Dara Sol - Holiday home in Javea

Javea or Xabia in Valencian, is a beautiful coastal town on the Costa Blanca in Spain and an ideal holiday destination in the Comunidad Valenciana, in the north of the province of Alicante. It is the most eastern village of the region La Marina Alta.

Enjoy the Mediterranean culture in this convenient location on the coast, surrounded by beaches, people, culture, festivals and gastronomy.

Javea is attractive for families or couples, for going on holiday with your family or friends, Xàbia offers many possibilities for tourists young and old. A day out, playing sports or just relax on the beach or at the pool of your holiday home, apartment or holiday villa.

Javea, with a surface of 68,4 km and surrounded by beaches and mountains, is enfolded by the foothills of the "Las Planas" and the cape "Cap de Sant Antoni" in the north with an altitude of 167m above sea level, in the northeast is the Montgo mountain with 753 m altitude, in the east lies the broad valley of the rio Gorgos that traverses the area from east to west and in the south the mountains of Granadella extending in a platform of 200m height and cape "Cap de la Nao". In 2011 Jávea had 32.469 inhabitants.

Xàbia exists of 3 parts; the historical centre, the harbour and El Arenal, the different urbanizations are located around those areas.

The harbour of Javea, which found its origin in the fifteenth century and grew in the centuries after with its peak in the nineteenth century with the export of raisins, is now a fishing port and the arrival of the boats and the traditional auction have become a tourist attraction. The residential area surrounding the port has a strong sailors character with old fishermen's houses and narrow streets.

the Arenal beach, is located in the middle of the bay of Javea and the main tourist attraction and undoubtedly the most famous beach for its fine sand and shallow water. The promenade offers nice shops, restaurants and bars, both day and night you can go here for a drink and a bite.

Javea is very green, although it does not rain so often, Xabia has lots of water underground. For this reason it is thought that one of the possible explanations of its name comes from the Arabic word "Xabiga" which is a kind of well or water reservoir, in combination with the large volumes that existed in this place.

Javea has a rich history, most likely due to its location at the coast, the climate and the valley, there have been many colonists and invaders who settled here over the centuries. The oldest evidence of human activity in the time of Javea is found in the cave of the Montgo, where some materials come from the Upper Paleolithic, about 16,000 years before our era.

In the history of Javea 7 main stages can be distinguished: the Iberian era, the Roman period, the Visigothic era, Islamic period, the Medieval period, the Modern period and the Contemporary. But the most important and relevant stages in the history of Javea / Xàbia are perhaps the Roman and Moorish times.

The landscape of Javea (and Denia) is characterized by the Montgo mountain, which can be seen for miles around and many say that from the Javea side it looks like an elephant with its head and trunk that extends to the sea. The Montgo is 753 meters high and consists of rocky formations, cliffs and caves and is home to some of the most unique flora and fauna in Spain. In 1987 the Montgo area is named a national park. It is possible to climb the mountain from different places, excursions are also offered with a guide.

The 25km long coast of Xàbia offers a variety of beaches and bays that are known for their natural beauty, clear waters and Mediterranean woodland settings. We distinguish beaches of gravel, stones and rocks or sand, where all kinds of water sports can be practiced: jet ski, windsurfing, canoeing and kayaking, water skiing, paddle boats, sailing, fishing etc. The small bays and rocky coast provide ideal sites for diving and snorkeling. On most beaches in the summer sun beds and parasols can be rented. 

The Arenal, located in the middle of the bay is the most famous and visited beach and the only sandy beach of Javea. Along the entire beach is a promenade with shops, bars and restaurants, making this beach so popular, and where you can go for a snack, drink or ice cream on a glorious day at the beach. Also on the Arenal beach various water sports can be practiced and you can play beach volley ball or hire a boat or paddle boat.

Besides the Arenal there are several pebble and rocky beaches as Pope - Tangó, La Grava, La Muntanyar and La Caleta. The crystal clear water and beautiful views make these beaches unique, also snorkeling offers some beautiful underwater views.

There can be distinguished several routes in the Montgo area, Reserva Marina, Ruta de Las Ermitas, Granadella, to the lighthouse or viewpoints, through the beautiful countryside and the valley. 

Javea offers tennis courts, a riding club, sailing club, gyms, diving schools, cycling club, basketball and football, rifle club and a golf course.

There are several 9 and 18 hole golf courses in the Comunidad Valencia and the Costa Blanca and the climate in this region makes it ideal to play all year round.

Javea Golf Club is situated on the road from Javea to Benitachell. This 9-hole golf course was designed by Francisco Moreno and opened in 1981. Sheltered by the Cap San Antonio this golf course has a perfect microclimate all year round and it is located in a beautiful natural setting, surrounded by pine trees.

Nearby is the 27 hole La Sella golf course, designed by José María Olazábal in 1991 and internationally known for its excellent conditions to play all year round. There are three 9 hole courses that can be distinguished by 3 different colors and names of local winds by their geographical location;

On all three courses you can enjoy golfing in the pure nature.

