 
SANTA POLA Costa Blanca Spain.
The Roman
Porutus Illcitanues is a populous and lively seaside town with almost 15
kilometres of fine sandy beaches.
The
past history
of Santa Pola has always been
intimately linked to the sea, and the sea has determined its economy,
culture, gastronomy and the identity of its people. In ancient times Santa
Pola was
the port of Elche and managed to build up one of the biggest fishing fleets of
the entire Mediterranean.
The Salinas (salt-flats) are another interesting
aspect of Santa Pola. Exploitation of the salt-flats began at the end of the
19th century and they extended over an 880 hectare area that produced
100,000 tons of salt per year. The area is now a Nature Reserve where many
migratory birds pass the winter. The reserve is also the natural habitat of
several aquatic species such as albatrosses and herons.
The reserve can be
visited: call the Santa Pola information centre on (0034) 96.692.04.04.
In addition to the
marine nature, the municipality also includes a variety of beautiful beaches
where you can practise naturism, including the Playa del Tamarit. On the other
Santa Pola
beaches you can play beach volleyball, beach football, hire jet skis,
or do step
aerobics. The Sierra de Santa Pola protects the bay from the strong Eastern
wind and ensures that the city enjoys a mild climate with an annual
average temperature of 20º C. In the summertime temperatures in
Santa Pola often
reach the high 30s.
Salinas
is located to the west of Santa Pola, whilst to the east is the Sierra de
Santa Pola which is mainly covered by pine trees, though at the beginning of
the 18th century the sierra was on the verge of being deforested as the wood
was used to build the village on
Tabarca Island. One of the area's prime
examples of a watchtower is located on the Sierra, the Torre y Pep. Within
the old city centre there are various leisure areas including the Palm Grove Park and the Glorieta. There are also grand buildings such as the
renaissance castle/fortress and the former Ayuntamiento (Town Hall), located in the area
of Santa Pola which is known for its nightlife
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