Finestrat is a town in the province of Alicante that belongs to the Costa Blanca. Finestrat means Window to the Sea and interestingly, it is built on a gypsum rock, hence we can see streets in the town dedicated to plasterers. With about 2000 inhabitants, it is one of the Alicante towns with the smallest population. Although this is tricky, because with the population of La Cala and the urbanizations, it reaches about 6000.
Finestrat mainly consists of four parts:
- The Puig Campana. The mountain is the symbol of Finestrat.
- The Village, at the foot of Puig Campana mountain.
- Commercial Boulevard, with La Marina Shopping Center, Carrefour, Conforama, Leroy Merlin, Decathlon…
- La Cala Beach, which is the town’s beach.
If you like those travel routes for taking photos, you can take the car and complete the list of places we propose in 1 day.
Index
PUIG CAMPANA
The legendary mountain of the Marina Baixa region and the second highest in the province of Alicante after Aitana. Its 1406 meters can be seen from almost any town in the region and stands out for the “hole” it has.
Precisely the hole leads us to the legend of Cerivert the Giant, who was in love and lived with a young woman in a cabin. One day a stranger warned him that when the sun stopped shining his beloved would die. He returned to the cabin and found that his beloved was fading, so he decided to go out and kick the mountain and made a hole in it (That piece missing from the mountain) so that the sun would continue to pass through for a few more minutes. The piece broke off and it is said to be the islet of Benidorm. When she died, he buried her there and stayed with her forever embracing her.
In the second photo we have highlighted the route that is taken each year in the 1 KM Vertical Climb race. The record is around 20 minutes.
FINESTRAT VILLAGE
Finestrat has managed to respect its traditions and historic center despite having thousands of years of history, from the Iberians or Romans to the medieval period and the Arabs. We leave you a list of places of interest to see in Finestrat:
CHURCH OF SANT BERTOMEU
We recommend entering through Carrer Fonteta and continuing along Carrer Nou until you reach the Church. You’ll pass by the Tourist Info. This is the church where the patron saint of Finestrat: Sant Bertomeu is kept. Construction began in the 17th century and it was consecrated to the patron saint in 1751.
STREETS OF THE VILLAGE
In Finestrat, you must see Carrer Sant Miquel and the Carreró. The latter is a small tunnel that is the last vestige of the walled city, being the access to it.
AUDITORI / AUDITORIUM OF FINESTRAT
FINESTRAT CASTLE
Although there is no longer a Castle, there is now a viewpoint on the remains of the Almohad castle. It’s the highest area to see in Finestrat. Find this spot for the best photo of your trip. You can see the city of skyscrapers and Villajoyosa from here.
The statue of the emigrants remembers that many inhabitants of the town had to emigrate to France for work. That’s why the population is twinned with Saint Vaury (France), for example. That’s why many people from Finestrat have French family.
CHRIST OF REMEDY HERMITAGE
The Hermitage of the Holy Christ of Remedy was built in 1925 in the castle area. There are 2 patron saints of Finestrat: San Bartolomé and the Santísim Crist del Remei (in Valencian), although there is more devotion to the latter.
During the Civil War, the image of Christ of Remedy was thrown off the cliff. People collected the pieces and reconstructed it with the financial help of a family from the town. There is a piece that was never found.
TRADITIONAL MARKET (APRIL)
Rural market to visit in April. Travelers will find natural remedies for ailments, crafts, and advice. According to reviews, it could be the best time to visit the town. Do you like medieval markets? Then get in the car and go on routes.
THE MILL FOUNTAIN
La Font del Molí is the most important fountain in Finestrat. From the Islamic period, the water comes through underground aqueducts. In its day, it fed mills that were near the fountain and now it has 15 spouts. And no, you can’t drink because it’s closed with gates. La Font del Molí is the starting point of numerous hiking routes of Puig Campana, highlighting the Circular route and The Summit.
THE COMMERCIAL BOULEVARD OF FINESTRAT
Halfway down, descending from the Village towards the beach, we find the commercial boulevard:
- La Marina Shopping Center: Zara, Massimo Dutti, IMF Cinemas…
- Carrefour
- Leroy Merlin
- Decathlon
- Media Markt
- Mercadona
FINESTRAT COVE
Cala de Finestrat is the beach area of the municipality. Although it should be noted that it is partly in Villajoyosa, but the “border” is not visible. The stretch of coastline was ceded by Villajoyosa in return for help in the fight against pirates. It stands out for its contrast with the Village, with tall buildings and urban development very similar to that of Benidorm.
MAP OF FINESTRAT
Well, that’s all about this wonderful town in Alicante. Remember that the interior of the province is beautiful and you should visit Guadalest, Orxeta or Sella. If you prefer the coast, you could check out our post about 12 Most Incredible Towns on the Costa Blanca in Alicante. And if you liked our post, leave us a good rating…
