What to see in Calpe

Calpe is one of the Costa Blanca’s most recognisable resorts in Spain. Towering above its sandy beaches and white houses is the enormous Peñón de Ifach rock, a natural symbol of the town that can be seen from many parts of the coastline.

But Calpe is not just about its famous rock. People come here for the sea, the beautiful scenery and the chance to combine a beach holiday with walks and exploring the history of the old town.

Contents

• The old town and Plaza de la Villa
• The defensive tower of Torre de la Peça
• The Collectors’ Museum in Calpe
• The Church of Our Lady of the Snows (Nuestra Señora de las Nieves)
• Carrer Puchalt (the staircase in the colours of the Spanish flag)
• The Queen’s Baths (the Roman ruins of Baños de la Reina)
• The Torre Molí del Morelló windmill
• The Las Salinas salt lagoon
• The Peñón de Ifach rock
• Calpe’s beaches

The most convenient way to explore Calpe is to start with the historic centre and then gradually make your way towards the Peñón de Ifach rock.

The old town and Plaza de la Villa

Plaza de la Villa is the heart of Calpe’s historic centre, located in the old part of the town. This is where you can really feel the atmosphere of a traditional Mediterranean town, with its unhurried pace of life and charming narrow streets. It is also the most convenient place to start your walk: the square itself and the surrounding streets, just a short walk away, are home to an old defensive tower, a unique church complex and a museum.

The square regularly becomes the main meeting place for residents during local fiestas and cultural events. It is particularly lively and colourful in October, when Calpe celebrates the famous Moros y Cristianos festival (Moors and Christians) in grand style. This spectacular celebration features lavish processions, music and costumed performances dedicated to the historic conflict and rooted in the town’s deep religious traditions.

The defensive tower of Torre de la Peça

One of the most prominent historic landmarks in the square is Torre de la Peça, a medieval defensive tower that has survived as part of the town’s old fortifications.

In centuries past, pirate raids from the sea were a harsh reality and a constant threat to coastal settlements, so Calpe gradually acquired substantial defensive walls. Today, this tower is considered one of the main symbols of the historic centre. Nearby, you can see surviving sections of stone masonry that serve as a reminder of the days when the town was an almost impregnable fortress.

The tower’s name is interesting, too: the word peça (piece or part) is linked here to an artillery gun that once defended this bastion. In the 20th century, the deteriorating fortification was partially demolished, but the tower and the adjoining walls were later carefully restored, preserving the region’s valuable defensive heritage.

The Collectors’ Museum in Calpe

Inside Torre de la Peça itself, you’ll find a small and very welcoming Collectors’ Museum. It displays both public and private collections, so the exhibits change regularly, ranging from displays of antique toys to collections of unique tableware and handmade miniature models.

There’s no need to plan your visit around this little museum, but if the tower doors happen to be open while you’re exploring Plaza de la Villa, be sure to step inside. It’s a great opportunity to see the inside of a medieval bastion completely free of charge and discover some of the interests and hobbies of local residents at the same time. Admission to the museum is always free.

The Church of Our Lady of the Snows (Nuestra Señora de las Nieves)

The town’s main parish church, Nuestra Señora de las Nieves, is also located in this square. The church complex is a remarkable architectural combination: a spacious modern building was added right alongside the old 15th-century Gothic church in the 1970s. The two churches are connected by passageways, creating a striking contrast between medieval stonework and modernist design.

If the doors are open, be sure to step inside the new church. Look out for the stunning coloured stained-glass windows in the ceiling, which fill the interior with soft light, the frescoes near the altar, and the sculptures of Our Lady of the Snows and Christ of the Sweat (Cristo del Sudor), the town’s main patron figures. The façade is decorated with a large mosaic covering more than 80 square metres, depicting biblical and historical scenes.

Don’t miss the older part of the complex (Iglesia Antigua), either. In the Middle Ages, it not only brought parishioners together for prayer but also served as a reliable refuge during sieges, as it was built directly into the defensive wall.

Carrer Puchalt (the staircase in the colours of the Spanish flag)

After exploring the square, head a little further into the neighbourhood towards Carrer Puchalt — arguably the most Instagram-worthy and recognisable pedestrian street in Calpe’s old town, with steps painted in the vibrant colours of the Spanish flag.

The story of this attraction began in the early 1980s, for a purely practical reason. The steep, grey staircase was covered in concrete so that participants in the many religious processions would no longer slip on drops of hot wax dripping from candles. Then, in 1982, the town was preparing to celebrate an important anniversary — 300 years of devotion to Christ of the Sweat (Cristo del Sudor). According to local belief, drops of miraculous sweat appeared on his statue in 1682, and later, prayers to this image helped save the defenceless town of Calpe from a brutal raid by Barbary pirates.

