At 7:00 last Sunday morning, hundreds of swimmers have gathered in the port who, after the mandatory accreditation, have embarked on the swallows that were to take them to the Island where, after 8:15 a.m., the Councilor for Sports , Javier Jordá, blew the starting horn. All the swimmers wore an orange identification cap, carried a location buoy and a control chip.
The first to reach the finish line on the Mal Pas beach was Miguel Bou, from Benidorm, from the La Nucía Swimming Club, in a sprint, in battle with Haigor Aranguren, winner of the test on six previous occasions and who holds his record with 41' 51”. The winner completed the course in 42' 36”, the second took four more seconds. The third to arrive, Iskander Sagarminaga, with a time of 51' 39”, from Haler Ur Irekiak.
In the women's general classification, Ángela Cerdán, from CN Master Nature, has repeated the podium that she won in the last edition with 53'44”. Behind her, Leyre García, from Albacete Swim, with 1 hour and 45”; and Espe Navarro, from the Valencian Swimming Club, 1 hour, 3' 9”.
In the local classifications, Vicente Solbes, from Gladiators Benidorm, came first in men, with 52' 11”. In women, Ángela Llorca Delaitte, from the Alpha Swimming Pool, with a time of 1 hour 7' 13.
Javier Jordá, together with the Queen Major of the Festes Majors Patronals 2023, Angélica Morenilla and her court of honor have delivered the trophies to the winners in a ceremony that had to be interrupted by rain for a few moments.
Finally, the councilor Jordá, Morenilla and other councilors of the government team have distributed souvenirs of their participation to the collaborating entities and companies. These are: Red Cross, Beach Section of the Local Police, Yacht Club, RA Benidorm, Cerbuques SL, Stones SL, Carla 7 Boat, Carlos Serrano Water Activities, Horizontes Scout Group, Coca-Cola, Caixa Callosa and Marcos Tonda Chocolates.
The final classifications can be checked on the web https://www.chiplevante.com/es/prueba/2023TRAVBENIDORM-833-2023
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THE EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE IN PLAÇA DE L'ÀMFORA AND IS ORGANIZED JOINTLY BY THE CITY COUNCILS OF FINESTRAT AND LA VILA JOIOSA
After Santa Claus' visit to the historic centre of Finestrat, as part of the Christmas Market, La Cala is preparing to welcome him. It will be on Monday 23 December in Plaça de l'Àmfora.
The visit is organised jointly by the Finestrat Town Hall and the La Vila Joiosa Town Hall, specifically from the Festivities Departments.
At 5:00 pm there will be a children's disco and, from 6:30 pm, Santa Claus is expected to arrive from Lapland.
The Councillor for Festivals, Sara Llorca, said that “after visiting our Christmas Market, Santa Claus will stop at our Cala, on the seashore. It will be in Plaça de l'Àmfora where the little ones will have a new opportunity to give him their wish list, take souvenir photos and enjoy a pleasant afternoon of excitement and fantasy on our beach”.
The square will be decorated with a Christmas tree and a large polar bear where you can also take photos. “So we look forward to seeing you from 5pm to experience the magic of Christmas from the beautiful setting of our Finestrat beach.”
CHRISTMAS MARKET STARTS WITH BIG SNOW AND A VISIT FROM BELLA AND THE PRINCE FROM DISNEY
THERE WILL BE A BUS FROM LA CALA AND URBANIZATIONS AND A SHUTTLE BUS FROM THE PARKING OF THE FOIA SPORTS AREA TO THE MARKET
Magic has arrived this weekend in Finestrat with its Christmas Market. This is the 5th edition and, as a novelty, it is held in a unique space, the Plaça de la Unió Europea.
There have been more than 50 stalls selling crafts, popular food, typical Christmas decorations, and a large Christmas tree presiding over this square to bring and share the Christmas spirit between locals and visitors. There will be a full programme of events there, aimed mainly at children and families, with animation workshops, face painting, live music, the ANEMOI Street View dance show, the great musical “Magical Tales”, well-known Disney characters and the most eagerly awaited visit of the year for the little ones in the house: Santa Claus.
The mayor, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, together with the Councillor for Markets, Donna Rebecca Plummer and members of the local government visited this event in which local groups such as the Association of Women of Finestrat, the El Balconet Festival Committee, Cáritas Parroquial and the two schools, Puig Campana and Balcó de Finestrat, were also present.
Finestrat. Christmas Market
Also during the inaugural tour, the prizes were awarded to the winners of the XVII Christmas Card Competition organized by the Youth Department:
Alejandra Rodríguez García, 5 years old. Winner in the Children's category.
Adriana Fernández Martínez, 8 years old. Winner in the Junior category.
Zara Boboerova, 12 years old. Winner in the Junior + category.
CHRISTMAS MARKET STARTS WITH BIG SNOW AND A VISIT FROM BELLA AND THE PRINCE FROM DISNEY
THERE WILL BE A BUS FROM LA CALA AND URBANIZATIONS AND A SHUTTLE BUS FROM THE PARKING OF THE FOIA SPORTS AREA TO THE MARKET
Magic has arrived this weekend in Finestrat with its Christmas Market. This is the 5th edition and, as a novelty, it is held in a unique space, the Plaça de la Unió Europea.
There have been more than 50 stalls selling crafts, popular food, typical Christmas decorations, and a large Christmas tree presiding over this square to bring and share the Christmas spirit between locals and visitors. There will be a full programme of events there, aimed mainly at children and families, with animation workshops, face painting, live music, the ANEMOI Street View dance show, the great musical “Magical Tales”, well-known Disney characters and the most eagerly awaited visit of the year for the little ones in the house: Santa Claus.
The mayor, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, together with the Councillor for Markets, Donna Rebecca Plummer and members of the local government visited this event in which local groups such as the Association of Women of Finestrat, the El Balconet Festival Committee, Cáritas Parroquial and the two schools, Puig Campana and Balcó de Finestrat, were also present.
Finestrat. Christmas Market
Also during the inaugural tour, the prizes were awarded to the winners of the XVII Christmas Card Competition organized by the Youth Department:
Alejandra Rodríguez García, 5 years old. Winner in the Children's category.
Adriana Fernández Martínez, 8 years old. Winner in the Junior category.
Zara Boboerova, 12 years old. Winner in the Junior + category.
This Sunday, October 20, La Cala de Finestrat will host the National Dog Competition . Organised by the Canine Society of Alicante with the collaboration of the Finestrat City Council, more than 100 dogs are expected to participate.
Dogs registered in the LOE or RRC or specimens with a foreign pedigree recognised by the Fèdèration Cynologique Internationale may participate in the National Competition.
Dogs that are not registered with the above-mentioned entities may participate in the popular category. In this case, the registration fee will be €5 for charity, benefiting the La Cruz animal shelter.
Registration to participate in the competition will take place on Sunday, October 20, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. at the event location.
Once registration is complete, the demonstrations are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
As in every competition, different judges will evaluate the canine morphology in relation to the recognised standard: breed category, by age and by sex. Among the prizes there will be Best Child Presenter; Best Youth Presenter; Best Exemplary of the Region; Couples; Breeding Groups; BIS Puppies, BIS Young or BIS Spanish breeds.
The Councillor for Tourism, Donna Rebecca Plummer, recalled that Finestrat has hosted several editions of this competition. “And this year we have decided to hold it in La Cala de Finestrat. We are a municipality where both its interior and its coastal area provide a privileged setting for these events. In addition, in Finestrat there is a special sensitivity for this type of exhibitions in which dogs are the main protagonists. So we expect a lot of participation with a solidarity fundraising. And also a lot of public to follow this competition from La Cala de Finestrat. For this event we will also have the collaboration of the Festival Committee that will set up a bar so that attendees can taste products at popular prices” added the Councillor for Tourism.
