Local Info & Town Hall (Ayuntamiento) Javea (Xàbia)

Javea


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Possibly the jewel in the Costa Blanca’s crown of seaside towns, Jávea is one of the largest.  Its population of 30,000 swells to nearly 100,000 during the summer months as it’s a popular destination for tourists.

Despite this influx of visitors Jávea is not a town of ugly high rise buildings.  It is split into three main areas:  the old town, the port and the main Arenal beach.

The old town retains a sense of local life and history, with its 12th century gothic church, the Iglesia de San Bartolomé that was severely damaged during the Spanish civil war.  There is also the usual town square, which Spanish life seems to evolve around and of particular interest is the museum, the museo Arqueológico y Etnográfico, which gives the history of the area and houses a magnificent collection of historical crafts.  In some places evidence of the old walls that protected the town from pirates in years gone by can still be seen.

The port is a lively area, with a pebbly beach and several good bars and restaurants.  You can either eat by the sea or go one or two streets back and experience the more traditional Spanish restaurants.  The port is still a working fishing port and the trawlers sit alongside the spectacular yachts that sail the Mediterranean.  There are a couple of good hotels in the port and the views across the bay to the Arenal are magnificent.  It’s advisable to book in high season and during fiesta time as this area is very popular.

Five minutes drive from the port is the long sandy beach of the Arenal.  Backed by numerous bars and restaurants along the promenade this is a perfect family beach.  It shelves gently and has several children’s’ play areas and volleyball nets.  During the months of July and August this beach can get very busy and parking can be rather difficult.  Out of season it’s a great place to spend a leisurely afternoon.

There are a few hotels in Javea, dominated by the Parador on the sea front, but most accommodation tends to be villas and apartments that stretch back as far as the small town of Jesús Pobre.  There are many villas to rent or buy nestled below the formidable Montgó mountain.

The Montgó is a natural park that makes a spectacular back drop to the town of Jávea.  At 750m high it can be seen from many of the surrounding villages and the rock catches the light throughout the day until at sunset it turns a shade of eerie red.  Many people believe the Montgó is shaped like an elephant with its trunk descending into the land and its eye a cave on the rock face.  You either look at the mountain and see this image straight away or just don’t see it at all.  There are some very good walks in the Montgó area, but be sure to take them in the cooler months and with the right equipment.

Further out of Jávea there is a fantastic lookout point known as Cabo de la Nao.  There is a lighthouse and restaurant here and on a clear day it offers splendid views to Ibiza.

Jávea basks in a micro climate, being warm for most of the year and certainly a few degrees warmer than the inland mountain villages.  The town is said by the World Health Organisation to have one of the healthiest climates in the world.

The town has a thriving ex-pat community that live alongside the many Spanish that live there.  It’s easier not to speak Spanish here than further inland, but the locals will still relish the chance to practise with you.

There’s plenty to do in Jávea, including golf, tennis, go-karting, crazy golf, a fun fair, water sports and boat trips along the coast to Calpe or Denia.

The market is held on a Thursday and the main fiestas are during July.

Town Hall (Ayuntamiento)

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