To mark the anniversary, the town council organised a competition to find the best way to decorate the neighbourhoods. The residents of Puchalt showed their creativity by transforming the grey concrete into a colourful tricolour, adding neat flowerpots along the walls. Their idea won the competition and became so popular with visitors that the paint on the steps is still renewed to this day.

The Queen’s Baths (the Roman ruins of Baños de la Reina)

Not far from the centre of Calpe, right by the sea, lies one of the coast’s most unusual historic attractions — Baños de la Reina, which translates as ‘the Queen’s Baths’. But don’t picture a luxurious palace just yet: in fact, this is a vast archaeological complex dating back to the Roman Empire, which existed here around 2,000 years ago.

In ancient times, a thriving Roman settlement stood at the foot of the Ifach rock. On dry land, just behind the modern promenade, there were residential buildings, a wealthy villa with mosaics and luxurious private thermal baths. At the water’s edge, however, the Romans carved six interconnected pools into the coastal rock. This was an advanced fish farm for its time: fresh seawater flowed continuously into the enclosures through special sluice gates, allowing the captured fish to stay alive before being sold or salted.

The romantic name of this place appeared much later, thanks to a local legend. Centuries afterwards, having forgotten its Roman history, local residents came to believe that the stone pools in the sea were the bathing place of a beautiful Moorish queen, while underground passages supposedly led to her secret castle in the mountains. Archaeologists have long since dispelled this myth, but the charming legend has remained part of the name ever since.

Today, the Queen’s Baths in Calpe are a unique place where ancient history meets beach life. The archaeological area on land is fenced off for excavation work, but the stone pools in the sea are fully accessible to visitors. Be sure to bring a mask and flippers: the clear turquoise water and ancient underwater walls have turned the former Roman fish farm into one of the best places in the resort for snorkelling and an atmospheric swim.

The Torre Molí del Morelló windmill

If you’re exploring the Roman ruins of the Queen’s Baths, be sure to look out for the solitary stone tower standing almost directly on the promenade at Arenal-Bol Beach. This is Torre Molí del Morelló (also known as Torre Molinera), a rare example of an old windmill in the Marina Alta region, built in the mid-19th century to grind flour.

The building has a classic cylindrical shape, a two-tier structure and thick, sturdy walls made of rough stone bonded with strong lime mortar. Inside the tower, a stone spiral staircase has survived, leading to the upper level, where a rotating domed mechanism and millstones once stood.

The mill’s massive stone base is the surviving part of a 16th-century watchtower built during the reign of King Philip II. In those harsh times, a network of such bastions protected the Calpe coastline from constant raids by Barbary pirates. By the 19th century, the threat from the sea had disappeared, and local residents found a peaceful use for the military structure by adding a windmill tower on top.

Today, Torre Molí del Morelló serves as an important reminder of Calpe’s past, when local residents relied not only on the sea but also on agriculture to make a living.

The Las Salinas salt lagoon

Las Salinas is an unusual natural area right within Calpe. It is a salt lagoon next to the Peñón de Ifach rock, where you can take a break from the beaches and spend some time watching the birds.

This place has a long history. Salt was extracted here as far back as ancient times, as it was essential for preserving the fish traded by coastal residents. During the Roman era, the salt works operated alongside the fish ponds at Baños de la Reina. Later, the local salt flats continued to play an important role in the region’s economy until salt production finally ceased in the late 1980s.

Today, the lagoon’s main attraction is its birdlife. You may spot pink flamingos, herons, ducks and other waterbirds here. Up to 173 species of resident and migratory birds have been recorded in the surrounding area. Flamingos can be seen throughout the year, although their numbers vary depending on the season.

There is an accessible semicircular route around the lagoon for birdwatching, along with information boards and wooden observation platforms. It’s best to take your time here and bring binoculars or a camera if you’d like a closer look at the birds.

💡 The lagoon borders Avenida de Rumanía. If you’re here on a Saturday morning, you’ll find Calpe’s weekly street market right next to Las Salinas. It’s a great opportunity to combine a walk by the lagoon with a spot of shopping for ripe local fruit, Spanish cheeses or souvenirs.

The Peñón de Ifach rock

The Peñón de Ifach rock is Calpe’s main natural attraction and one of the most recognisable landmarks along the entire Costa Blanca coastline.

This enormous, pointed limestone rock rises 332 metres above sea level and forms part of the natural park of the same name. Its distinctive silhouette can be seen from various parts of the town and even from the sea.