Nice souvenir shops at the boulevard, small boutiques in the harbor and shops in the old town offer a day of shopping in Javea strolling along the beach or through the narrow streets. 

Of course there is also a weekly market in Javea, this is held every Thursday in the village and you will find not only fruit and vegetables here but also textiles, shoes, bags, home, garden and kitchen items etc. even souvenirs can be found here. 

Near Javea, in the nearby Ondara, is the shopping centre Portal de la Marina which apart from many shops also offers places to eat and a cinema.

For those who want to go for a day out, the closest cities Valencia and Alicante are a must. For a city trip or just a day of shopping while you can enjoy in the mean time these cities and the beautiful buildings, especially in the center of Valencia these can be admired.

The most remarkable building in the old town is without doubt the church of San Bartalomé, from the fourteenth to the sixteenth century, with extensions in the eighteenth century and nineteenth century. The main work fits in the Isabelline Gothic. The importance and significance made that it in 1931 this building was declared a National Artistic Monument.

Opposite the church is the current municipal covered market where you can find a wide variety of goods such as fruit, vegetables, fresh fish and meat. Formerly on this spot stood a monastery "Convento de las Agustinas Descalzas", it was destroyed during the Civil War (1936-39) to build a covered market but it was not until 1946 that this was actually realized.

The charm of the port area is emphasized by the church Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de Loreto (the Church of Our Lady of Loreto), opened in 1967. Known for its daring design of the lines and the conception of space and the shape of a ship.

Another interesting building in the harbor is the Casa del Cable (the house of the cable) in 1860, of which only the pillars of the "naia" are preserved. It housed the telegraph station which connected peninsula with Ibiza through an underwater cable. After renovation, the rooms are now used for exhibitions.

Built in the 14th and 15th centuries are named this way because of the era in which they were built, the Christian occupation. We distinguish the following in the are of Javea:

San Antonio, already gone, was on the cape that gave her the name (Cabo San Antonio). There are only the remains of a pavement of tiles.Pòpul (XIV-XV) situated on the Ctra. Jesús Pobre with paintings of Soler Blasco.San Juan (XV-XVI), became the old cemetery chapel in 1817.Santa Lucía y Sta. Bárbara (XIV-XV) is the most beautiful and representative. On the holiday of St. Llúcia December 13, the village climbs the hill in pilgrimage to the holy place.

Includes a magnificent reproduction of the Iberian Treasury of Javea, including a diadem which appeared in a ceramic jar in Lluca. Also, samples of the Roman and medieval pottery are displayed. Besides the eight rooms, two halls are for temporary exhibitions.

Impressive processions, bull run and traditional costume characterize the celebrations of Javea which more than once end with beautiful fireworks. The most important holidays on the calendar of Javea are: 

• Festivities of Jesus of Nazareth, which main activity is the descent of the sculpture of Jesus of Nazareth to the church San Barta Lomé and back to the chapel del Calvario. These days, also the crosses of 2 May are celebrated with crosses of flowers.
• 24 June - San Juan begins with celebrations and festivities in the 15 days before of which most take place in the last 5 days prior to the night of San Juan. Bulls, fireworks, the "Focs the San Joan" (Fires of San Juan) define this party and of course the monument made of paper mache.
• The third week of July there are the Moros y Cristianos, also these celebrations, which represent the battle between the Moors and the Christians, are celebrated in Javea like in the whole Comunidad Valenciana with beautiful costumes, processions, fireworks and the whole is accompanied with salute and cannon shots.
• End of July - Ajedrez Viviente this living chess game is celebrated since 1996 and has been declared a festival of national tourist interest. It consists of a stage adaptation, which each year focuses on a different theme acted by children who represent a living chessboard.
• Last week of August – beginning of September, the Fiestas de la Virgen del Loreto take place, the festivities in honor of Our Lady of Loreto. With local traditional festivities such as "Bous a al Mar" (bulls in the sea).
• 13 December Santa Lucía, the ascension to the chapel of Santa Lucia and the tasting of hot chocolate.
• Other celebrations: Santa Cecilia patron saint of the musicians (22 November), Nuestra Señora del Carmen, patron saint of the sailors (16 July), Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles (August 2).

The holiday homes and villas are located in residential neighborhoods and residential areas, there are:

• The villa residential areas Balcón al Mar, Costa Nova, Marina, Ambolo,La Siesta
• The wooded residential areas El Tosalet, Toscal and Cap Marti, Lluca, El Rafalet, Tesoro Golf Park and Seniola
• The residential areas between Arenal and the golf course Adsubia, la Finca and Cansalades
• The residential area between Javea old town and the harbor Partida Mezquida
• Villas and holiday houses on the slopes of the Montgo and La Plana or in the beautiful bay Porticholl in Mar Azul and Portichol