Xativa has one of the most spectacular castles in eastern Spain. And it's also the home town of the Borgias - the family that caused all the trouble back in Renaissance Italy. Two Borgia Popes came from Xativa - they weren't Italian at all!
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.
Take time out from the Costa and explore Málaga
A staggering 19 million people stream through Málaga airport every year. Most of them are heading for the beach. But Málaga itself is well worth a visit in its own right
Walking El Caminito del Rey – once the world’s scariest footpath
El Caminito del Rey in southern Spain used to be the world's most dangerous path. Now you can hike it safely in your trainers
Sunshine rugby on the Costa Blanca
There's more to Spanish sport than football. Here in Villajoyosa, they do rugby too. They've got a great little stadium - take in a match!
Top walks around Villajoyosa: Torre de Les Caletes
A beautiful walk which takes you away from the crowded beaches of Benidorm into the Sierra Helada, ending at the ruined watchtower of Les Caletes. Spectacular cliff views.
Miguel Hernández: the power and emotion of Alicante’s Civil War poet
Miguel Hernández was one of the greatest Spanish poets of the twentieth century. He was the victim of Franco's repression after the Civil War - but his work lives on.
Repression and exile: landmarks of the Civil War in Alicante
Alicante was one of the last cities to fall to Franco's armies at the end of the Civil War. Many Alicantinos are determined to remember and preserve what they can of the Civil War legacy.
Top walks around Villajoyosa: Torre del Barranc d’Aigües
The Torre del Barranc d'Aigües is a lonely watchtower perched 140m feet (450 feet) above the sea, about halfway between Alicante and Benidorm. Views from up here are spectacular; on a clear day, you can see 40km up the coast.
Landmarks of the Civil War in Alicante, 80 years on
The Spanish Civil War left many marks on Alicante, some still visible 80 years after the conflict ended. The city was bombed repeatedly; one raid caused more casualties than any other single attack in the entire war. You can now visit two of Alicante's Civil War shelters.
Gateway to exile: the last secret headquarters of Spain’s Civil War leaders
Eighty years ago, the Spanish Civil War ended and the Republican government went into exile. Its last days in Spain were spent at a secret headquarters in the hills behind Alicante.
