The Mediterranean province of Alicante belongs to the Community of Valencia along with Valencia and Castellon de la Plana. The climate is mostly dry and semi arid, though upland regions have a wetter and colder micro-climate. The province is very mountainous in the north and west, and mostly flat in the south with important coastal lagoons.

Inland Alicante
The interior of the province is scattered with lovely villages where people seeking refuge from the busy coastal areas have chosen to buy property.
In the north near inland Valencia the Jalon Valley attracts more foreign residents than foreign tourists to towns like Jalon, Orba, Murla, Parcent and Benichembla near the river Gorgos.
El Comtat is a small, mountainous region dotted with tiny, agricultural mountain villages. The main towns are Cocentaina and Benilloba. Muro, situated between 2 rivers, and Agres on the southern slopes of the Sierra Mariola is typical of the other villages nearby. Sitting amid cherry orchards and mountains between the service centres of Callossa and Alcoy are Beniarres, Benillup, Almudaina, Planes, Balones, Millena, Benilloba, Benasau, Gorga, Alcoleja, Benimassot and Famorca.
Inland, at the edge of the Alicante province, L’Alcoia is a mountainous region with the city of Alcoy as it’s capital. The views from the mountains of L’Alcoia can be quite spectacular and there are plenty of remote, un-spoilt villages to be discovered: Benifallim, Penáguila, Banyeres, Onil and Tibi
To the west of the Alicante province, the region of L’Alt Vinalopó includes the urban centres of Villena and Sax. The area has a combination of steep mountain ranges and fertile, cultivated plains created by the Vinalopó River. This inland region is far less visited than those closer to the coast and there are some lovely towns and villages waiting to be discovered such as Beneixama, Cañada and Salinas. Being a crossroads of sorts, lying at the borders of Valencia, Murcia and Castile, the region has a rich history and towns are often characterized by the presence of Moorish castles.
A far cry from the packed out beaches of the Costa Blanca, the Vinalopó Mitja, whose main towns are Elda and adjacent Petrer (combined population of 81,000) Monòvar and Novelda, is an area whose countryside is lush with almond groves and vineyards and its peaceful villages: Aspe, Algueña, Hondón de las Nieves, Hondón de los Frailes, Pinoso and la Romana continue to attract foreign residents seeking the tranquility of rural life.

Coastal Alicante
The Costa Blanca is one of the Mediterranean’s top tourist destinations attracting a massive number of people. It extends 220km from Javea and Denia in the north to Torrevieja near the Mar Menor in the south. It is characterised by white sandy beaches, clear waters, dramatic cliffs, sand dunes, ports and picturesque coves and includes lively tourist centres of Alicante city and Benidorm. With cheap flights to Alicante airport, good road and rail connections and a highly developed tourism sector offering golf, beach activities and watersports plus an attractive climate, thousands of families buy property in the Alicante region which they use for holidays or rental income.
Marina Alta and Marina Baja Marina Alta has mountains that reach the sea creating small, protected beach coves backed by towering cliffs in such places as Denia (ferries to the Balearic Islands), Jávea, Moraira, Benitachell, Benissa and Calpe. Inland the villages such as Orba, Pego and the Jalon valley offer refuge from the busy coastal areas. The Marina Baja includes Altea and the sandy beaches of Benidorm and Villajoyosa. Golf, tourist and leisure activities prevail.
Alicante city straddles the coast with the magnificent backdrop of the Benacantil mountains.It is a leading centre of commerce, culture and tourism and a port with a wealth of beach resorts nearby including San Juan, El Campello and Los Arenales del Sol. Inland towns include San Vicente del Raspeig (Alicante University), Aigues (thermal springs) and Jijona near Fout Roja national park.
Baix Vinalopo and Vega Baja lie south of the city, with fantastic stretches of coast and more resorts. The main coastal towns are Santa Pola, Guardamar del Segura, Torrevieja and the resorts of Orihuela Costa. Elche/Elx, by Alicante (el Altet) Airport and Crevillent are inland and largely industrial, but the Sierra de Crevillente, San Cayetano natural park, and Laguna del Hondo are important natural areas. The plains of the Vega Baja are rich and fertile, irrigated by the River Segura and producing the bulk of Alicante province’s fresh produce.

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