The name ‘Ifach’ has ancient roots and, according to one theory, comes from an Iberian word meaning ‘northern rock’. For centuries, this natural peak served as a landmark for sailors and merchant ships travelling along the coast.

Today, climbing the Peñón de Ifach is one of the most popular activities in Calpe. It’s a real adventure that rewards visitors with breathtaking panoramic views.

The route to the summit follows a marked trail and can be roughly divided into two sections. The first part is relatively easy and suitable for most visitors. The second section begins after you pass through a tunnel cut into the rock and requires greater care, as the path becomes steeper and rockier.

The climb usually takes between one and two hours, depending on your pace and fitness level. The total route is around 5 kilometres there and back. Despite the relatively short distance, part of the trail crosses rocky terrain, so it’s important to pace yourself and wear suitable footwear.

From the summit, you can enjoy impressive views of Calpe, the Las Salinas salt lagoons, the beaches and the Mediterranean coastline. On a clear day, you can see a substantial stretch of the Costa Blanca coastline.

The area around the rock forms part of the Parque Natural del Peñón de Ifach, which was established to protect the region’s unique flora and fauna. Rare plants adapted to the rocky terrain and maritime climate grow here.

The Peñón de Ifach is also home to many bird species, including rare types of gulls, shearwaters and hawks. This makes it a popular destination not only for tourists but also for ornithologists, who come here to observe birds throughout the year.

💡 If you want to climb to the summit of the Peñón de Ifach, unfortunately, you can’t simply turn up and set off. To protect the natural park, the authorities limit visitor numbers to no more than 300 people a day. It’s therefore best to book your visit for free in advance. The process takes just a couple of minutes.

Calpe’s beaches

Beaches are one of the main reasons to visit Calpe. Here you’ll find long stretches of sand with promenades, cafés and restaurants, as well as small rocky coves where you can enjoy snorkelling and observe marine life. Many beaches are close to the town centre, while the Peñón de Ifach rock serves as a recognisable landmark along the coast.

Arenal-Bol Beach (Playa Arenal-Bol)

Arenal-Bol Beach is a large urban beach close to the centre of Calpe. It has fine golden sand, with a promenade lined with cafés, restaurants and shops running along it.

It’s easy to spend a whole day by the sea here: you can go for a swim, sunbathe, grab something to eat nearby and then continue exploring the town. Thanks to its location and good facilities, the beach is suitable both for families and for anyone who doesn’t want to venture far from the centre.

It’s also worth coming back in the evening for a stroll along the water and views of the Mediterranean Sea.

La Fossa Beach – Levante (Playa La Fossa / Levante)

La Fossa Beach is located to the north of the Peñón de Ifach rock. It’s another spacious sandy beach in Calpe, particularly appealing for its views of the rock and its long promenade.

There are cafés, restaurants and shops along the promenade, making it easy to combine a day at the beach with lunch or an evening stroll. Water activities and equipment hire are available during the season.

If you’d like to do more than just swim and take some beautiful photos with the Peñón de Ifach in the background, La Fossa is an excellent choice.

Cala del Racó cove

Cala del Racó is located at the foot of the Peñón de Ifach rock, not far from the harbour. Unlike the large sandy beaches, it has a rocky shoreline and a completely different atmosphere.

The cove is popular with snorkelling enthusiasts: in the clear water, you can observe marine life among the rocks. It’s best to wear water shoes when swimming, and bring a snorkelling mask if you’d like a closer look at the underwater world.

A coastal nature trail runs nearby, so you can easily combine a visit to the cove with a walk and beautiful views of the rock. It’s a good place to swap a sandy beach for a more natural corner of Calpe for a while.

What to see near Calpe

If you have some time left, you can explore nearby towns from Calpe or visit natural attractions along the Costa Blanca. To get around the region, you can hire a car.

• Altea — a charming whitewashed town with narrow streets, viewpoints and a famous church with blue domes.
• Benidorm — a resort with wide sandy beaches, high-rise buildings and a lively seafront promenade. It’s also worth exploring the old town.
• Guadalest — a picturesque mountain village with a fortress perched on a rock, narrow streets and views over the valley and turquoise reservoir.
• The Algar Waterfalls — a natural beauty spot with cascading waterfalls, walking trails and natural pools where you can swim on a hot day in designated areas.
• Dénia — a coastal town with a historic castle, old streets, a lively harbour and beaches.
• Alicante — the provincial capital, well worth a visit for Santa Bárbara Castle, a stroll along the seafront promenade and a chance to explore the historic centre.
• Parks and family activities in the province of Alicante — ideas for a day out with children, including Terra Mítica theme park, water parks and other activities for the whole family.