7 Things You'll Love About Guardamar Del Segura

Guardamar del Segura, commonly shortened to Guardamar by the locals, is a town on the Costa Blanca, about half way between Alicante airport and Murcia airport. It is a small town mostly made up of Spaniards.

Here are 7 things that you’ll love about Guardamar.

There are several beaches on the eastern shores of Guardamar. All 14 km are very well-kept and stretch from just below the Segura River in the North to Torrevieja in the South. There's even a nudist beach for those who like to strip off and get an all over tan. Guardamar is only one of a few municipalities on the Costa Blanca that has a beach and this stretch of beach is one of the best.

Like most of the municipalities in this part of the world, there is a huge amount of thought that goes into having a good time. There are many different festivals which are held throughout the year, commonly known as fiestas in this part of the world. One of the most famous is the Moors and Christians Festival which is held in July.

There are many different types of restaurants and bars in Guardamar. These range from your classic Spanish restaurants and bars in the town centre, along the promenade, and throughout the beautiful side streets, to small cafes where you can buy local cakes, tapas, and the most excellent coffee. You will even find some foreign owned restaurants and bars if you miss that taste of home.

High on a hill overlooking the town is Guardamar Castle, or the remains of this 13th century edifice. It is said that it was built by King Alfonso the 10th in 1271 and was used as a defence of the nearby city of Orihuela. It was destroyed in the earthquake of 1829.

The Califal Rabati is an Islamic monastery which dates back to the 10th or 11th century. It is one of the oldest Islamic monasteries in the world and is the only example of such a monastery on the Iberian Peninsula. It's one of those things that are not very easy to find so you'll have to do a bit of a treasure hunt, located in the Park Alfonso dunes. More information can be found at the tourist office which is located on the right-hand side of the town hall.

The town hall and church sits opposite each other across the main square. The main square is often the beginning or end for many of these celebrations in the town. It's also the place where you are going to see any major speeches, the Christmas crib, and of course the tourist information office.

The main market in Guardamar is held every Wednesday starting at 8 AM and finishing at 1 PM. During the winter months, there are far fewer stalls than you will find during the summer months when the numbers can reach 450 stalls. The market is held to the west of the town hall, behind the church. There is also a street market every Sunday in Campo de Guardamar which is outside the town on the Los Montesinos Road. During the summer months there is also a tourist market which is held along the Calle Ingeniero Mira… the road that leads from the town hall down to the beach.

Guardamar is one of those beautiful towns which has kept its Spanish roots over the years. Many of the towns surrounding Guardamar have a large contingent of expats from Northern Europe, Ireland, and England. This has largely bypassed Guardamar. The best months for holidaying here are of course during the summer when the place is at its busiest, everything is open, and the sun is at its best. But if you're looking for quiet holidays, the wintertime is fantastic, the temperatures can reach into the late 20s and early 30s.