Monovar is a small town in the Costa Blanca region of Spain. It is located to the west of Alicante and it lies between the slopes of two separate hills. It has a population of about 11,000 inhabitants and is the perfect spot if you are looking for a tranquil vacation. Many people come to Spain for tranquillity, despite the reputation that seems to cities places like Benidorm and Alicante, there are some really eloquent towns and villages which have managed to escape from the mass tourism phenomena and the package holiday market.
Although towns like Monovar are trying to attract tourists to boost their economy, they are giving a different spin on what tourism should be. They are offering a different holiday experience than the frenetic activity that is offered by the big cities along the coast. For instance, whereas Benidorm offers all-night parties with a lot of young people getting drunk, you can expect to enjoy a night out in Monovar enjoying a glass of local red wine and eating a meal cooked with only the best and freshest ingredients. Of course you are going to enjoy these things in Benidorm itself, but you will not have the tranquil background that you have here. As they say, everyone took their own.
Some of the places that you should visit while you are in Monovar include the Hermitage of Santa Barbara. Now, this Hermitage was built towards the end of the 18th century by the famous architect Tomas Estacios. It was built on the site of an original building which had been constructed in the late 17th century. You can see the Hermitage as you approach Monovar and if you climb up the hill where it is situated you will get a view not only of the town itself but of the entire area. The Hermitage was visited in 1983 by the Academy of San Fernando and they declared it an artistic historic monument. On the opposite hill stands the remains of an old Arabic castle. There is only one part of a tower which is left standing. Many archaeological digs have taken place on the hill and a whole plethora of pieces have been found dating right back to the first Moorish occupants.
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