Spectacular cliffs dominate the Costa Blanca coastline in Benitatxell 

Benitatxell, officially known as “Benitachell” in Castilian Spanish and “Poble Nou de Benitatxell” in Valenciano, earns its full name in the regional language of Valencia by dint of having been the last town in the Marina Alta area of the province of Alicante to be named a “Pueblo”, or town, and although it is one of the smallest coastal municipalities it is home these days to a sizeable northern European expatriate population. 

In fact, according to the local census in 2015, the population of 4,690 included almost exactly the same number of British residents as Spaniards (1,631 as opposed to 1,640), and the Spanish accounted for only 35% of all those living here.

The reason for this popularity among those seeking second homes or retirement properties on the Costa Blanca is primarily its hugely attractive location. Although Benitatxell is on the Mediterranean coast it does not feature the long sandy beaches which have led to the massive development of other locations such as Benidorm and Torrevieja, boasting instead a selection of small and relatively inaccessible coves such as the Cala del Moraig and the Cala de los Testos. These are dotted along a rugged coastline which features cliffs towering up to 100 metres over the water of the Mediterranean, one of them being the “Morro Falcí” (so named after the falcons which nest there). The views, of course, are breathtaking.

These cliffs are also home to a remarkable geological feature, the Falla del Moraig. This is a slip fault line where a vertical rock face above the Riu Blanc reveals the effects of two tectonic plates sliding against each other, and although until 2016 it had been hard to reach, it is now a Mecca for geologists and for those seeking panoramic views along the coast.

Needless to say, this coastline is also very popular among divers and kayakers, as they explore the caves which were home to pre-historic man as long as 18,000 years ago and were much used by smugglers and fishermen in more recent centuries. 

Bentiatxell itself is a small town on a hillside, surrounded by vineyards which were used in the past to produce raisins, and many of the racks on which the grapes were dried still exist although they are now largely redundant. The parish church is dedicated to Santa María Magdalena and another place of worship is named after Jaime  Llobell, a priest who is reputed to have donated the premises to the town for use by the population.

Happily, the fiestas in honour of María Magdalena and San Jaime both fall at the end of July, and they form the backbone of the annual fiestas, of which the Moros y Cristianos celebrations are also an important part.

However, most of the non-Spanish residents live not in the town itself but in purpose-built developments between Benitatxell and the Mediterranean, enjoying the privilege of living in one of the most spectacular locations on the Costa Blanca. 

Benitatxell may be relatively small in comparison with its neighbours on the Mediterranean coast of the Marina Alta (Denia, Jávea, Calpe, Teulada and Benissa), but it certainly competes with them in terms of landscape and charm! 

BENITATXELL