From this point you have the best panoramic views of Benidorm being the source of many photos and postcards of the city. It is located at the top of the Sierra Helada, and it is accessed through the final area of the Rincón de Loix, being able to drive up to almost the same Cruz. This well-known monument of Benidorm was established on top of the mountain due to the initiative of the local clergy. The reason why the Cruz was raised was because Benidorm with the new General Plan of Urban Planning and the consent of the Francoist government to allow the use of bikinis to women, had become, for the friars in a frivolous locality. Even the bishop of Orihuela-Alicante threatened the mayor with putting a sign on the entrance to Benidrom reading "El Infierno". For that reason they decided to create in 1962 a day that would be called the "Day of Forgiveness", which would serve through a procession, climb the heavy and huge wooden cross from the Church of San Jaime to the highest point of the Sierra Helada . All the people wanted to participate and the children disguised themselves to do various recreational activities, while the adults climbed, alternating, the cross on their shoulders. This religious day made Catholics see that the people of the town were not as "frivolous" as they thought. Nowadays, it has become a place for many people to pass, either to enjoy the spectacular views or to make a great day of hiking. As curious facts, a few years ago it was the scene of horror movies and even erotic movies. And in a pink villa even the film of Bigas Luna Huevos de Oro was filmed. You can visit when you want, but it is best to go up to observe the beautiful sunsets at the end of the afternoon. When you get to the cross there are several routes to access other populations on foot. You can also take a path that skirts the cliffs to the repeater of Albir and from there you go down to the lighthouse. This trail has a wonderful route with incredible views of both the Bay of Benidorm and the Mediterranean Sea, the mountains and even Altea. Undoubtedly, it is one of the best options for lovers of nature and the practice of hiking.
The Mirador del Faro is located in the vicinity of the Santa Pola Lighthouse. It is a new construction very visited by tourists and locals due to the fantastic views that can be obtained from the coast of Alicante, Cabo las Huertas and Isla Grossa facing the Mar Menor.
The Aguas de Busot Spa is an architectural complex built in the 19th century in the municipality of Aigües, province of Alicante (Valencian Community). Originally designed, designed and titled "Hotel Miramar Winter Station", by its owner and promoter, Mr. Conde de Casa Rojas (and Marqués del Bosch), was conceived as an urban complex of large dimensions (some particular retains the plans of the original project), located opposite the old thermal springs that always existed in the area, presided by the central building corresponding to the hotel (equipped with roulette and the new English system of sanitary watertight or WC), and surrounded by numerous buildings and roads that crossed the adjacent places, including, among other services, two catholic chapels, a navigable pool, a bakery, a farm, multiple banks, roundabouts and other elements, most of which were erased in the 20th century. The nineteenth-century hotel activity was visited by SSMM the King and Queen of Spain, and was disseminated among potential customers through annual memorials that Mr. Conde commissioned to write to the various medical directors that the Hotel had (some copies are kept). The Civil War interrupted the hotel activity; and at the end of it, an attempt was made to promote an anti-tuberculosis infant sanatorium in the same facilities. The history of the spa is known with absolute chronological precision. Originally, the properties of the waters were already described in Roman and Muslim chronicles; In the 15th century, safe-conducts were granted to the Moriscos. From this time, the oldest known document is a privilege signed on November 30, 1596, giving ownership of the waters to the city of Alicante, which will hold it until 1816. The only building that is currently conserved was built in 1816 by the engineer and architect Pedro García Faria, while the Count of Casa Rojas embellished the adjacent lands with small houses away from the spa for those who did not want to be close to the bustle. Later, a conflict between the Public Administration and the family of Mr. Conde would begin, whom the Jurisdiction ended up recognizing as the legitimate owner. In 1865 the construction of the "Hotel Miramar" and a new spa took advantage of the thermal waters of the area. This hotel had a casino, party room, church, sports facilities and playground for children and its splendor lasted until 1930. It is said that the Marquis of Bosch, owner of the Hotel, lost it in a poker game. In 1936, the State acquired the building and converted it into an anti-tuberculosis hospital, targeting children with tuberculosis. After the Civil War (1936-1939) and when the disease was extinguished it was abandoned. Towards 1973, the National Antituberculous Patronato made a project to rehabilitate and expand the building, but it remained on paper. In 1989 the company Prognosis acquired the building with the intention of reforming it. In 1993 he signed an urban agreement with the Consistory to develop the construction project of two hotels and a spa. After a cascade of lawsuits between this company and the Town Hall of Aigües, the Spa was bought by Valentín Botella (President of Hercules CF) in 2006.
In the main area of the viewpoint there are banks, and the two secondary areas, on two levels, urban furniture has been located as picnic tables, banks and bins. A parking area for cars, motorcycles and bicycles and various pedestrian routes has also been prepared. Likewise, it has proceeded to repopulation with holm oaks and junipers in alcorques formed by masonry walls, as well as shrubs of native and resistant species, lavender, rosemary, thyme, Kermes oak, and others.
The visitor arrives at the Cross, Creu del Portitxol, sheltered from the coast in a zone which was a natural mooring zone in Ancient times. However, when raising their view, it will be difficult for visitors to distract their gaze from the scenario represented by the barge run aground just a few meters away: The island of Portitxol, an islet which has a 300 m diameter, which was once inhabited and in fact, several burial sites have been discovered there.
It is located 150 m from the Cove: “Cala del Portitxol” and offers a spectacular sketch of the coastline, which covers a panoramic view from Cap de Sant Antoni and Cap Prim up to the impressive image of Cap Negre, all bathed by the Mediterranean.
These rugged cliffs challenges hikers and block their way towards the sea, however, it offers a dense Allepo Pine (“pino carrasco”) forest where peregrine falcons can be seen in their likely route from the Montgó mountain, the large Mountain mass which protects Xàbia. In the “Punta del Cap Negre” scenic viewpoint, we also highlight the fishermen’s trails which wind along its sides and approach near the “Tabaco and La Mina” caves.
“Les Pesqueres” scenic viewpoint looks upon a small universe of place names inspired by the fishing activities which the men from Xàbia and the neighbouring towns carried out in the vertical walls of its cliffs, in spite of the obvious difficulties which can be easily perceived from the viewpoint. On the crags or on top of fragile thatched mats, the men established their positions to fish, especially in the long dark nights of winter.
Another coastal defence was erected in “Punta d´Ambolo”, also known as the “Torre del Descubridor” (Discoverer’s Tower), with a single floor and two sentry boxes which have now disappeared. Its splendid location allows the view to travel from “Cabo de la Nao” up to the “Punta de Moraira”.
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