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THIS IS THE FIRST TALK ORGANISED BY THE FINESTRAT TOURISM DEPARTMENT WITH THE SUPPORT OF GVA TURISME TO ADDRESS THE NEW REGULATION OF THIS SECTOR
FROM TURISMO FINESTRAT THEY HAVE ENABLED A COMMUNICATION CHANNEL TO CLARIFY QUESTIONS VIA EMAIL, TELEPHONE AND WHATSAPP 648 653 219
Following the publication of the New Decree Law 9/2024 regulating tourist accommodation in the Valencian Community, doubts have arisen both for companies dedicated to this accommodation and for private owners. This circumstance motivated the organization of a talk by the Finestrat Tourism Department with the support of the Valencian Generalitat Tourism Department. More than 60 people responded to the call “because we have detected an interest in knowing the new regulations and their application. So we organised this talk, with the support of GVA Turisme. And we have also decided to open a communication channel via email and WhatsApp to continue answering questions,” said the Tourism Councilor, Donna R. Plummer.
Plummer, councillor for the area, was accompanied by Marta Echevarría, Deputy Director General of Tourism, Sonia Miralles, Head of Territorial Unit, Sonia Badal – Head of the Planning Service and the municipal technician of Finestrat, Kike Ortuño.
“We wanted to make this talk as practical as possible with a general presentation and, above all, time to resolve any doubts. In addition, we have made ourselves available to the sector, both private owners and businesses, to answer their questions. For this reason, we have opened a communication channel by email at the address pisosturisticos@finestrat.org and by phone and WhatsApp at 648 653 219 ”, indicated the Councillor for Tourism.
Taking advantage of this event, the Department of Tourism announced that next Friday, October 25 at 4:00 p.m., a talk will be held to present the Guide to Compliance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adapted to the Finestrat business sector.
Finestrat was present in Tenerife at the IV Turespaña 2024 Convention , “Everything changes again: emerging technologies for a new tourism model” , organised in collaboration with Turismo de Tenerife and the island's Cabildo. The role of digitalisation and emerging technologies applied in the development of more sustainable and responsible tourism is the axis on which this fourth edition revolved, which was held at the La Pirámide Congress Palace in Arona from October 1 to 3.
The Councilor for Tourism, Donna R. Plummer and the director of the Finestrat strategy, Smart Tourist Destination, Miguel Ángel Catalán, attended this convention in which, among other contents, the use and application of technology in the marketing of the tourist offer were addressed; digital marketing in international markets; Big Data and data processing; AI applied to tourism; experiences of good practices; the example of other destinations; the platform of smart tourist destinations; the planning of new tourism strategies or the transformation of the Spanish tourism model.
It is worth remembering that Finestrat is currently part of the national network of Smart Tourist Destinations together with large cities such as Seville, Bilbao or Malaga and is at the highest level of the strategy. This has led it, among other things, to obtain €3 million in European Next Generation EU funds through the Sustainable Tourism Plans in Destination. “And we have several projects underway in this line to be more sustainable, more accessible, more innovative. This is the case of the consolidation of La Penya, emblem of our historic centre, the redevelopment of the climb to Plaça UE, the green ring/boulevard and the elevator to Castell”, said the Councillor for Tourism.
Leading experts in the tourism sector
This edition brought together more than 50 experts from the tourism sector, including professionals from leading companies in the national tourism sector, as well as representatives of Public Administrations, Autonomous Communities and local entities. Among the most notable speakers were representatives of Paradores , Destinia , Bank of Spain , Civitatis , Microsoft or CEOE , among others.
Likewise, the tourism advisors made presentations on strategic international markets (such as Germany, France, the United Kingdom and the United States), others to be taken into account (Poland, Mexico and Colombia) and Asia (China, Japan and Korea, and Southeast Asia). Good practices were also shared and experiences were exchanged between different countries, such as the conversation between Spain and Italy, with the director of Turespaña and the president of ENIT Agenzia Nazionale del Turismo, Alessandra Priante .
In 2020, Finestrat became the first City Council in Spain to approve a ban on smoking and vaping on its beach, La Cala de Finestrat. A measure that came in the context of the pandemic, to contain the spread of the virus. And that is here to stay. The Councilor for Health, Nati Algado, raised the Smokeless Beach Flag 2024 together with the Councilor for the Environment, Estela Álvarez. «We want healthy spaces and protected spaces. With this measure we want to protect the health of the people who visit us and we also want to preserve the coastline and our sand, avoiding dirt and pollution generated by cigarette butts on the beach. The Environment is everyone's commitment to take care of it." noted the 1st Lieutenant Mayor, Nati Algado.
To apply this measure, the City Council modified its ordinance No. 29 on coexistence in public spaces to prohibit smoking and also vaping (smoking with electronic cigarettes) in all public use areas of the beach. Failure to comply may result in penalties of up to €750.
In addition, since 2021 the municipality has been part of the SMOKE-FREE BEACH NETWORK of the Valencian Community.
There will be activities for children and adults, live pop-rock music with the Mangani Boys on their 35th anniversary, dj session with miss deep'in and popular bar from the comissió de festes 2024 el bak
This Sunday, June 23, La Cala de Finestrat hosts the Night of San Juan, a Festival declared of Provincial Tourist Interest and which brings together thousands of people in La Cala every year. The Festival Councilor, Sara Llorca, encouraged the population of Finestrat and neighbouring towns to come to La Cala to share the magical tradition of jumping the waves and all the programming they have prepared from this area. “Our beach offers an incomparable setting to share this special date. We will start in the afternoon with a children's mini-disco designed for the little ones. Then we will continue with live remember music of Spanish and international Pop Rock by Mangani Boys who are celebrating their 35th anniversary this year; ambient music with Javi Fénix and, starting at 11:00 p.m., the Alicante DJ Miss Deep'In will arrive, known for bringing electronic music to festivals and venues throughout Spain.” La Nit de Sant Joan will have a bar with popular prices run by the Comissió de Festes El Bak 2024. “We are very excited about this edition. We are sure that our Cala will once again be the epicenter of this special night of San Juan which, as you know, is declared a Festival of Provincial Tourist Interest by the Generalitat Valenciana. We are waiting for you all”, concluded the mayor of Fiestas, Sara Llorca.
Special device for San Juan Night
To coordinate this device for security, first aid, medical care, emergencies and cleaning, a meeting was held between all the personnel involved with the 1st Deputy Mayor, Nati Algado, and the councilors of Festivals, Sara Llorca, of Citizen Security, Beatriz Quintillán and Playa, Estela Álvarez.
There will be 30 members of the Local Police and Civil Guard, with the presence of the police aerial surveillance unit with drones to control all areas.
There will also be special reinforcement of first aid from six in the afternoon until two in the morning, an ambulance vehicle, a field hospital with a medical service team made up of a doctor, nurse and emergency health technician.
In terms of cleaning, several public toilets and buckets for depositing waste will be enabled. They will distribute bags to facilitate waste collection, in addition to the presence of a special cleaning reinforcement brigade so that the beach is perfectly suitable for bathers from the first hour of Monday the 24th.
The Councilor for Security, Beatriz Quintillán , recalled the preventive measures to celebrate the Night of Sant Joan safely: “You will not be able to make fires, barbecues or use flying lanterns; You cannot access the beach with firewood, wood or glass containers to avoid risks in the sand. On the other hand, it is worth remembering that La Cala de Finestrat is a smoke-free beach,as established by the City Council in the summer of 2020, with the desire to preserve health and also preserve the good condition of the arena. As for traffic, traffic on the beach front is planned to be cut off at 4:00 p.m.
In terms of Equality and as has already been done in previous editions, there will be a Violet Information Point to experience a party with respect and without aggression. As a novelty this year they will deliver backpacks with the motto “Finestrat amb la Igualtat”. This Point will be located on the same promenade, from 10 at night until 02:00 in the morning, next to the Advanced Command Post (PMA) of the Finestrat Local Police.
SAN JUAN NIGHT PROGRAM
5:30 p.m. Minidisco and children's entertainment
7:00 p.m. Mangani Boys. 35th anniversary. Music Remember Pop Rock Spanish & International
9:00 p.m. Dinner entertained by Javi Fénix.
