Gardens to visit - Costa Blanca. The Costa Blanca is known for its beautiful beaches and coastal landscapes and while it might not be as famous for gardens as some other regions, there are still a few beautiful gardens that are well worth a visit:
Jardín Huerto del Cura, National Artistic Garden - 49 Porta de la Morera Street, Elx/Elche
The Huerto del Cura Garden, tucked away in the heart of Elche city centre, was declared a National Artistic Garden in 1943 and encompasses a vast area of 12,000 square meters.
Also known as The Priest's Garden, this is one of the most famous gardens in the area, known for its impressive palm collection, including the Imperial Palm. This magnificent palm tree is almost 200 years old, and is a natural rarity that consists of a parent trunk from which a series of symmetrical trunks emerge in the form of a chandelier
The other highlights of this peaceful garden include a variety of tropical plants, birds, peacocks, ponds, and water features. Your visit then continues in the small garden museum where you can discover all the history and charm of Elche's secret haven.
Visitors can delight in the impressive collections of palms and cacti sourced from diverse corners of the globe, showcasing numerous species acclimatized to the local weather. Alongside the palm trees, the Huerto del Cura hosts other quintessential crops of the Spanish Mediterranean, including lemon trees, orange trees, pomegranates, carob trees, and jujube trees. Additionally, the garden boasts subtropical specimens, forming an enchanting compilation of flora from the most exotic locales.
Entrance prices - Adults 6.50€, Senior 65+ 4.50€, Students 4.50€, Children 5 - 15 3.50€, Disabled 3.50€, Disabled 3.50€
Opening hours:
January - Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 17:30, Sunday from 10:00 to 15:00
February - Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00, Sunday from 10:00 to 15:00
March - Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:30, Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00
April and May - Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 19:30, Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00
June - Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 20:00, Sunday from 10:00 to 15:00
July and August - Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 21:00
September - Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 20:00
October -1st to 28th from Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00
* October 4th - 10:00 to 16:00, 29th, 30th and 31st from 10:00 to 18:30
November and December - Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 17:30, Sunday from 10:00 to 15:00
* December 24th and 21st 10:00 to 15:00 - CLOSED December 25th
NOTE: After closing time, the Garden will remain open for a further 20 minutes for those visitors already inside.
Gardens to visit - Costa Blanca
Jardin de l'Albarda - Pedreguer, near Denia
The Garden of l'Albarda, located in the town of Pedreguer, are one of the best kept secrets in the Marina Alta, situated close to the town of Dénia
The garden of L’Albarda is a wonderful Mediterranean gardens. Created in 1990, it demonstrates the great richness of the flora that thrive in this climate. L’Albarda covers an area of 50,000 m2 and boasts more than 700 species of native plants, as well as an extensive collection of roses and palm trees.
L’Albarda has a formal garden, orchards and wild gardens. These recreate the ancient Renaissance gardens of Valencia which were widely influenced by Arab culture. As in Renaissance gardens, architectural features have a great importance in L’Albarda. Find more detailed information here.
Gardens to visit - Costa Blanca
Jardi de Santos, (Garden of Saints) Penaguila - Located to the northwest of the town centre , and reached through a walk located on the right bank of the Aldarach ravine, or by taking the detour on the CV-3313 regional road and following a rural track.
The Jardín de Santos in Penáguila, Alicante, is a beautiful historic garden from the mid-19th century, built by the landowner Joaquim Rico. in 1841, it was donated to the town of Penàguila by his heirs on February 18, 1986, it is one of the last romantic gardens of the period that you will find in the Valencian Community.
Although only quite small, the garden is completely surrounded by stone walls and has beautiful spaces such as a romantic pergola, a small grotto with stalactites, a pond with a fountain, a restored building where a small museum is located, an orchid garden and the special feature the labyrinth (maze) hidden between several flower beds and viewpoints.
In this wonderful place, where you can find species of yews, cedars of Lebanon, Spanish firs and magnolias among other plant species. Also many flowers, bushes, trees and plants.
Open Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 10:30 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 18:00
Laberinto Casa Tapena, Maze and gardens, Onil
Laberinto Casa Tapena located in Onil, situated in the region of L'alcoià, at the foot of the Sierra de Onil, just a short distance inland from Alicante and about 77km (approx 50 minutes drive) from Benidorm, this hidden gem is well worth a visit with its maze and gardens.
Casa Tápena was built in 2002 and covers an area of 8 hectares, it was born under the slogan "four landscapes, a thousand roads and an idea", in reference to the four different areas which you will find to explore.
The first area is agricultural and displays many of the native species of the province of Alicante, such as olive trees, vines, almond trees, quinces, apple trees, cherry trees, walnut trees, fig and strawberry trees (Madrone) one of which is said to be the largest in the province.
The second and most popular area is the MAZE (labyrinth) which is one of the largest in Spain measuring 7,056 m2.
The third section is the Mediterranean Garden, and the fourth section is the wetland. Find more detailed information here.
Gardens to visit - Costa Blanca
Klein-Schreuder Sculpture Garden - Alfaz del Pi
This is a Mediterranean style garden and better described as a park as it does not have borders or lawns but flowering trees and shrubs, some of which originate from Australia and South Africa, there is always something to enjoy, no matter what time of year you visit.
The garden/park has 800 metres of footpath laid with gravel and a difference in level of seven meters, which requires the use of stairs and inclines. The Moro terraces have been restored to their original form.
What makes this garden special is the sculptures made of bronze and steel that are dotted amid the shrubs, trees and flowers, there are around 42 that are on permanent display, and works by guest artists, so there is always something new.
There is also a lovely rose garden, and a stage of pruned ligustrum with musicians made of steel plate and the walkways lead through a lovely arboretum.
This is open Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 until 14:00, entrance fee is 5€ find a map here.
