spanish. Its palisade of shops in the Carrer Del Marques de Campo and quirky back streets with its rich mix of restaurants, are an absolute joy.
Denia is one of the most popular destinations for the tourist who is seeking genuine Spanish culture, mixed with a busy vibrant modern town. Steeped in History and yet still bursting into the 21st century, Denia has no sense of decay, despite its turbulent past.
With around 20 km of coastline to explore containing many beaches and rocky coves. Denia has a fine harbour (one of the best in the region) and is an important ferry port for the Balearic Islands in particular, (Ibiza is around a 2 hour trip)
Denia has an established and large fishing industry, supporting many boats and families. A fish market is held every day. Water sports are a popular pursuit, Mount Montgo provide the ideal winds for windsurfing and sailing. Surfing and water skiing are also to be enjoyed, making best use of the white sandy beaches. The Montgo National Park, is an area of outstanding national beauty.
In the centre of Denia the Castle (Castillo) which dates from the 11th Century, built by the Moors gives a distinct atmosphere to the town. The Castle now is the home of the Archaeological Museum which outlines the history of Denia
The climate in Denia has an average temperature of 20° C. This shows as a range of 5°C in the winter months to a high of 40° C in the Summer. Denia boasts 300 days of sunshine per year. Hence the attraction to sun seeking UK residents and holiday makers alike.
The History of Denia is chequred with colonisations going back to the Neolithic Era. Signs of a Greek colony called Hemeroskopeion have been found and evidence of Roman occupation from the third century are also present. The Arab Conquest (8th-13th Centuries) is the earliest known history. Denia castle was originally built by the Moors during the 11th and 12th Centuries; the castle was later extended and fortified in the 15th-17th centuries. The Christians then had a bash at colonisation and during the reign of Conquistador Jaime I. Denia took up arms with Archduke Charles (pretender to the throne of Austria), during The War of Succession and was the first town to proclaim Charles as king of Spain (1705) Denia then had a pretty hard 3-4 years of constant sieges resulting in hardship for the residents. However the town became wealthy during the 19th Century due to the Raisin trade. An outbreak of phylloxera in the early 20th Century devastated the industry and caused a period of economic decline. This decline ran right up to the 1960’s when tourism in the area created spectacular growth.
Places to Visit
- Denia Castle -Built during the 11th Century by the Arabs
- The Archaeological Museum which tells the history of Denia from around 200 BC. Sited in Denia Castle.
- Mount Montgó Natural Park - Declared a Natural Park in 1987 the park contains a huge variety of flora and fauna with over 600 plant species. There are a number of marked out walking routes of varying difficulty.
- Cape of San Antoni Sea Reserve - An area of outstanding natural beauty, fantastic for scuba diving which can only be carried out with a special license obtained in advance from the Denia Tourist Office.
- The Ethnological Museum - Outlines the role of the raisin in the history of Denia and its importance in the economy of the area.
- The Toy Museum in Calle Calderon - Outlining the importance of toy manufacture in Denia. La Lonja Fish Market - Located in the port, this is a very busy fish market, open every day for fish auctions.
- The Town Hall - Situated in the Plaza de la Constitutión.
Fiestas
Well known for its large number of fiestas and festivals Denia is an excellent place to go to enjoy this great Spanish tradition. Fiestas include the Three Wise Men (January), the Falles bonfires (March), the Patron Saint Fiestas, the Bous a la Mar (July), the All Saint Attraction Fair (October) and of course the Moors and Christians (August).
Beaches
There are a large number of fine sandy (blue flag) beaches along the 20 km coastline of Denia. Some of the beaches are:- Les Deveses, Les Bovetes, Punta Raset, La Marineta Cassiana, Les Marines, Els Molins and El Trampoli.
Churches
Ascuncion Church (Plaza de la Constitutión) 18th Century baroque, Convent of the Augustines (Calle Loreto) home to a closed order of Augustine nuns, San Antonio Church (Plaza del Convento) 18th Century convent and church.
Gastronomy
Denia boasts a rich and varied cuisine centred mostly around fish and vegetables. Dishes include the famous Denia red prawn, espencat (grilled vegetables), suquet de peix and arrós a banda (a well known rice dish).
