Located right in the north of the Costa Blanca region of Spain is the busy and popular coastal town of Denia. Famous for its fine sandy beaches, its 11th Century castle and its many fiestas, Denia has long been a destination for tourists, holidaymakers and sun lovers. Well known for its fine harbour, Denia is an important ferry port with regular trips to the Balearic Islands (Ibiza is just two hours away by ferry).

Up until the tourism explosion of the 1960's Denia was no more than a small fishing town, relying for its existence on fishing, agriculture and a small toy making industry. In recent years the town has expanded rapidly to cater for the large influx of tourists and the increasing demand for coastal holiday homes by rich Spanish and North Europeans. Denia still has a large fishing fleet and a busy fish market is held every day in the port.

The history of Denia however goes back to the Neolithic Era when ancient settlers eked out an existence in the region. Thought to be the site of a Greek colony called Hemeroskopeion and of later Iberian and Roman settlements, Denia has a rich and interesting history. There is some speculation as to the origin of the name "Denia", some attributing it to Romans (saying it is derived from the Roman goddess Diana) and some thinking it comes from the Arabic "Daniah" (meaning low or near).

The documented history of Denia certainly begins with the Arab occupation (8th to 13th Centuries) and the famous castle in the centre of Denia was begun by the Moors in the 11th Century, although it has been extended, rebuilt and re-fortified many times since. The Arab stranglehold of Denia lasted until 1244 when the occupying Moors were defeated by Pere Eiximen Carros under the reign of the Christian king, Jaime I. Denia officially became a "town" during the reign of Phillip III, under the auspices of the 5th Marquis, the Duke of Lerma (a favorite of the king).

During the War of Spanish Succession Denia supported the pretender to the throne of Austria, Archduke Charles and was the first to proclaim Charles as the king of Spain (17th August 1705) however after 3 sieges the castle was taken in 1708 and Denia suffered a serious setback to its population and ecomomy as a result. It took almost two hundred years for Denia to fully recover from this disaster.

The recovery of Denia was mostly helped by a thriving raisin industry which grew up in the area (there was a colony of English raisin traders living in Denia up until the Spanish Civil War in the 1930's). The wealth created by this raisin industry was used to fund various projects in the area including the railway to Alicante, the telegraph links and the gas factory. 

Denia however suffered another catastrophic setback in the early 20th Century when an outbreak of phylloxera destroyed the grape vines and the region was plunged into an economic decline. The fishing fleet, other agricultural activities and a small toy making industry kept Denia solvent during the ensuing years - in fact right up until the arrival of tourism in the 1960's when cheaper flying and package holidays brought visitors from Northern Europe in particular.

Modern day Denia is a thriving town with plenty to offer the discerning tourist. The first place to visit is the castle (the best known landmark of Denia and located in the centre of the town), with a history going back to the 11th Century, the castle now houses The Archaeological Museum where visitors can learn about the history of Denia from about 200 BC up until the present day. Other museums that are worth a visit are The Ethnological Museum (mostly dedicated to the history of the thriving raisin industry of the 19th Century which brought wealth to the area) and The Toy Museum.

A visit to the port is a must as Denia still has a fine fishing fleet and fish auctions are held every day in the busy fish market (La Lonja). Sun lovers will no doubt want to visit the beaches of Denia of which there are many, in fact there is 20 km of coastline to discover, containing many beaches, rocky coves and hidden caves. The main beaches are located to the north of the town in an area called Las Marinas, the rocky coves, caves and bays are situated mostly to the south of the town in an area known as Las Rotas.

Walkers and nature lovers will want to take a trip into The Mount Montgó Natural Park with its wide variety of plant species (over 600 species grow here) and animal life, bird species are particularly important here with many rare specimens to be seen. Scuba divers and those more interested in sea life will love a trip to the Cape of San Antoni Sea Reserve, but beware, this is a protected area and a special licence is needed to go diving here.

Denia town itself has an excellent shopping area and a huge number of bars and restaurants where diners can enjoy the local gastronomy along with dishes from all over the world.

Denia is located on the Northern Costa Blanca, Spain close to the AP-7 motorway and just off the N332 coast road between Gandia and Jávea (Xábia).

So this is Denia one of the most popular towns along the Costa Blanca coastline.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com