El Campello is a cozy Spanish town located in the province of Alicante, in the Valencian community. This is a relatively small town, which has only 28.930 inhabitants (01-01-2020). As in most other resort towns of the Costa Blanca, the population sharply increases here during tourist season (from June to October).
El Campello is perfect for those who are looking for peace and relax, who want to stay away from noisy megacities and hyped tourist centers. First of all, this town attracts with its beautiful beaches, which stretch for as much as 23 km. Theу are well-tended here and for every taste: with golden or white sand, small pebbles and emerald rocky coves.
El Campello, Spain: Infrastructure and Transport
The town has excellent transport links. El Campello is just 18 km from the nearest airport in Alicante. The easiest way to get to the town is by tram, but there is also a couple of bus routes. As well, the railroad track passes through El Campello, which connects it with Denia, Vilajoyosa and Calpe. This route has the romantic name the «Lemon Express».
El Campello has a well-developed urban infrastructure: here you will find many nice cafes and restaurants, supermarkets, shopping centers, a spacious embankment and a municipal park, playgrounds, a fruit and vegetable market, a small port and even its own Fish Exchange (La Lonja).
El Campello: History – Key Milestones
- The first settlements in the present-day town of El Campello, according to archaeologists, date back to the II millennium BC, to the Bronze Age. The earliest signs of human habitation were found in an area called Els Banyets. Fragments of ceramic ware, remnants of houses and two ancient buildings whose architecture remanded temples were found here.
- Coming of the Romans on these lands was marked by the appearance of thermal baths, now known as La Illeta dels Banyets and fisheries. To keep the catch fit for human consumption for as long as possible, villagers learned to salt it. Local fishermen came up with a recipe for an fish sauce and called it garum. This sauce was made from the remnants of unsold fish. It has been prepared for 2-3 months in large stone baths using the fermentation process. Anchovy, tuna, mackerel, less often shellfish were needed to do it, then salt, pepper, olive oil, vinegar or wine were added to them, all this was seasoned with aromatic herbs, which gave the sauce an exquisite taste and aroma.
- In the XIII century, by conquest of the King of Castile, León and Galicia – Alfonso X, byname Alfonso the Wise, El Campello became part of the municipality of Alicante along with other nearby lands. And already at the beginning of the XIV century, Alicante and the settlements belonging to it were part of the Kingdom of Valencia.
- In the XVI century, to protect against the constant raids of Berber pirates, a surveillance system consisting of round towers along the entire coast was erected in El Campello. One of these towers, La Torre de la Illeta del Campello, has been preserved here to this day – you can admire it near the local port.
- At the end of the XVIII century, shipyards appeared in El Campello, around which the fishermen’s quarter El Barrio de Pescadores was located.
- In the XIX century, El Campello already had its own church – something which increases the importance of the town, but still until the XX century, El Campello was only a suburb of Alicante.
- In 1914, the railway line El Trenet de la Marina was stretched along the town. That provided convenient commuter services and contributed to economic growth and tourist development of El Campello.
- Since the 50s of the XX century, thanks to the beginning of a tourist boom in Europe as well as proximity to Alicante, there began actively appear new buildings began in El Campello. Many Europeans from the northern regions were interested in buying property both for summer resort and permanent residence. The number of permanent residents in the period from 1990 to 2005 were doubled, and over the past two years has increased again by almost 2000.
El Campello: Climate and Weather
El Campello welcomes its guests with a mild Mediterranean climate. There is no snowy winter and sub-zero temperatures, and the bathing season lasts for five months – from June to October. There are as many as 29 sunny days in every summer month! The warmest period here – from July to September with average air temperature 27-31°C, and with sea water temperature 25-27°C. In the winter months, the air warms up to 15-17°C on average, although the temperature in the sun can be 21-23°C, which allows to bask on the beach even in December.
El Campello: beaches
In El Campello, one can find beaches and coves for every taste, so this is one of the most popular beach resorts on the Costa Blanca. The most popular beaches of El Campello – Muchavista and Carrer del Mar are located near the town centre.