10:00 p.m. Ambiental music.
11:00 p.m. Miss Deep'In. Electronic music session with the well-known Alicante DJ.
00:00h. We will jump the waves
Follow the music with Miss Deep'In until 1:30 am.
In addition, there will be a bar with popular prices run by the El Bak 2024 Festival Commission.
The Finestrat City Council has been the beneficiary of a subsidy of €21,028.16 from the Alicante Provincial Council for the coverage of the Fire Prevention and Extinction and Rescue Service. This is the call for subsidies to City Councils to cover the statutory contributions of the Provincial Consortium to cover the aforementioned services.
Of the total cost of these services for Finestrat, €113,446.83, the City Council has obtained €21,028.16 in subsidy from the provincial institution (2024 annuity).
As indicated by the Councilor for Security, Beatriz Quintillán , "we are always grateful to the Dipu Firefighters for the exceptional work they do, not only in terms of prevention and extinguishing fires, which is key to the safety of people and the preservation of our environment. We also talk about the rescue actions they are carrying out, together with our Police, in Puig Campana and its entire natural environment. The councilor also expressed her gratitude to the Alicante Provincial Council "because the support of the provincial institution is key for the City Councils to be able to provide these very important services."
Tomorrow, Sunday May 26, La Cala de Finestrat hosts the “Flores de Mayo” festival. From 11:30 a.m. there will be live music with Tamilah Fluxà Band.
There will also be balloon twisting workshops designed for the little ones. And in the afternoon, starting at 4:00 p.m., the music continues with Jessie Broke & #DNA, a tribute to ABBA and La Pantoja Drag Show.
The Department of Festivals and the Department of Tourism invite you to participate in this recreational event that will take place in Plaça de l'Àmfora in La Cala de Finestrat.
The objective of the action is to stop the loss of sand from the beach
Yesterday the works were completed at the exit of the La Cala de Finestrat storm tank. The action consisted of restoring and conditioning the breakwater with the aim of stopping the loss of sand from the beach. The mayor, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, was on site with the 1st Deputy Mayor, Nati Algado and the municipal Works Engineer, Óscar Llorca.
“If five years ago we did a pioneering work in the region such as channeling the La Cala ravine, now we are doing an improvement work, especially focused on not losing sand. This action will allow us to have the beach perfectly prepared for the summer season. We have raised the breakwater a little at the mouth, which will allow it not to drag so much sand into the sea during stormy weather. Even when there are strong waves, it does not drag sea water into the storm tank spillway. The truth is that it was done very quickly. And without being a very high investment, approximately €45,000, we do consider that it will give us a good result because it will allow us to have more sand on the beach," indicated the first local authority, Juanfran Pérez Llorca.
The action covers about 300 m2 right at the spillway outlet of the storm tank, where rainwater from the La Cala de Finestrat ravine is discharged. At that point, the machines have placed rocks weighing 500 to 800 kilograms these days to restore the breakwater and return it to its original level.
The budget for the work amounts to €44,000 and is 100% covered by the Finestrat City Council.
The action has an estimated period of 3 weeks and is aimed at avoiding the drawing and loss of sand from the beach
Today, Monday 13th May, work begins at the La Cala de Finestrat warehouse. Objective: prevent the loss of sand from the beach. Once Holy Week is over and before the start of the summer tourist season, this action will be carried out to restore and condition with a new breakwater the spillway of the anti-storm tank where the rainwater from the La Cala de Finestrat ravine flows.
“We have been suffering from the loss of sand on our beach for years. We have undertaken this action that we consider essential to restore the breakwater and return it to its original level. As we said at the time, we hope that in just 3 weeks the performance will be completed for the use and enjoyment of neighbors and tourists,” said the Councilor for Works, Guillermo Lloret.
It must be remembered that 5 years have passed since the execution of the canalization work in the La Cala ravine. An action that in its final section presents an underground “anti-storm” tank to laminate the discharge of rainwater towards the sea and reduce the effects of erosion and drag of beach sand. With the passage of time and storms, the mantle of breakwater through which the waters overflow has suffered deformations, causing the settlement of stone blocks on the sand bed and also the appearance of holes that make the work of the machinery that maintains it difficult. and replaces the sand after each storm. With this action we will intervene to restore the breakwater and return it to its original state.
The budget for the action is €44,000, 100% covered by the City Council. And the estimated period of the works will be 3 weeks. "During this time the strip of sand will be delimited with fences to carry out the work as safely and quickly as possible."
This year the event will be the Spanish club’s championship, the autonomous championship and the world cup
Everything is ready for the 15th Puig Campana Vertical Kilometer which is being held totday, Sunday, in Finestrat. More than 360 runners from 11 countries and, nationally, from 29 provinces. Remember that this edition is the Spanish Club Championship, Regional Championship and World Cup of the International Skyrunning Federation (ISF) within its Open Championship circuit.
Organised by the Department of Sports, the Reto 8000 Mountain Club and the Federation of Mountain and Climbing Sports of the Valencian Community (FEMECV), this test once again places Finestrat and its emblematic Puig Campana at the top of the national and international calendar. of Vertical Kilometers. Remember that the peculiarity of the Puig Campana Vertical Kilometer, as its name indicates, is that the runners cover a distance of 3.6 kilometers with a positive slope of 1,050 meters and very close to the sea.
The departure will take place today the 28th from the Plaça de la Unió European in Finestrat at 8:00 am. Until Font del Molí there will be a neutralised start every 5 minutes and in groups of 10 runners. At Font del Molí there will be a time trial that marks the individual exit of the KV to the top with 3,650 km and +1020 of positive gradient. The finish line is located at the top of Puig Campana. The descent will be along the Umbría del Puig Campana botanical path to Coll de Pouet, along the Camí de la Serra path to Font del Molí and then to Plaça UE. In total, 13.7 km.
Specifically, the 2024 edition is the Spanish Club Championship, Regional Championship and World Cup of the International Skyrunning Federation (ISF) within its Open Championship circuit. With this, Finestrat is part of an international circuit that passes through Brazil, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Andorra, Bulgaria, Austria and Colombia, "which will attract runners and also visitors from all over Spain and various parts of the world," indicated the Councilor for Sports, Beatriz Quintillán . “So we are excited and expectant because it is one of the most international editions of the Vertical Kilometer that we have celebrated to date”
Prizes and classifications
Regarding the prizes of the Spanish Club Championship, it should be noted that there is a cash amount of €4,000 to be distributed in the different absolute categories of the clubs, remaining as follows: 1,000 euros for the first, 600 euros for the second and 400 for the third club, always for men and women.
In addition, the first place finisher of the test will be preselected to compete in the World Championship (as long as they are a FEDME federation on the day of the test).
The 1st major transformation work on the CV-767, known as “La Cala road”, continues at a good pace. Some works with which Finestrat gains in road safety by eliminating the access intersection to Balcón de Finestrat and creating a roundabout, in addition to promoting mobility through sidewalks and bicycle lanes in the section up to the Puig Campana Golf Alfarella roundabout.
The action represents a global investment of €1.5 million and is 100% funded by the Alicante Provincial Council. Today the President of this institution, Toni Pérez, visited these works, together with the mayor, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, the provincial deputy for Highways, Arturo Poquet, members of the municipal corporation, municipal and Provincial engineers and technicians, as well as the concessionaire company. .
At the end of the visit, the mayor, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, stated that “aware of the demographic expansion that we have been experiencing in recent years, we knew that we should invest in what we know as the “La Cala highway” to improve it in sections. We have chosen this section because it gives access to the Balcón de Finestrat urbanization where we already have a school. And the action extends to the Golf Alfarella roundabout, where the Institute is going to be built, which is already out for bid.” “That is why it was so important to improve this section with sidewalks, bike lanes, lighting, and access through a roundabout. It is an investment of €1.5 million that we have to thank the Provincial Council and in summer it will be open to circulation.” The mayor also announced that work is being done to continue improving this road “with an eye toward safety, accessibility and sustainable mobility.”
