Visit these Monuments of Calpe

Besides being a tourist destination for its beaches, Calpe is a municipality with a rich history behind it, and its monuments are a true reflection of those events. If you love exploring the history of places, don't miss the opportunity to visit these beautiful monuments.

Buildings by Ricardo Bofill

The postmodern architect Ricardo Bofill Leví and his team have created 3 incredible spaces that adorn the magical Alicante coast. These three buildings, which adapt perfectly to the topography of the cliffs where they are located, are as follows:

La Muralla Roja

La Muralla Roja is one of Bofill's most renowned projects on the Costa Blanca. It is one of the most visited monuments in Calpe due to its striking colors and its geometry which stands out among the coastal landscape. It is a residential building located in the La Manzanera urbanization.

Bofill reflected his admiration for the Kasbah tradition in this building, fortified spaces of Berber origin.

At La Muralla Roja, you will find courtyards, staircases, and bridges crossing between each other to organize access to 50 apartments. For this reason and its shape, it may resemble a fortified enclosure emerging from the cliff.

This building is based on a Greek cross, with the exterior façade covered in a reddish hue, and inside, various shades of blue can be found.

Xanadú

Built shortly before La Muralla Roja, Xanadú consists of 18 apartments. Similar to the previous building, Xanadú is located in the La Manzanera urbanization and also features ramps and stairs that connect the different levels and heights of the building.

The inspiration for creating Xanadú was the Peñon de Ifach. Its configuration is very similar to the enormous limestone mass.

The Amphitheater

The Amphitheater was built between 1983 and 1985. This beautiful building comprises 27 luxury apartments, a solarium, and a swimming pool. The pool is situated in a space shaped like an amphitheater, where the stage would normally be.

Churches of Calpe

For those who love visiting the churches of the places they travel to, in Calpe, you can find 3 unique churches where different religious activities are held. You will find beautiful murals and stained glass windows.

Parish Church "Nuestra Señora de las Nieves"

This modern-style church was renovated in 1996 after a fire occurred during the patron saint festivities. On the ceiling, you can see a beautiful stained glass window, and on the façade, there is an old mosaic depicting different biblical images.

This church is an ideal place to take a break and take many photos, as it is one of the prettiest in Calpe. So don’t waste time and rent a villa in Calpe to enjoy the rest of your holidays.

Parish Church "Nuestra Señora de la Merced"

This church began construction in the 1980s due to the rapid growth of faithful in the area. However, it began functioning as a parish on September 24, 2006.

Old Church

This spectacular church was built on an old chapel at the beginning of the 15th century. Besides its religious function, it was also used as a refuge during attacks on Calpe.

Inside, you can see a valuable pictorial panel that represents San Cosme, San Antonio Abad, and San Damián.

Baths of the Queen Ruins

This archaeological site is located opposite Les Salines de Calp, a bay with very calm waters. It is known that ancient Romans lived off the sea and salt, and extensive trading exchanges led to the gradual development of a small population. Over time, the site became known as the "Baths of the Moorish Queen" since some drainage galleries were found, thought to be tunnels used by the Moorish queen to reach her coastal bath.

This site includes the Roman Vicus, one of the most important archaeological sites in all of Hispania, due to its incredible architectural design and mosaics. Currently, only 25% of the site has been excavated. Besides the Roman Vicus, there are the so-called "Termas de la Muntanyeta", a small thermal complex. Lastly, visitors can take a dip at the Roman Viveros, also known as the "Baths of the Moorish Queen". These are basins carved into sandstone rocks in the sea, believed to have been used for fish farming. For all these reasons, this site is a must-visit and one of the reasons to visit Calpe.

Torre Molí del Morelló

In the western part of the "Baths of the Queen" area, there is an ancient windmill characteristic of the Marina Alta. This old mill was built on a watchtower during the times of Philip II, with the aim of defending the Alicante coast from continuous pirate attacks.

La Pobla d'Ifac

It is one of the most unique archaeological sites in the Valencian Community, as it is the only pobla of conquest that has neither been previously transformed nor excavated. Another reason why it is so special is its location, at the foot of the Marvel of the Valencian Community, the Peñon de Ifach. This was an ancient urban settlement from the late 12th century. It lasted only 100 years, as the inhabitants of Ifach moved to what is now known as the Old Town of Calpe due to some incidents.

As you can see, Calpe has more than just beaches. Aside from Peñón de Ifach, it boasts numerous monuments to visit to gain an in-depth understanding of the city's wonderful history.