Although in recent years Spain has been brought into current by regulation from Europe and it’s shops now open more hours and more is available on Sundays that ever was.

The positive influences of Europe have seen a dramatic transition from the Spain of 30 years ago. The infrastructure has grown and getting from 30 miles inland to the sea now takes a mere 20 minutes, getting from a property 25 miles from an airport only takes 18 minutes and everything in between is so much easier.

The Spanish are becoming every bit as keen to learn English as we are to learn Spanishh and issues over communication are fading fast. This desire to understand brings about a fantastic win win relationship where visitors now find it easier to get work and locals are more open to employing foreigners. It is also easier and quicker to start your own and employ the locals!

Children derive the benefit of good local schools in an education system that is modern, forward thinking and all embracing. Children learn at a better pace, generally are fitter and is most cases are bi-lingual as a minimum – an art they take in their stride.

Entertainment now provides for everyone – in addition to the golfers

The town has a population of around 35,000 and a municipal area of 103.30 square kilometres. Located to the west of Elche (aka the city of palms), Crevillent is seated between the El Hondo Nature Reserve and the Sierra de Crevillent mountain ranges believed to have been a mountain pass once used by Hannibal. Up in the mountains there are community camping sites and walkways that meander for miles accross the range. Ruins of a Monastery dating back over 600 years still protrude from the rock and are in the most beautiful location overseeing the flatlands to the sea.

Today the town is a bustling hive of industry which was settled as long ago as the Paleolithic Era. It is said that later settlements by the Iberians were further extended and improved by the Romans and that during the Arab conquest of the Iberian Peninsular the town was known as “Qirbilyan”. The occupying Moors improved the irrigation of the area using techniques brought by them from the deserts of North Africa, enabling crops to be grown and formerly unusable land to be cultivated.

Later reconquered by the Christian forces of Jaime I in 1244, Crevillent was subjected to various skirmishes and swings in power over its control. Many former Muslim occupants stayed on after the reconquest until they were finally expelled in 1609 resulting in a serious decline in the town’s population.

Crevillent’s carpet industry began in the 18th century and early carpets were made from “Esparto grass” and called “Spanish carpets”. A great deal of these were exported even from these early days.

Now much of the town is modernised – but thankfully it still holds on to many of it historical buildings and artefacts. Some oof the earliest Roman aquaducts are still in tact and form part of the eastern part of the towns roadway system. There are the narrow winding streets and flat roofs to the Moors and the Ayuntamiento (town hall) and the Nuestra Señora de Belen church and a host of other must see corners tucked away.

Crevillent is provided for by all the main services, has it’s own medical clinic, dental surgeries, junior schools, college, theatre, amphitheatre, multi-pitch football field, Gyms, tennis club, shops, bars and restaurants.

As Crevillent starts at the beginning of the skirts of the Crevillent mountain range mmuch of it has views across the plains that take in the El Hondo nature reserve and reservoir, an important wetland area which is used by a variety of migratory birds. Among the species seen here are flamingos and imperial herons and in the waters you can find carp, eel, mosquitofish, toothcarp and grey mullet.

The upper levels of Crevillent provide views to the coastline of Guardamar and Santa Pola and on a clear day right out to “Tabarca island”.

Apart from carpets, the area produces shoes, almonds, olives and citrus fruit.

Crevillent is located on the N-340 near to the A-7 motorway, it is about 25 kilometres from Alicante – or an 18 minute drive to Alicante airport.