Calpe is a small city in the province of Alicante, Spain. The most famous feature of the city is the towering piece of rock that overshadows the coastal area. Known as the Penon de Ifach, this 300-meter high rock attracts many tourists who enjoy climbing to the top to enjoy the view of the sea. Used as a watch tower and as a shelter for the city, the rock now has a tunnel that allows visitors to climb to the top.
The city of Calpe has an extensive and varied history and the Rock of Ifach has been a witness to all those years of violence and wars. Originally settled by the Iberains, Calpe was later ruled by the Romans, Carthaginians and Arabs who each contributed some share towards making Calpe what it is today.
Before the 17th century, Calpe did not have many inhabitants, however, after that the population steadily grew. This made it essential to extend the city outwards in order to make more space for the new dwellers and their houses.
The nineteenth century saw a new trend in the city with the increase of fishing and other water related activities. In addition to this, Calpe also began to capitalize on its salt marshes and thus made the salt mining an important part of its economy.
As with the rest of Alicante, tourism invaded the city and established itself as the main source of income for Calpe. Entering the region in the 1930’s, tourism gradually began to take over the city. Due to its beautiful beaches and wonderfully moderate temperatures, Calpe soon became quite popular amongst tourists. The different activities available at its beaches have steadily grown with the growth of tourism. By the 1960’s, the previously important trades and industries of Calpe had been forced to take a backseat while tourism commenced to assist in the development of the city through an increase in income.
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