Jávea Old Town

Jávea Old Town (Casco Antiguo) sits 2 km inland from the coast on a small hill, built far enough from the sea to be safer from Berber raids during the Middle Ages. Today this compact, walkable centre is the cultural and historical heart of the town.

Narrow streets paved with golden Tosca limestone, hidden squares, family-run tapas bars and the imposing fortified Gothic church of San Bartolomé give the old town an atmosphere unlike anything on the busy Costa Blanca coast.

The unmissable monument is the Iglesia de San Bartolomé, a 14th-century Gothic church built as a fortress with crenellated walls and arrow slits. Around it spread the Plaza de la Iglesia, the Plaza de la Constitución and the Carrer Major shopping street.

The old town is the best place in Jávea for authentic tapas and traditional Valencian cuisine. Look for bodegas serving local Mistela wine, fresh anchovies and slow-cooked rice dishes.

The Thursday morning market on Plaza de la Constitución sells fresh local produce. Independent shops along Carrer Major offer Spanish ceramics, leather and gourmet food.

Mornings are quiet and great for photography; evenings come alive with locals doing the paseo and the tapas bars filling up. Avoid the hot midday hours in July and August.

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