For his part, the President of the Provincial Council, Toni Pérez, signed that “it is the first major work of transformation of the CV-767, a road that connects Finestrat town with La Cala and that, with the passage of time, has become “the backbone of an important residential area of Finestrat and Marina Baixa.” The president congratulated the mayor and the City Council “because this extension between sections is a success since it is a very used road. It connects people, it connects services for those who live here and those who study,” he indicated in reference to the CEIP Balcó de Finestrat and the future Institute, “in addition to connecting the coast with the inland municipalities, Sella, Orxeta and Relleu.”
Sport and nature. Little ones, young and old. Finestrat celebrates Bike Day again . It will be on Sunday, April 21 and will depart from the Plaça de la Unió Europeana. The Councilor for Sports, Beatriz Quintillán, was there along with the President of the organising Club, Center Excursionista El Portell, Vicent Climent.
Two routes, two tests for two styles:
At 09:30 in the morning, the first of the departures for adults from 14 years old. It is the route known as the « Volta al Realet». The departure will be from Plaça de la Unió European towards Sella, going up to the “Realet” departure and descending from Font del Molí until reaching the starting point. 12 kilometers with impressive views of “Els Castellets” and Puig Campana.
At 11:00 a.m. we depart for the family route. Tour for all audiences through the streets of the traditional historic centre: Carrer Nou, Carrer Major, Forn Alt, Carrer Serra Cortina, L'Hort, Fonteta and return to the European Union.
Very happy to be able to once again carry out one of the sports proposals that attracts the most people but which is also a recreational and outdoor proposal. “We would like to thank the El Portell Excursionist Club for its involvement and organization and hope that adults, young people and especially the little ones enjoy a day outdoors, pedaling through the historic center or through one of the most impressive places in our town,” “The Realet.” So we invite you all, the residents of La Cala, the urbanizations, the historic center, to participate in this Finestrat Bike Day,” said the Sports Councilor, Bea Quintillán.
Registration costs €3 and has accident insurance. It will be open until Thursday, April 18 at 2:00 p.m. through this link: Click Here
At the end of these bike routes there will be supplies and a gift for each participant.
Finestrat wins the Sustainable Town 2024 award in the second edition of these Awards organised by Grupo Prensa Ibérica and Información.es.
The entire municipality of Finestrat is in luck. The popular vote has decided that Finestrat will be chosen Town of the Year, in the Sustainable Town 2024 category in which Benisa and Santa Pola were also nominated, organised by the Prensa Ibérica group. At the gala held yesterday at the Information Club, Finestrat was finally the municipality that won the Sustainable Town of the Year award.
Nine finalist towns were eligible to be awarded in a total of three categories, in which Finestrat, Guardamar del Segura and Almoradí have become the winners as “Towns of the Year 2024” in their respective Sustainability, Culture and Tourism categories, thanks to the popular vote of the readers of the newspaper Información of the Grupo Prensa Ibérica.
Finestrat is an example of sustainability for its firm commitment to preserving Puig Campana, its trails and its entire natural environment. For maintaining its essence as a town, for the desire to combine sustained growth with being a sustainable sea and mountain destination, innovative and accessible to all. For being a reference in the field of technology and sustainable management, being a member of the national network of Smart Tourist Destinations together with large cities such as Seville, Bilbao or Malaga. And without forgetting that more than 50% of its municipal area has some form of environmental protection within the Natura 2000 network with Puig Campana as the protagonist, from the prism of safety and sustainability.
In the words of the mayor of Finestrat Juanfran Pérez Llorca , “ I want to congratulate all the people of Finestrat. To each and every finestratin because they are the ones who have made Finestrat Sustainable Town of the Year. Because sustainability is achieved by everyone and because sustainability is achieved by living and respecting the environment. I believe that when the readers of Grupo Prensa Ibérica decide that our municipality deserves this award, it is because that image of love and sustainability for your town is the day of what all the inhabitants do. I collected this award on behalf of all the inhabitants who do a magnificent job every day. Finestrat is growing a lot, but we are showing that we can grow while respecting and caring for the environment ”
Finestrat, in recent years, has managed to be a benchmark in terms of sustainability by highlighting its emblematic places, improving accessibility to points of tourist interest, promoting pedestrian and bicycle mobility to structure and connect its population centers and betting on the technology. The challenge for the coming years is to continue positioning Finestrat as a benchmark for a Sustainable Tourist Destination, maintaining the essence and traditions that make it unique, combined with innovation, technology and dynamism that allow it to adapt its management to the needs of residents. and visitors.
The historic centre of Finestrat hosts this weekend, April 6 and 7, its “Mercat Gastronòmic i Tradicional” , a commercial, tourist and leisure alternative for all audiences. Organized by the Finestrat City Council and the local company Íbero, in collaboration with the “Associació de Dones de Finestrat” and the El Bak 2024 Festival Committee, this year they are once again betting on crafts, the most traditional gastronomy, local products land, the demonstration of ancient crafts, live music, storytelling, children's workshops and a wood fair, among other surprises.
The presentation of this Mercat was attended by the mayor, Juanfran Pérez, the Councilor for Markets, Donna R. Plummer, the secretary of the Finestrat Gifts Association, Marilis Mayor, the local Iberian artisan, Vicent Atienza and the representative of the Commission of Celebrations, Ximo Rodríguez.
Craft stalls, old crafts, children's workshops and a wood fair
The Mercat will cover the main streets of the historic center from Carrer Fontenta to Plaça de l'Ajuntament passing through Carrer Nou and also through Castellets and Sant Vicent.
In these streets there will be more than 60 craft stalls and demonstrations of ancient crafts such as iron, clay, esparto grass, stonemasonry and silver work.
There will also be a very special program designed for the little ones such as participatory workshops, face painting, traveling storytellers, visits from children's characters, the train route and the wooden fair.
Typical products and preparation of traditional recipes
From the “Associació de Dones de Finestrat” there will be a point of sale of typical Finestrat products such as honey, mistela, sweet cocas and “coca girà”. “In this way, indicated the president of the association, Teresa Climent, “we try to preserve the greatness of our traditional products. We will also make the recipes available to visitors so that all visitors can take them to cook at home and thus spread our more traditional cuisine.”
On behalf of the 2024 Festival Committee, they will cook typical recipes such as Rib Stew or Paella at street level. In addition to tapas, these recipes can be tasted at popular prices and the proceeds will go towards the organization of the patron saint festivities that are celebrated in Finestrat in the month of August.
Street entertainment, musical performances and MUIXERANGA
Another star dish of the Mercat is its entertainment program with musical parades by “Turbión”, the performance of the SWAG “and the spectacular human tower that the Muixeranga d'Alacant will build, at various points in the Mercat ”, indicated Vicente Atienza.
Free parking and shuttle bus
As reported by the mayor, visitors have at their disposal the free municipal parking with direct access to the main streets where the Mercat is held. You can also park, given the high volume of visitors, in the La Foia sports area with a shuttle bus with continuous connection to the historic center.
Finally, the Councilor for Markets, Donna Rebecca Plummer , invited the population of Finestrat and the entire Community to take advantage of this weekend “to discover the charm of our historic center and, at the same time, enjoy the authentic, the artisanal, the native and the activities that we have programmed for all audiences in Finestrat.”
Bus La Cala-Urbanizaciones-Mercat (Saturday and Sunday-Free)
In the morning.
Departure: 10:00 a.m. La Cala-Urbanización-Fonteta (Home Mercat).
Return: 2:15 p.m. Fonteta (Mercat)-Urbanizations-La Cala.
In the afternoon.
Departure: 3:30 p.m. La Cala-Urbanización-Fonteta (Mercat).
Return: 8:30 p.m. Fonteta (Mercat)-Urbanizations-La Cala.
Shuttle BUS Parking-Mercat
If you come with your vehicle you can park in the sports area and, from there, get to the Mercat by shuttle bus.
