Santa Pola Spain |
Santa PolaSanta Pola - a bustling small town with a great history, is located a mere twenty kilometres away from Alicante. It has an area of 58.6 km?and has a population of 30,000 inhabitants. Santa Pola is directly off the N-332 heading north from Torrevieja before Alicante. Santa Pola is a coastal fishing and tourist town at present. The 21st century has brought a modern infrastructure to the port, facilitating the berthing of sporting and fishing vessels, as well as the loading of salt. The fish market, the stands of the Casa del Mar (the Sea House) and Market of Abastos remind visitors that he or she is at a busy fishing port. There, you can board a vessel that will take you to the nearby island of Tabarca. The port of Santa Pola was already known during Roman times as the port of Elche, when it was called Portus Illicitanus.  
Santa Pola attractionsIn the town centre of Santa Pola, there is a fortress built in the 16th century to defend itself from the pirate attacks. Its square floor-plan is guarded by two bastions and two towers, which lead to a parade ground, an underground reservoir and a chapel. The town has an archeological museum covering these phases. Population of Santa Pola will more than doubles during the summer, with tourists coming mostly from the rest of the Alicante, and also from Madrid, France and the UK. Dining out in the eateries, enjoying chocolate churros in the squares and plazas and lazing along the miles of beaches, which are a mecca for water and wind sport enthusiasts.  
Another popular attraction is the aquarium situated on Francisco Fernanez Ordonez Square, where you can see species like the starry smoothhound, triggerfish, loggerhead turtle, and many others. On the outskirts you must visit the Salinas de Santa Pola (salt mines) in the natural park where you can get information and book a date for your visit. Local cuisine, nothing better than handmade biscuits, puff pastries filled with sweet pumpkin preserves or ice cream, in particular mantecado-flavoured ice cream. Santa Pola AccomodationFor accommodation in Santa Pola you can look at our Santa Pola Hotels page.
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