Nowadays, the cities have turned into huge cement and metal labyrinths, where the buildings are enormous barracks with redundant designs, divided into small homes, where people gather to live in a grey surrounding. Many people, swamped from this outcome of insipid and omnipresent forefronts, search for refuge going back to the rustic and traditional style which, for example, offers a classic rural house. The objective is to recover that sense of the of past ages, combining it with the functionality some modern lines can bring, as it happens in the actual Mediterranean house, which tries to mix the traditional elements with some modern and functional elements.
Rural houses with charm surrounded by a typical natural landscape on the Costa Blanca.
The cultural heritage of Spain and its variety of climates have given place to rural houses with varied characteristics depending on the area and the national territory where they are located. Knowing its particularities and main identity signs is fundamental to respect the local architecture, keeping alive the historic tradition.
A privileged enclave on the peninsula is the coast of Alicante, named the Costa Blanca, where, nowadays, the most characteristic elements of the charming rural house of the coast are preserved. In them walls of stonework, high ceilings with wooden beams and floors formed by fired-clay tiles, aged Marble or, in some cases, hydraulic or of extrusion stoneware in rustic finishings are combined.
The rustic style perfectly combines with some modern elements, which offers more functionality.
These constructions escape from the industrially produced elements, they prefer to customise with unique and handmade furniture, made of wood or handmade wicker furniture from Gata de Gorgos, because its an exclusive way of conceiving a home which, all in all, is also a different way of understanding life. The rustic character wraps the homes with warmth, giving them life and enabling each room to treasure a particular story. While the stone walls give an aspect of power and resistance, the forge is a demonstration of toughness, however providing a distinguished and elegant air. Lamps, headboards, mirrors and galleries, among other elements, are normally forged and, given the quality in the manufacturing process, last for a long time, providing that authentic and mature touch.
And it is the rustic style, which apart from making the wood and stone protagonists, also uses iron with a great variety of forms and details, through hinges, doorknobs, handles... These elements, as well as the doors and windows of solid wood, are in charge of the attractive sensation of strength and force in these traditional homes of the Costa Blanca.
A rural house establishes a perfect communion with the exterior natural places, which increases the well-being and quality of life. Wide porches surrounded by green areas, barbecue areas, vegetable gardens, gardens and swimming pools are the exterior elements which exist in harmony with the rest of the beautiful landscapes of the Costa Blanca. This coast is for national and international spectators a location of preference and great interest; in fact, the demand of first and second homes is still very active. The charm of this natural places, splattered with olive trees, almond trees, orange trees and pines, is unique and characteristic of this Mediterranean land, specially on the north part of the Costa Blanca. A zone which offers a high quality of life with proposals for leisure and sport, but, specially, thanks to the pleasant and warm Mediterranean climate at any time of the year. The extensive beaches of white sand and the impressive cliffs are typical of this area. Wide valleys with a rich diversity of flora, formed by olive trees, almond trees, mandarin trees and orange trees extend between ranges of pines.
The Costa Blanca offers a high quality of life for its residents and visitors.
For all of this, the Costa Blanca is one of the most relevant tourist places in Europe. Along the area a transport communication network has developed, making it perfectly accessible for any national and international traveller. The main access is through two international airports: Alicante and Valencia. In particular, through he airport of Alicante pass approximately 5 million passengers per year, and around half of them come from the European continent. An important network of dual carriageways and modern rail connections, with the high speed train (AVE), connect this area of Spain with Madrid and Barcelona. On the other hand, from Denia's port in only a few hours you can visit the islands of Ibiza, Mallorca and Formentera.
On the interior of the flat coast, on the northern part of the mountain you can find the Natural Park of the Montgó, which surrounds the bays of Javea and Denia with a unique flora raging from the common broom of the area to the wild orchid. The province of Alicante has a great richness of natural contrasts and its peculiar range lifts the Mediterranean horizon.
The interior areas amaze the visitors for the unique landscapes and heritage, cultural and artistic wealth of the province, which is covered by a pleasant and cosmopolitan environment. For example, in the Busot or Canelobre cave the stalactites create incredible forms and, on the coastal region, the beautiful beaches contrast with very famous and picturesque geographical features such as the Rock of Ifach (Calpe), the Cabo de la Nao and of San Antonio or the two cliffs of Benitachell and the Sierra Helada. Areas which are a perfect extension for the main tourist destinations of the coast, in fact they are near the sea.
The type of gastronomy of the Alicante province is connected with the diversity of the products obtained on the Mediterraean land and sea. Its towns have been inhabited by different civilizations (Greek, Iberians, Celtic, Romans...). These people have left their mark and as time goes by have influenced the way people live and, naturally, the gastronomy. In all the towns of the province you can try typical dishes, traditional desserts and handmade sweets, for example the popular ice creams of Jijona, standing out the turron with almonds.
Some purely Mediterranean eating habits are based mainly on products such as fish, rise, vegetables, olive oil and fruits, because of the climate of the region and the richness of its crops and fish. Very characteristic dishes such as the "arroz a banda" (rice with fish), arroz caldoso (rice soup) or the famous Valencian Paella are made with many of these mentioned ingredients.