Continuous departures from the football pavilion & field to Plaça UE:
• from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Road Closers
On the occasion of the celebration of the Mercat from Friday the 5th, at 12:00 p.m., access to Carrer Fonteta, Carrer Nou and Sant Vicent from the intersection with Carrer Puig Campana will be cut off.
These restrictions also affect access to Costereta, Sant Josep, Sant Miquel, Castell, Darrere Cases streets and will remain in place until 2:00 p.m. on Monday, April 8, after the collection and cleaning of the indicated roads.
Saturday April 6
10:30 a.m. Opening of the Mercat.
From 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Children's workshops & Face Painting (different Mercat points).
12:00h. Parade and opening proclamation.
12:15h. Goose Walk.
1:00 p.m. Traveling storyteller.
1:30 p.m. Plaça de l'Ajuntament. Preparation of typical Finestrat recipe. «Guisao de Costelleta»
El Bak Comissió 2024 (at popular prices).
From 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Children's workshops & Face Painting (different Mercat points).
5:00 p.m. Children's MiniDisco. Stage C/ Castellets.
6:30 p.m. Traveling storyteller.
7:00 p.m. Goose Walk.
8:00 p.m. Musical performance: SWAG. Stage C/Castellets.
9:00 p.m. Closing of the Mercat.
Sunday, April 7
10:30 a.m. Opening of the Mercat.
10:45 a.m. Children's Minidisco. Stage C/ Castellets.
From 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Children's workshops & Face Painting (different Mercat points).
11:30 a.m. Goose Walk
12:00h. Traveling storyteller.
1:00 p.m. Performance by Muixeranga d'Alacant (itinerant).
1:30 p.m. Plaça de l'Ajuntament. Preparation of typical Finestrat recipe.
The Bak Comissió 2024 (at popular prices).
From 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Children's workshops & Face Painting (different Market points).
5:00 p.m. Traveling storyteller.
6:00 p.m. Goose Walk.
7:00 p.m. Musical performance: THE JUMPERS. Stage C/ Castellets.
9:00 p.m. Closing of the Mercat.
In addition, a visit to children's characters, an animal farm, a TRAIN route and a wooden FAIR.
Demonstration of ancient crafts such as iron, clay, esparto, stonemasonry and silver work.
Point of sale of typical products in “Associació de Dones de Finestrat” (carrer Nou, 5) and Comissió de Festes 2024.
And the traveling musical entertainment of “Turbión”.
This program is subject to modifications or cancellations beyond the control of the organisation.
Finestrat will celebrate one of the most traditional festivals on the annual and Easter calendar, the Festa de L'Ereta.
Today, Monday, April 1, the people of Finestrata gather in an emblematic place such as the Font del Molí recreational area, at the foot of the Puig Campana mountain to celebrate with friends and family the traditional Easter Monday, popularly known as Easter of the Mona.
Starting at 12 in the morning at Font del Molí we will enjoy the best atmosphere and gastronomy. There will be bouncy castles for the little ones, musical entertainment with the bandeta and a bar at popular prices by the recently launched 2024 Festival Commission, the El Bak bbaraca. This is how the festive day will go on during the day and, around 6:00 p.m., it will continue with a DJ.
For this day, the Festival Councilor, Sara Llorca, encourages residents and visitors of Finestrat and the region to enjoy this fun day outdoors. "Everything prepared for the Festa de L'Ereta. We will have inflatables thinking about children. There will be no shortage of the music band and the most traditional tapas with the new Comissió de Festes El Bak that we have to support. Then, thinking about the younger audience, we have organised, as a novelty, a DJ session that will start at 6 in the afternoon. So everything is ready for a festive day that and we hope to enjoy with the company of all the residents of the municipality".
Holy Week is presented with great expectations of tourist occupancy in Finestrat after a San José Bridge, with an occupancy of 90%, and where numerous tourists have chosen La Cala de Finestrat and the historic center to spend a few days of vacation. The forecasts for this Holy Week are to exceed 95% hotel occupancy.
For this reason, in recent weeks the City Council has deployed a special device to especially prepare the most visited places in the town such as the beach, the area around Font del Molí and the traditional historic centre.
In the words of the Councilor for Tourism, Donna Rebecca Plummer , “ more and more people choose us to enjoy their rest. Either because they are looking for a beach destination, or because they are looking for a mountain destination and, at the same time, a town full of charm. You can also enjoy the Commercial Boulevard, one of the most visited in the Valencian Community . ”
The Tourism Councilor listed the different possibilities that the town offers within its motto “Finestrat has it all”, which encompasses “the best of gastronomies, different hiking routes and the unique environment of our beach. To this end, we continue working to ensure that you enjoy your stay in the most comfortable way and so that, on your next vacation, you choose Finestrat as a destination again .”
Regarding the Technical Services device, in recent days the adaptation of the Font del Molí recreational area has been completed with the collaboration of the students of the new Mixed Employment Workshop, of LABORA GVA, which for the first time is dedicated to training in gardening and green areas.
This recreational area is one of the most frequented throughout the year by thousands of visitors and registers a very significant peak during Holy Week, because in addition to the privileged environment it has different services that facilitate the stay such as a parking area, toilets and barbecues for Spend the day outdoors in contact with nature.
Also in La Cala, different elements are being renovated, such as the awnings of the sand playground, for better enjoyment by visitors. The lifeguard service will also be launched from March 23 to April 5 from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
It must be remembered that La Cala has a free Wi-Fi network and USB chargers on the benches, as well as a Tourist Info on the beach promenade.
More frequency on BUS lines
Since March 1, in addition, Finestrat has more hours, more frequency of passage and better connections between the historic center, the urbanizations, the Bulevar, La Cala, Benidorm, the Marina Baixa Hospital and La Vila Joiosa.
You can check the different schedules at this link: Click Here
Holy Week Proposals in Finestrat
The person in charge of Tourism also recalled the proposal of activities for the coming days, both liturgical events for those who live Holy Week from devotion, as well as recreational or sports events. Examples include the VolaBola Volleyball Cup on March 29 and 30 with more than 700 athletes from all over Spain or the traditional Ereta Day, in Font del Molí, where hundreds of residents and visitors spend a day of coexistence. gastronomic at the foot of Puig Campana.
“And, to culminate Holy Week, the Mercat Gastronòmic i Tradicional on April 6 and 7 in our historic center. Ultimately, it is about everyone , residents and tourists, comfortably enjoying the wide range of tourist, cultural and leisure possibilities that Finestrat offers them ,” concluded the Councilor for Tourism, Donna Rebecca Plummer.
The Councilor for Social Welfare, Mª Teresa Pérez, received Gary Burr, president of the British association Giving4Giving, to thank him for the recent donation made and which will be sent in the form of food to the most vulnerable families.
Giving4Giving is a registered charity and they have a number of charity shops and a large furniture warehouse in our area, including in Benidorm, Villa Joyosa, Albir, Altea and La Nucia, They are always looking for donations and you can also volunteer to help in the shops or at the many charity events they put on throughout the year.
If you would like to help, please call Gary on 603 137 697
Puig Campana has been the scene of search drills for missing people in the mountains with drone technology and Artificial Intelligence programs. They are the latest technologies applied to mountain safety.
This drill is part of the events on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Finestrat Local Police and has had the participation of 15 professionals including Alicante city firefighters, firefighters from the provincial Consortium and the agents of the Finestrat Police force, and the distributor of ASD Drones programs.
The practices began around 9:00 a.m. from the Command Post, located in Font del Molí, at the foot of Puig Campana.
In the air, 3 drones, one from each unit.
In the mountains, 6 decoys to detect, locate and practice rescue and in the simulation, each drone inspects the mountain areas and carries out 2 types of search: a visual one using the images captured by its camera and another automatic, more innovative search, through the application of Artificial Intelligence programs such as LOC8. "The program detects a garment made by a human being, or a certain color, or a certain shape... and sends alerts that allow us to locate the lost person, in this case the decoy."
