History
Calpe is a town which is full of history and culture. Its strategic location on the coast has attracted many voyagers and settlers throughout history. Remains of Iberian tribes were discovered arround the skirts of the Rock of Ifach. Later, the Romans founded a prosperous colony on the coastal plain whose main activity was commerce in dried, salted fish. During the Mediaeval period, the farming population was spread out in a number of independent settlements. Christians and Moors lived pacefully for a time, but the local population later suffered continual attacks by pirates during the 14th to the 17th centuries. Once the threat of pirate attacks abated, Calpe entered a period of redevelopment during the 18th century, consolidating the town in the 19th century and laying the foundation for is current prosperity as a major attraction for both national and international tourism.

Monumente Calpe   
In the ancient town centre, next to the Moorish quarter (Arabal ), we can see the group of monuments comprising the Torreo de la Peca

  , Walls on the church known as the  Iglesia Vieja  are the sole surviving examples of Mudeja-Gothic architecture in the land of Valencia.

Bordering the coast on the modern seaside promenade (Paseo Maritimo), the remains of the ancient Roman villa have recently been found which once formed part of the fish factory known as the  Banys de la Reina  ( the Queen's Bath ).

Dominating the bay from the hill is the 18th century hermitage of San Salvador which is contemporary with the heritage   Cometa Klause and the fortified Casa Nova on the outskirts of town.

Overlooking the Mascarat ravine are the ruins of the Moorish castle of Calpe and dotted over the surrounding countryside are the typical riu-rau country houses, with arched porticos for raisin drying, combined with modern villas and apartment blocks.

FIESTAS   ,   The festivities calendar starts in February with the Carnival, in which marching bands from both Spain and Europe meet in Calpe. The Fallas festivity is held in March, in which monumental statues are ceremoniously put to the flames on St.Joseph's Day, the 19th. There is a midsummer's festival on June 24th,  followed by the celebration of Our Lady of Carmen  , in the fishing port on July 16th. August 5th, marks the patron saint's day of the town -  Nieves Virgin ,  - with procession, outdoor parties, fireworks, etc. In October, after the spanish-German Beer Festival, on the 22nd, the fiestas in honour of the Santisimo Christo del Sur are held and around the same time, the fiestas of Moors and Christians are celebrated - also in honour of the patron saint.
 

CUISINE
Calpe has an extensive array of restaurants offering everything from international cuisine to typical regional food based mainly on fish and rice. Some of the most characteristic dishes in Calpe are  slazones ( tasty dried fish ), puxtero de polp ( octopus in sauce ), cruet de peix ( a fisherman's pot ), paella, arros amb fesols i naps ( rice with chard and turnip), arros a bledes ( rice with beans )  and arroz al form ( oven baked rice ). For dessert, you can try local cocas ( pasteries ) and other sweatmeats.