Muchavista
Muchavista is a sandy beach with a length of 3950 meters and a width of 300 meters. Also, it is a continuation of Alicante’s beach – Playa de San Juan. The Muchavista beach in El Campello is one of the best places for a family holiday on the Costa Blanca: snow-white sand, the crystal clear water deepens very slowly, presence of an area for children’s leisure – that’s just a few of its advantages.
The Muchavista Beach can be easy reached on foot, by tram and by shuttle buses. There is convenient car parking nearby. A wide embankment stretches along the beach, surrounded by exotic greenery, numerous cafes, bars and restaurants. Muchavista is awarded the Blue Flag for cleanliness of its water and sand, as well as well-developed tourist infrastructure: playground, WC, car and bike parking, access for disability persons, etc.
Carrer del Mar
Carrer del Mar is a sandy beach with a length of 1850 meters and a width of 30 meters, placed on the side of the town’s port. This beach is characterized by a gradual slope down to the see, presence of breakwaters and a playground. It was also awarded the Blue Flag as the previous one. Nearby, close to the port, the famous El Campello fish auction is held every evening.
Cala Lanuza
The bay of Lanuza or Cala Lanuza is a small sandy beach 200 meters long and 11 meters wide. Here can be found a rental of umbrellas and sunbeds, a beach cafe and lifeboats. The beach is ideal for quiet family holidays.
La Almadraba
The Almadraba beach is a narrow pebble beach. It attracts tourists with its privacy and the extraordinary azure color of its waves.
Cala del Llop Marí
The beach Cala del Llop Marí is a quiet and picturesque and the place is famous among dive enthusiasts. The beach is covered by large size pebbles, however one can come across sharp stones and sea urchins in the water, herefore, it is advisable to bring with you suitable footwear. Cala del Llop Marí is also beloved by tourists thanks its amazing underwater cave, into which excursions are regularly arranged.
Cala de l’Amerador
Cala de l’Amerador is a cozy and quiet beach with pebbles on the shore and a sandy bottom.
Morro Blanc
The Morro Blanc beach is perfect for families with small children, because its waters are shallow and warms up great, and there are almost no big waves. A small pier is placed nearby, from which one can admire bay views with fishing boats.
The bays of Freu de la Illeta Morrosal and Punta dels Banyets
The rocky coves of Freu de la Illeta Morrosal and Punta dels Banyets beckon all diving and snorkeling enthusiasts. These clear emerald waters are not this beach only advantage, also there is an ancient legend that the Moorish queen’s bathhouse was once located in these places.
Freu de la Illeta Morrosal and Punta dels Banyets on the map
El Campello – attractions
There are no large-scale architectural structures in El Campello, which is not surprising, given its modest size. And yet, the town is remarkable by its identity: picturesque small bungalows are neighbouring in perfect harmony with magnificent mansions and luxurious hotel complexes. Palm trees and flowering shrubs are planted along the embankments, scenting the town with a wonderful aroma.
There are not many attractions here, but there are noteworthy places in El Campello, though.
The watchtower of the XVI century – Torre de la Illeta – is a symbol of the town. For centuries, its signal lights have alerted locals to the appearance of pirates, and at nights, bonfires set up along the coast for warning.
The Queen’s Baths – Baños de la Reina is the next landmark of El Campello. According to one version, this is about the baths of a certain queen of the Roman Era, and according to another version, this place was used for breeding fish.
Walking along the embankment, one can walk to the El Campello Yacht Club – for those who are interested in water sports.
For walks and recreation with children, a municipal park is especially recommend. The park has a vast area where a pretty fountain, several sculptures, a playground, cafes, benches, paved paths and small, newly planted trees are placed.
Shopping lovers should go to the centre of El Campello, where shopping malls, gift shops and small boutiques are located.
During night walks, one can see how a laser beam appears in the skies over El Campello, connecting two monuments dedicated to fishermen. One of them is placed in Alicante, and the second one is here, in El Campello.
The town embankment is wide, green and very beautiful, good for leisurely walks. Here one can find a great variety of cafes, bars, eateries and restaurants.