They were accompanied on this day of practical exercises by the councilor for Citizen Security, Beatriz Quintillán, and the councilor for New Technologies and Modernization, Héctor Baldó.
In the words of the councilor, Beatriz Quintillán, “from the Local Police we have been using the aerial surveillance unit for mountain rescues for several years. We have already intervened in several real cases. In fact, this device was key to recently locating two hikers lost in Puig Campana. He did this by using thermal cameras that detected his body temperature at night. The drone has also guided people lost off-piste at night with its light sources until they regained the path and could descend on their own. It has a loudspeaker and a load capacity of up to 4 kg, which allows objects such as water bottles to be thrown. It is one of the clearest examples of technology at the service of safety, in this case in the mountains. And the drills serve as preparation to coordinate the different emergency personnel when adopting the most appropriate protocol in a real situation. So we are very grateful, from Finestrat, to the Firefighters for their involvement in this drill.”
More than 5 years have passed since the most important work carried out in La Cala de Finestrat, the Canalization of the Barranco, whose main objective is to slow down the speed of the floods of water and, thereby, reduce the danger to people and drag that this entails.
Some works that in the final area maintain an underground tank where rainwater arrives and is diverted to the municipal sanitation network. This spillway is protected by a sand-covered breakwater. The passage of time and the outflow of water, especially on rainy days, has caused part of that breakwater to sink, which has affected the sand that covers that area.
The Finestrat City Council plans to intervene shortly in that final area, to carry out maintenance work on the breakwater and thus stop the loss of sand. The estimated duration of the works will be just two weeks.
“ These works that we want to do are essential to provide a better service. We have started processing permits for maintenance work that is essential for its effectiveness. Since we have to start these works, this year we are not going to be eligible for the blue flag because we know that when there are works on the beach we cannot be eligible for the flag; "But we want to sacrifice this distinction without losing the excellent quality and magnificent services that our Cala de Finestrat has," said Mayor Juanfran Pérez Llorca.
The decision not to opt for the Blue Flag has already been communicated by the council to the managing entity of Blue Flags, ADEAC, Environmental and Consumer Education Association.
The mayor of Finestrat also wanted to highlight “that it will be a short work, just two weeks and only maintenance work. "It will not affect the proper functioning of the hotel and restaurant sector and it will be done in a period that does not affect their work."
The planned works will have to be authorised by the Provincial Coastal Service of Alicante, of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition, and with which the first procedures for authorisation have already begun.
The date of March 8, “International Women's Day” is approaching and the Department of Equality has organized a varied program of events titled “Setmana de la Dona Finestrat 2024” that includes the inauguration of the “fanalets” in the sky of the traditional historic center, co-education workshops in schools and the monologue “Per l'humor de 10” by the comedian Carol Tomás, among other events.
In the words of the councilor of the area, Nati Algado, “Dona Week is a week to value everything we have achieved to date in terms of Equality and also to vindicate everything that we still have to overcome, such as wage gap, the need for reconciliation facilities or the glass ceiling. However, it is a week to celebrate what unites us, what makes us stronger as a society and to value the role of women in all areas of society."
On Friday, March 1, from Finestrat they attend the XXIII Trobada de Dones Marina Baixa hosted by La Nucia. Registration is now open in collaboration with the Associació de Dones de Finestrat. The time to sign up will be Monday and Thursday, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the headquarters of this association (Carrer Nou, 5). Places are limited.
On Saturday, March 2, there will be a workshop in tribute to the hundred women who lost their lives in the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire in New York. “It is one of the dramas that are remembered every March 8 due to the terrible working conditions of those workers and who finally paid with their lives. In his memory we will do a manual workshop with fabrics on Saturday, March 2, in the Sala Jove.” The workshop will have 2 shifts, from 10:30 to 12:00 and from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. Registration is free and can be formalized by emailing equality@finestrat.org or by calling the City Council: 96 587 81 00.
On Friday the 8th, coinciding with this anniversary, the Associació de Dones de Finestrat, chaired by Teresa Climent, organizes a snack at the doors of its headquarters, on Carrer Nou, nº 5, starting at 5:00 p.m.
On Saturday the 9th will be the premiere of the III edition of “Fanalets al Carrer. Gifts in action. “The sky on Carrer Nou and Carrer Fonteta will once again be filled with color with the crochet lanterns that we have been making for 3 years. They are already an icon with which we decorate our traditional historic center and an emblem of the 8M in which the men and women of Finestrat are involved.” The opening ceremony will be on Saturday the 9th, at 12:30 p.m. from the headquarters of les Dones, “an entity to which we are infinitely grateful for its commitment and dedication both in this event and in all those we invite to participate,” indicated Nati Algado. For this edition, more than 60 lanterns are expected to be installed "on which work is already underway both at the Dones headquarters and at the La Cala Social Center." For all those interested in collaborating, you can go to the headquarters on Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 5:00 p.m., and also to the La Cala Social Center on Wednesdays from 4:00 p.m.
To close this Week of the Dona, the House of Culture hosts Carol Tomás' monologue “Per l'humor de 10” . It will be at 7:00 p.m. and admission is free, limited to the capacity of the assembly hall.
It is also worth noting that throughout the school year, co-education workshops have been held in educational centers, both “Puig Campana” and “Balcó de Finestrat” to promote equality among schoolchildren from an early age. For this month of March, the sessions will be held between the 6th and the 12th.
THE INVESTMENT AMOUNTS MORE THAN €570,000 AND IS FINANCED WITH €410,000 BY EUROPEAN “NEXT GENERATION EU” FUNDS
THE MAYOR VISITED THE WORKS AND ANNOUNCED THE IMPROVEMENT OF “LA PENYA” WITH THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS SUCH AS INTELLIGENT LIGHTING, THE GREEN RING AND THE URBANIZATION OF THE ACCESS TO THE MUNICIPAL PARKING
THE MAYOR VISITED THE WORKS AND ANNOUNCED THE IMPROVEMENT OF “LA PENYA” WITH THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS SUCH AS INTELLIGENT LIGHTING, THE GREEN RING AND THE URBANIZATION OF THE ACCESS TO THE MUNICIPAL PARKING
Convert one of the icons of the historic centre of Finestrat into a completely renovated space for leisure and enjoyment of neighbors and visitors. This is La Penya on which the hanging houses of the historic center sit. There, the slope consolidation works have begun, an action that is financed by Next Generation EU European funds. The mayor, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, visited the area together with the Councilor for Works and Projects, Guillermo Lloret, the Councilor for European Funds, Héctor Baldó, and the municipal Urban Planning technicians.
“It is one of the most emblematic spaces in Finestrat,” said the mayor, Juanfran Pérez Llorca . “It is La Penya on which one of the most picturesque and emblematic historic centers of the Valencian Community sits. Today we visited the beginning of these works with which we continue to improve the stability of the slope. We have managed to ensure that it is 70% covered by European funds since we must remember that Finestrat was one of the first 11 municipalities in the Valencian Community to obtain these funds, valued in our case at €3 million, of which €400,000 are allocated to these improvements to the La Penya slope.”
The objective of this action is to continue consolidating the rock mass on which the hanging houses of Finestrat sit, as the City Council has been doing since 2008. “And above all, to begin to value La Penya with the following planned projects of beautification and improvement such as the intelligent ornamental lighting of the rock massif, the green pedestrian ring that will link our historic center with the sports area of La Foia along the road that passes under La Penya and also redevelop the entire access avenue to the municipal parking . Therefore, the construction season is coming and, when they are completed, we will have converted one of the most touristic icons of Finestrat into a completely improved and renovated space for the enjoyment of neighbors and tourists,” concluded the mayor, Juanfran Pérez Llorca.
For the diagnosis and execution of the work, the latest technologies are being used, such as the application of specific software and the flight of professional drones to capture the measurements, dimensions, irregularities or discontinuities of the terrain with maximum precision and accuracy.
