Costa del Azahar property for Sale - Costa del Azahar Spain

The Costa del Azahar is named after the orange blossom that flowers twice a year – its ninety miles of unspoilt coastline is the biggest orange-producing area in Europe. It lies just north of the Costa Blanca and has some of the cleanest beaches in the Mediterranean. It stretches the length of the province of Castellon in the Community of Valencia, from Vinaros in the north to Almera in the south, and some consider it extends further south to include Valencia town and beyond. There is where the Spaniards holiday. It is much more traditional, less crowded and considerably cheaper than neighbouring costa blanca

Along the coast there are busy resorts and fishing villages, modern developments and ancient towns, while offshore lies the archipelago of the Columbrets that has recently been designated a protected Natural Park. Inland, the landscape is dry and mountainous, characterised by the terraces left by the Moors.

Property in Costa del Azahar

The coast immediately north of Valencia is dominated almost entirely by the Spanish, many of whom commute to the city for work. So far, it has not proved popular among expatriate homeowners. But beyond the city of Castello lies a stretch of coastline that is a conservation area. Here, in and around the towns of Alcossebre and Las Fuentes – which enjoy a healthy climate, sandy beaches, a new marina and championship golf courses – an enlightened local planning authority legislates against building above three storeys.

Flanking the whole coast are the hills and mountains where towns, villages and countryside are increasingly explored by those seeking rural peace but also nearness to the coast. There is no shortage of farms and houses, either ready to move into, or in need of partial or complete renovation.

A typical terraced property in an old part of a town or village is stone-built, possibly with exposed internal beams, windows with shutters on the inside and an iron grille outside, and a pitched roof made of red terracotta tiles. Downstairs there are a living room, kitchen and toilet and upstairs there are a couple of bedrooms and a bathroom. A sun terrace is a bonus, as is a patio at the back.

For those wanting to be closer to the sea, there are towns and villages separated from the long sandy beaches by one and a quarter miles of orange groves. Renovated houses here are in great demand, but so are apartments in new blocks built in recent years to accommodate the steady flow of ex-patriates into the region. Local planning authorities ensure that vast stretches are restricted to low-level housing.