El Campello – Restaurants
El Campello has a pretty good offer of bars, cafes and restaurants. The prices here are quite moderate, compared to other resorts in Spain, but depend, of course, on the class of the establishment. For example, it is a great possibility to enjoy panoramic views of the town and at the same time taste local fish course or paella at the La Cova Restaurant, placed on a small hill next to the port and the observation tower. The average check is 25 euro per person.
Usually restaurants are opened from 12.00-13.00 to 15.00-16.00 (lunch), and then from 19.00-20.00 (dinner). At other times, one can have a snack in cafes, bars and Chinese wooks. For example, El Blanquet or Miramar are cozy cafés offering cool cocktails, alcoholic/not-alcoholic beverages, as well as traditional sweet pastries, sandwiches and a variety of local tapas. The place is suitable for having breakfast or getting a quick bite.
And in Chinese buffets, one can order a lunch set at a fixed price of 4,5 euro. For example, a great variety of Chinese dishes, reasonable prices and takeaway food can be found in Restaurante Asia Li.
El Campello – Fish Auction and Market
There is an outdoor market in El Campello, taking place on Wednesdays from 9.00 to 14.00. They sell mainly fresh fruits and vegetables here, one can also buy flowers and some household utensils.
In the morning, one can always buy fresh fish at the town port. But especially interesting is the Fish Auction, which is opened daily. The bidding goes like this: trays with fish and seafood are placed on the tables, and the presenter announces their initial price. If there are no takers, then the cost decreases until a buyer is found, that is, a kind of auction on the contrary. At any time, the bidding can be interrupted by crying out your price for the contents of the tray or simply raising your hand. Participation is free and available to all everyone that attracts not only locals, but also tourists.
El Campello – Fiestas and Holidays
Like all Spain, El Campello passionately loves all kinds of fiestas! But the most beloved and popular are two holidays:
- On the 16th of July, there is the fiesta of Virgen del Carmen, the patroness of fishermen and sailors. During the celebration, a magnificent procession is arranged on the street. At the end of the fiesta, the image of Virgen del Carmen, decorated with flowers and ribbons, is solemnly brought to the chapel named in her honor. The action is accompanied by bright fireworks and pleases tourists with its colorfulness.
- From 11th to 15th October, El Campello celebrates the festival Moros y Cristianos. The most spectacular action of the holiday can be seen at sunset: this is the landing of the conquering Moors on the sands of the central beach of Muchavista.
This is a real theatrical performance: a lot of pyrotechnics, bright costumes, reconstructions of battles and historical events, accompanied by the seizure of pre-built castles and craft markets of the Middle Ages. The viewers are also divided into two sides and occupy suitable places for the duration of the performance. The most important thing is that there will certainly be an equal number of victories in battles for each side, because only friendship can win!
El Campello – Real Estate
Property prices in El Campello are relatively affordable. According to the portal idealista in October 2021, the average price for housing here is €1897 per sq.m. The most budget apartment can be purchased for €50.000. For its part, the cost of a bungalow in Campello will start from €80.000, a penthouse is from €107.000, a detached house is from €130.000
Certainly, the price of the property depends heavily on its location. For example, in the central districts of El Campello – Muchavista and Carrer del Mar, it will be higher than in the more remote ones: Pueblo Español – Coveta Fumá; Campello Pueblo; Campello Playa and Pueblo Acantilado – Lanuza.
In the districts of Muchavista and Carrer del Mar, there are mainly four- and five-storey houses made in the traditional Mediterranean style: with arches, architectural decorations, in warm beige tones and white. But on the coast of Muchavista, new residential complexes with modern architecture, tall buildings, closed territories with parking lots, swimming pools and gardens can be found.
The average cost for new buildings located in the Muchavista area is 2724 eur/m² for apartment, 2935 eur/m² for penthouse, 2627 eur/m² for duplex, 2379 eur/m² for detached house.
Generally, El Campello is a very attractive resort town that is perfect both for spending holidays and buying real estate.
Purchasing a house for rental purposes or for personal use here – all that will always be a profitable investment, as the town is actively growing and developing. El Campello will be especially interesting for those who dream to buy real estate by the sea, in a very picturesque place.
If you have any questions or are interested in buying property in this resort, you can find our housing offers in El Campello in the catalog, or contact our specialists who would be happy to help you making a choice and can answer all your questions.