The stabilization action of La Penya (zones 3, 4 and 10) of Finestrat corresponds to the Green and Sustainable Transition programmatic axis of the Tourism Sustainability Plan in Destinations endowed with European funds Next Generation EU, with which the municipality has been distinguished and It has all the favorable technical reports regarding compliance with environmental regulations.
The action has a cost of €572,036.03, of which €410,000 is financed by the European Union-Next Generation EU with the Tourism Sustainability Plan in Destinations in its extraordinary 2021 call, within the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.
The estimated execution period for this work is 5 months. The project is from Raymar and builds PROMED.
Axis of action: Axis 1.- Green and sustainable transition.
Action 1: “Restoration and consolidation of penya slope 'Historical center'. Zone 10”.
Action 2: “Restoration and consolidation of penya slope 'Historical center'. Zone 3-4”.)
One of the most anticipated visits of the year came true in La Cala de Finestrat. Practically on the seashore, from Plaça de l'Àmfora, children and adults welcomed Santa Claus and his elves. There they were able to deliver his letter of wishes to the magic mailbox and also take a souvenir photo with Santa Claus. The event began with fun musical entertainment to enliven the entrance of Santa Claus with his sleigh along the entire beach promenade until reaching the Plaza.
The mayor of Finestrat, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, also stopped by to greet him, along with the mayor of Festivities, Sara Llorca, members of the local government of Finestrat, the mayor of Festivities of Villajoyosa, Jaume Santamaria and also councilors of the Villajoyosa corporation since this event has been organised jointly by the two local administrations.
THE EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE AT PLAÇA DE L'ÀMFORA AND IS JOINTLY ORGANIsED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF FINESTRAT AND VILA JOIOSA
After Santa Claus's visit to the historic center of Finestrat, within the framework of the Christmas Market, La Cala prepares to welcome him. It will be this Saturday, December 23 at Plaça de l'Àmfora.
The visit is organised jointly by the Finestrat City Council and the La Vila Joiosa City Council, specifically from the Festival Departments.
At 5:00 p.m. there will be a children's disco and, starting at 6:00 p.m., is when Santa Claus is expected to arrive from Lapland.
The visit is organized jointly by the Finestrat City Council and the La Vila Joiosa City Council, specifically from the Festival Departments. At 5:00 p.m. there will be a children's disco and, starting at 6:00 p.m., Santa Claus is expected to arrive from Lapland.
The Councilor for Festivals, Sara Llorca, stated that “after passing through our Christmas Market in the traditional historic center, Santa Claus makes a stop at our Cove, on the seashore. It will be in Plaça de l'Àmfora where the little ones will have a new opportunity to deliver their letter of wishes, take souvenir photographs and live a pleasant afternoon of excitement and fantasy on our beach.”
The square will be decorated with the Christmas tree and the large reindeer where you can also take photographs. “So we are waiting for you from 5 in the afternoon to experience the magic of Christmas from the beautiful setting that our Finestrat beach offers us.”
In the competition held from December 6 to 9 in La Nucia, the Finestrat Taekwondo Club won the title of "Best Club in Spain" from the sum of all participating categories. A magnificent week of results with 8 Spanish champions, 6 Spanish runners-up and 4 bronze medals.
It also achieved the title of Best Club in Spain in precadet in the general classification of the Spanish Club Championship 2023 and 2nd Best Club in the women's and men's categories.
It should be remembered, on the other hand, that Lucía González achieved a creditable 11th position in Austria in the 2023 European Poomsae Championships.
MORE THAN 40 CRAFT STATIONS, GASTRONOMY, TYPICAL FINESTRAT RECIPES, CHRISTMAS DECORATION, CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT, SANTA CLAUS'S VISIT, DISNEY CHARACTERS AND SEVERAL “SNOW FALLS” DURING THE MERCAT
THERE WILL BE A BUS FROM LA CALA AND URBANIZATIONS AND A SHUTTLE BUS FROM THE PARKING OF THE LA FOIA SPORTS AREA TO THE MARKET
Christmas once again fills the streets of the traditional historic center of Finestrat with magic and excitement. It will be this weekend, from December 15 to 17, with more than 40 craft, gastronomy, and typical Christmas decoration stalls, in addition to the large Christmas Tree that presides over Plaça del Poble. There will be children's entertainment, traveling storytellers, musical performances and the most anticipated visit of the year by the little ones in the house, Santa Claus. Several Disney characters have also confirmed their visit.
The mayor, Juanfran Pérez Llorca and the mayor of Mercados, Donna R. Plummer, together with the coordinator of the event, Carlos Llorca, presented the program of events from the Christmas tree that presides over the Plaça del Poble. “We are very excited and looking forward to this Friday to open our traditional Christmas Market,” said the director , Donna R. Plummer. “One more year our streets are filled with magic, fantasy, excitement, especially thinking about the little ones in the house. We will have more than 40 stalls selling handmade products and Christmas ornaments. We will also cook typical recipes with the Comissió de Festes El Pi. We will count, as it could not be otherwise, on the Associació de Dones and on the parish Church. Of course, from Finestrat we invite you all, residents of Finestrat and the region, visitors: come to discover, to live, to dream about the Christmas Market in Finestrat."
The opening will be this Friday the 15th, starting at 6:00 p.m. The inaugural tour will depart at 7:00 p.m. until reaching Plaça del Poble. "There around 8:00 p.m. the temperature will have dropped so much that a heavy snowfall is expected to fall to the rhythm of the music that we like so much to celebrate Christmas." Next, the prizes will be awarded to the winners of the XVI Christmas Postcard Contest organized by the Department of Youth.
The El Pi Festival Committee will prepare typical Finestrat recipes such as “putxero amb pilotes” (Saturday 16) and “arròs amb fesols i naps” (Sunday 17) at popular prices. On behalf of the Finestrat Gifts Association there will also be a stop with typical food such as sausages, honey, wines, sweet cokes and coca girà.
The program includes children's disco, musical performances by the groups “Calm the rage” (Saturday the 16th), “SWAG” (Sunday the 17th) and ambient music with live carol singing throughout the market. As for the children's workshops, the little ones will have face painting distributed throughout the Mercat, crafts and storytelling... in addition to a visit from Santa Claus and his Disney friends.
The Finestrat sports complex continues to grow. Now with the construction works of the Valencian pilota road. It is an approximate investment of €400,000, with the support of the Generalitat Valenciana, to host the practice of the young pilotaris from l'Escola and the Finestrat Pilota Club and thus continue promoting this sport so deeply rooted in traditional Valencian culture. The investment in this new sports facility amounts to exactly €390,901.99 , financed by the City Council and the Generalitat Valenciana through the Conselleria d'Educació, Cultura i Esports, which contributes €200,000. The mayor, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, visited the works today with the Councilor for Sports, Beatriz Quintillán, the councilor for Works and Projects, Guillermo Lloret and the technical engineer for Works, Óscar Llorca.
The street is being built next to the sports pavilion and taking advantage of one of its side walls. It is a 750m2 plot where they are building the main street, 54 meters long and simulating a traditional pilota street with painted elements such as balconies, windows and roofs. The playing area is closed on the sides with concrete panels that reach 8 meters in height and, with the portico of vaulted beams, up to 14 meters.
During his visit, the mayor, Juanfran Pérez Llorca , stated that “we continue to expand the municipal sports area of La Foia. In this case trying to keep alive the tradition that we have always had here in Finestrat for the sport of Valencian pilota. We are doing the race with an investment of €400,000 financed 50% by the Sports area of the Generalitat Valenciana. Our intention is to have it completed before the end of the year. And it will not be the only sporting project of this term as work on the covered stands of the football field will begin shortly. Our desire is to continue complementing La Foia with new facilities and counting on the support of administrations such as the Provincial Council of Alicante and the Generalitat."
It is worth remembering that for several years work has been going on to improve and expand the La Foia sports complex with examples such as the renovation of the soccer field grass, the new pump track for skates, scooters and bicycles, the redevelopment of the entrances with a new roundabout, more parking, a garden area, a children's play area with a zip line and general improvements in stormwater drainage and public lighting.
