Costa Blanca (English. White Coast) refers to the over 200 kilometres of coastline belonging to the Province of Alicante in Spain. The name "Costa Blanca" was devised as a promotional name used by BEA when they launched their air service (for £38.16s.-) between London and Valencia in 1957. It has a well developed tourism industry and is a popular destination for British and German tourists. It extends from the towns of Denia in the north, beyond which lies the Costa dels Tarongers, to Torrevieja in the south, beyond which lies the Costa Calida. It includes the major tourist destinations of Benidorm and Alicante.
In 711 A.D. the Moors invaded Spain through Gibralter and would occupy the region of Alicante by 718A.D. Their occupation was to last nearly four hundred years and would mold the landscape of the region. The Moors introduced irrigation and the planting of oranges, peaches and almond orchards. The terraces seen on the hillsides throughout the region are an everlasting Moor legacy. The Moors would not be completely expelled until 1492, when Ferdinand & Isabella, the Catholic Monarchs finally took control of Granada. In 1095 Spain became part of the North African Berber Empire and for another four hundred years the Moors and Christians would fight over control of Spanish soil. Alicante was gradually regained from the Moors in 1248 by Jaime I of Aragon. After their expulsion, the Moors continued to attack Spain. Between 1500-c1650 Berber pirate attacks were frequent all along the Medittereanean coastline. The first Spanish constitution was written in 1812 and following this the Provincial boundaries were established, establishing the regions including Alicante and Murcia as they are today. In 1923, Miguel Primo de Rivera took control of Spain as a dictator, eventually forcing Alfonso XIII into exile. The Spanish Civil War, (1936-1939) would divide the country. Alicante and Murcia would remain supporters of the Republican movement. In 1939 General Francisco Franco, the leader of the Nationalists would take control of Spain. During the 1960’s and 70’s tourism exploded throughout the region to nearly 4,000,000 visitors a year.
