La Marina

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La Marina Elche, is a coastal village administered by the city of Elche/Elx (Baix Vinalopó), in the province of Alicante, (Valencian Community) on Spain's Costa Blanca.

It is located on the Mediterranean Sea, by the mountain range Sierra del Molar, very close to Guardamar del Segura and by the salt pans (salinas) of Santa Pola. The 1.1 km-long beach is known by the same name.

Inland of the beach is an urbanised area constructed following a flood on November 4th, 1987, confusingly also called "La Marina" (more correctly called "Urbanisation La Marina"); it is the urban nucleus of the municipality of San Fulgencio/Sant Fulgenci.

"The village", is on the Costa Azul bus route providing access northwards to Alicante and southbound to Torrevieja and ultimately Cartagena. In Car, it is connected with the tangential (Variante) Road N-332, exit's main access the Road N-332a. (Principal street of La Marina Village).

Points Exit's N-332:

•North Direction. -> Alicante: Km.77'300.

•South Direction. -> Torrevieja - Cartagena: Km.78'00.

La Marina has non-urban beaches, systems of dunes and large pine woods. The main beach (Las Pesqueras) is over 1100 metres long, although it continues towards the south and is connected to the Tusales beach of Guardamar del Segura.

The history of La Marina is very influenced by the disappearance of the village of San Francisco de Asís in the Sierra del Molar mountain range. It was after the abandonment of this settlement that La Marina started to constitute a town.

La Marina has 2.093 inhabitants (INE 2009).^[1] La Marina has presented a rapid demographic growth in the past years. For example, its population increased by 48% between 2000 and 2006.

Once orientated towards fishing and agriculture, nowadays the local economy focuses on sustainable tourism due to a restrictive measurement related to uncontrolled urban development. La Marina has a 'Great Comfort' international camping/resort of great quality towards which most tourists are attracted. As for local tourism, the beach awarded with the blue flag is the main resource, as well as two hotels and numerous restaurants in the town centre.

The Church of San Francisco de Asís was built in the late 19th century, as the ancient chapel which was built shortly after the disappearance of the eponymous village was too small. During the Spanish Civil War it was looted and turned into a barracks before being restored. It is a relatively small church consisting of one main nave and a chapel to each side. A ceramic altar stands in the presbytery bearing the image of Christ crucified. There are niches to each side with the images of the patron saints Saint Francis of Assisi and Our Lady of the Rosary.

Celebrations in honour of the patron saints of La Marina are held in late September and early October, consisting of such events as the charanga (a parade), the sopar del carabasset, the procession, the mascletà and fireworks.

The main beach of the district is La Marina beach, a beautiful and large beach of fine golden sand. It is considered semi-urban as a small part of it has particular households behind it, but mostly there is a large pine wood. It has a blue flag, maritime surveillance and a rental service providing deckchairs and parasols. There is also a nautical station in order to practice water sports. ^[2]

The Pinet beach is a few metres north La Marina and reflects a much more traditional aspect with small households, restaurants and two hostels all of which are located directly on the beach.^[3]

• Playa de La Marina, en la página oficial de Turismo de Elche

38°8′45″N 0°38′44″W / 38.14583°N 0.64556°W / 38.14583; -0.64556