Hundreds of people gathered in Plaça del Poble to attend the lighting of the Christmas lighting and also the Christmas Tree that presides over this emblematic space in the historic center. The event had the collaboration of the Dones Association as there was chocolate and churros for the attendees.
This is one of the obligatory stops on the Christmas route that you can make through the streets of the town during these dates as a gift to take photos at the La Fonteta intersection, the representation of the Nativity scene, in the same location or the decoration of the Plaça de l'Amfora in La Cala.
The mayor, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, along with members of the municipal corporation, was present at this Christmas event that brought together a large audience from throughout the town and region. It is a very special and long-awaited day. Many people have come to accompany us. Finestrat is already dressed for Christmas.
Shortly, on the weekend of December 15, 16 and 17, we will celebrate our Christmas Market. So this event has served as a perfect prelude to what we will enjoy in our Mercat to which you are all invited," said the mayor.
THIS WEEKEND THERE WILL BE INFLATABLES, MAGIC, CHILDREN'S THEATER, EVENING, SOLIDARITY FESTIVAL AND LIVE PERFORMANCES SUCH AS “UNFAMOUS”, VERMOUTH DUO AND LOS SWAG
La Cala de Finestrat is preparing to celebrate its traditional festivals this weekend in honor of tourists. It is a tribute organised by the City Council through the Festival Department to thank all the people who choose Finestrat and its Cala as a holiday destination. And they do it with a complete program that includes magic shows, a charity festival, inflatables, children's theater, afternoons and live concerts such as UnFamous or Swag.
The program of events will begin on the afternoon of Friday the 15th with the III Solidarity Festival to benefit Cáritas and Project4All . Starting at 6:00 p.m. there will be musical entertainment, live performances such as Joe King, Jonny, the Magician Morales magic show and also a young artist from Finestrat known as UnFamous who will present his recently released single “Contigo”. To collaborate with the associations that promote this festival, a solidarity raffle will be held and the prizes, more than fifty, will be contributed by different companies from Finestrat and the entire region.
For Saturday the 16th and Sunday the 17th there is a complete entertainment program aimed at both children and adults. On Saturday morning there will be children 's theater “The Grateful Animals” by Epi Epi A. It will be at 12:30 p.m. with the support of the Alicante Provincial Council, within the Performing Arts Festival of the province of Alicante. In addition, there will be bouncy castles in the morning and in the afternoon.
Starting at 5:00 p.m. there will be a summer musical afternoon session with DJs and live shows with rock songs from the 80s and 90s.
For Sunday the 17th the entertainment continues with a bouncy castle festival, the performance of Rock Busters around 1:00 p.m.; in the afternoon, music band (4:30 p.m.) and end of the party by the group SWAG (6:30 p.m.).
The Councilor for Festivals, Sara Llorca , was in La Cala together with the Councilor for Tourism, Donna R. Plummer, to publicize this recreational and leisure proposal. “The La Cala Festivals are for all audiences, although above all we want to give thanks for this very good tourist season that we have experienced in Finestrat in terms of occupancy, with data that has exceeded 95% throughout the summer. So we are very happy, very grateful to our tourists and looking forward to sharing this program of events full of music, solidarity, animation, theater and solidarity with neighbors and visitors of Finestrat and the entire region.”
All events will take place in the public parking lot of La Cala de Finestrat.
Finestrat will once again have Punto Violeta at its La Cala Festivals. It will be on the Parquin esplanade in front of the Paseo de la Playa from 11:30 p.m. until the end of the events, on Saturday, September 16. The Violet Point is a point of awareness and prevention against sexual violence in public spaces; It is also a support, information, advice and accompaniment service from qualified professionals in case of aggression.
PROGRAM OF EVENTS
Friday the 15th
From 6:00 p.m. Face painting workshop. Live music with Jonny, Joe King, Simon London and more surprises.
10:00 p.m. Solidarity raffle to benefit Cáritas & Project4All.
11:00 p.m. Magic show with Mago Morales.
00:00h. Performance by UNFAMOUS artist.
Saturday 16
From 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Inflatables for the little ones.
12:30 p.m. Children's theater: “The Grateful Animals” by the EPI EPI A company! Collaborate. Alicante Provincial Council.
From 5:00 p.m. Summer musical afternoon with DJ's and live Spanish Pop-Rock from the 80's and 90's.
Sunday 17
11:30 a.m. Children's album. DJ with EDS Esquiva Dancing Show.
Inflatables for the little ones: from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
ROCK BUSTERS performance. 1:30 p.m.
Music tray. 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
6:30 p.m. Performance by SWAG, the best musical cocktail in the Mediterranean.
**During all the parties there will be bar service.
**All events will take place in the public car park of La Cala Finestrat.
The Finestrat City Council has been the beneficiary of €73,000 in aid from the Alicante Provincial Council that will be used to minimize the impact of the increase in costs suffered by the hotels participating in the IMSERSO tourism program.
In the words of the Councilor for Tourism, Donna Rebecca Plummer , “once again we thank the Alicante Provincial Council, always sensitive to the needs of people, companies in general and the tourism sector in particular. In this specific case, they have granted us €73,000 that will go to the hotels in the municipalities that work with IMSERSO and that have recently suffered the impact of the increase in energy prices and inflation. The Provincial Council activated this line of aid precisely to compensate for the reduction in financing that comes from the Central Government for this tourism program."
This call for aid, endowed with €1.5 million, is promoted by the Economic Development area of the Alicante Provincial Council, with the collaboration of the Costa Blanca Tourist Board and HOSBEC, and is channeled through the town councils. These aid will be distributed among the 37 hotels in the province of Alicante that participated in 2022 in this travel program for seniors. In the case of Finestrat, the aid amounts to €72,966 and the beneficiaries are 2 hotels located in La Cala, Alone and Tropic Relax, which work with IMSERSO.
“We must not forget that IMSERSO allows hotel establishments to be kept open and allows all these jobs to be maintained during the winter. Therefore, we welcome this aid and those that can be called to compensate for the effects of the price increase and also the delays in the awarding of these tourist vacations specifically intended for our seniors," concluded the Tourism mayor.
TThe Finestrat sports complex continues to grow. Now with the construction works of the Valencian pilota road. It is an approximate investment of €400,000, with the support of the Generalitat Valenciana, to host the practice of the young pilotaris from l'Escola and the Finestrat Pilota Club and thus continue promoting this sport so deeply rooted in traditional Valencian culture. The investment in this new sports facility amounts to exactly €390,901.99 , financed by the City Council and the Generalitat Valenciana through the Conselleria d'Educació, Cultura i Esports, which contributes €200,000. The mayor, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, visited the works today with the Councilor for Sports, Beatriz Quintillán, the councilor for Works and Projects, Guillermo Lloret and the technical engineer for Works, Óscar Llorca.
The street is being built next to the sports pavilion and taking advantage of one of its side walls. It is a 750m2 plot where they are building the main street, 54 meters long and simulating a traditional pilota street with painted elements such as balconies, windows and roofs. The playing area is closed on the sides with concrete panels that reach 8 meters in height and, with the portico of vaulted beams, up to 14 meters.
During his visit, the mayor, Juanfran Pérez Llorca , stated that “we continue to expand the municipal sports area of La Foia. In this case trying to keep alive the tradition that we have always had here in Finestrat for the sport of Valencian pilota. We are doing the race with an investment of €400,000 financed 50% by the Sports area of the Generalitat Valenciana. Our intention is to have it completed before the end of the year. And it will not be the only sporting project of this term as work on the covered stands of the football field will begin shortly. Our desire is to continue complementing La Foia with new facilities and counting on the support of administrations such as the Provincial Council of Alicante and the Generalitat."
It is worth remembering that for several years work has been going on to improve and expand the La Foia sports complex with examples such as the renovation of the soccer field grass, the new pump track for skates, scooters and bicycles, the redevelopment of the entrances with a new roundabout, more parking, a garden area, a children's play area with a zip line and general improvements in stormwater drainage and public lighting.