The little community of Finestrat has a split personality. It's a pretty old town perched on a limestone cliff a few kilometres from Benidorm. But it's also a beach resort with some of the worst over-development you're likely to see anywhere on the Costa Blanca.
Author: viewfromlavila
I blog mostly about my favourite corner of Spain — Villajoyosa on the Costa Blanca — but also anything else in Spain that takes my fancy. I’m based in London, but spend as much time in Villajoyosa (aka La Vila Joiosa, or La Vila for short) as I can get away with.
Where small is beautiful; microvineyards in the mountains of Alicante
Small is beautiful, so the saying goes. And that's very true of the microvineyards of Celler la Muntanya, near Alcoy in Alicante, Spain
How to order the best seafood in Spain
Freshly cooked seafood, perhaps with a chilled glass of white wine, is one of the best things about Spanish eating. Here's how to find your way round a seafood menu, with English translations
Eating out at the oldest restaurant in the world
The oldest restaurant in the world has been serving meals in Madrid for almost three centuries. And over the years, they've had some interesting guests...
Bulls and brandy: the story behind Spain’s roadside icons
They're a regular roadside sight in Spain. Huge black bulls dominating the skyline. But why are they there, and who put them up in the first place?
Ávila: the spectacular walled city of saints and stones
Ávila has the most spectacular medieval city walls in Spain. They look like something out of a fairy tale, especially floodlight at night.
A tale of two cities: Santander and Bilbao
Plenty of tourists head for Santander and Bilbao on the ferry. Most then disappear southwards to the costas...but both cities, though completely different, are well worth a stay.
Spain’s green north: driving through the Aragón Pyrenees
The Pyrenees are green and spectacularly beautiful in summer, a real contrast to the Costas. Here are some highlights we found in the mountains of Aragón.
Moros y Cristianos: why Villajoyosa’s fiesta is unique in Spain
The little town of Villajoyosa has a great Moros y Cristianos fiesta. It’s unlike any other in Spain - and let’s face it, there’s quite a lot of competition in that department
Top walks around Villajoyosa: the five-beach walk from Malladeta to Xarco watchtower
A gentle coastal walk southwards from the tower at the Malladeta headland on the outskirts of Villajoyosa, taking in five of La Vila’s beaches on the way.
