Those who claim that the beaches of the Costa Blanca are the best in the Mediterranean are far from making an idle boast. Neither would they be wrong if they added that the quality and the services offered on this coast make it into one of the most emblematic coastlines of Europe.

Alicante is a province full of contrasts. On the one hand there are 218 kilometres of coast with over a hundred beaches and coves, 48 of which are holders of the Blue Flag, a distinction given by the European Union that certifies the quality of the water and the services. On the other hand, it is a surprise to discover that it is one of the most mountainous provinces in Spain.

In the south the horizon is different and the transition from the coast to the interior is less abrupt. We can see thousands of arteries criss-crossing the fields, carrying a precious load. These are the irrigation channels inherited from the Muslims, who knew how to manage their people's most valuable asset: water. The region of the Vega Baja is known as the "vegetable garden of Europe" and the fruit and vegetables still cultivated in this area form an essential part of the Mediterranean diet.