CalpeNoticias EN

This week saw the kick-off of the first edition of the “Welcome School” in Calpe, a voluntary training programme aimed at migrants with the aim of facilitating their integration into Valencian society. This is a pioneering initiative in the municipality reinforcing the institutional commitment to inclusion and social cohesion.

The course will run until 12 December at the Punt Jove and will be attended by 38 students of different nationalities, aged between 18 and 35.

Throughout the training, participants will receive essential information on topics such as immigration, housing, education, health and employment, as well as basic notions of legislation and rights. The programme also includes teaching of Spanish and Valencian, as well as content on the geography and history of the European Union, Spain and the Valencian Community.

In addition, the fundamentals of democratic structure and the values that govern coexistence, such as equality between men and women, human rights and tolerance, will be addressed.

The “Welcome School” is a key tool for moving towards a more cohesive, informed and participatory society, offering migrants the resources they need to actively integrate into the social and community life of the municipality.

Although maintenance of the municipality's drainage and rainwater collection network is carried out continuously and preventively throughout the year, before the start of the autumn season, with the likelihood of rainfall, Aguas de Calpe conducts a thorough inspection and cleaning campaign of the rainwater drainage network. The aim is to prevent possible incidents and reduce the risk of flooding.

This work consists of cleaning the collectors and rainwater collection points with a self-suction tanker truck and by manual means. In this way, sediment, leaves and other accumulated waste have been removed to ensure the proper functioning of the sanitation network. During August and September, 515 rainwater collection points were checked and cleaned in a total of 77 streets or roads in the municipality.

Aguas de Calpe, as the manager of the municipal sanitation network and the municipal public rainwater drainage network, is responsible for the ongoing maintenance of surface runoff collection drains to prevent problems caused by the poor condition of the drainage networks.

However, the Town Council stresses the need to avoid the improper use of grates, drains and toilets, reminding residents of the serious damage caused to the network by waste such as wipes and other disposable hygiene products. These items, although they may seem harmless, can block pipes and cause damage that complicates the functioning of the system.

Calpe Town Council has launched a public consultation to gather citizens' opinions as part of the process of drawing up the municipality's first Citizen Participation and Open Government Plan. This initiative aims to create a roadmap that actively involves the population in the municipality's collective affairs and enables the development of more transparent, inclusive and effective public policies.

Through a survey available in Spanish, Valencian and English, Calpe residents are invited to express their level of interest in public affairs, their perception of their ability to influence municipal decisions and the barriers that hinder their participation. They are also asked for their opinion on which issues they consider to be priorities, such as urban planning, the environment or budgets, and on the most effective channels of information for communicating with the Council.

The consultation will be open until 19 October and can be easily accessed via the Council's citizen participation portal:

https://governobert.calp.es

With this initiative, Calpe Town Council reaffirms its commitment to improving democratic quality and promoting a local administration that is more accessible, participatory and oriented towards the real needs of citizens.

For more information and direct access to the survey:

https://governobert.calp.es/PortadaParticipacion/#!/procesos-participativos/enquesta-participacio-ciutadana/info

Calpe has once again been recognised with “3 Honour Flowers” at the Viles en Flor Comunitat Valenciana programme gala, held this year in Alberic (Ribera Alta). This award recognises Calpe's commitment to environmental improvement, urban beautification, sustainable management of green areas and public awareness.

Viles en Flor is an initiative promoted by the ASFPLANT Foundation (Professional Association of Flowers, Plants and Horticultural Technology of the Valencian Community). The programme promotes sustainable development in Valencian municipalities through the care of parks, gardens, urban trees and landscaping, as well as encouraging environmental education and citizen participation.

Each year, a technical jury awards between 1 and 5 ‘Flowers of Honour’ after evaluating the actions carried out by the participating municipalities. In this year's edition, Calpe has once again been awarded three flowers, consolidating its position among the leading municipalities in green management and sustainability.

The jury particularly valued Calpe's efforts in conserving its natural environment and managing its public garden spaces. Some notable facts: 437,010 m² of green areas, with a ratio of 19.23 m² per inhabitant, 115 different plant species present in urban spaces, 3 plant species unique to its territory: Silene ifacensis, Allium subvillosum, Teucrium buxifolium ssp. Ifacensis. In addition to the presence of unique natural environments such as the Peñón de Ifach Natural Park, the Calpe Salt Flats and several micro-reserves of flora.

The recognition awarded at this gala not only highlights the work already done, but also promotes new objectives and strategies in the field of local sustainability. Calpe Town Council has expressed its gratitude to the entire technical team and municipal gardening staff who have made this distinction possible, as well as to the citizens who contribute every day to the care of the urban environment.

Among the upcoming challenges, the municipality plans to incorporate technology into irrigation and maintenance management, increase the area of green spaces and ecological corridors, and promote environmental education and participatory gardening. In addition to continuing to work towards obtaining a fourth flower in future editions.

Calpe Town Council has announced the selected plays that will participate in the 13th edition of the National Amateur Theatre Competition ‘Antonio Ferrer, el cartero’, a cultural event that will be held during the month of November in the auditorium of the Casa de Cultura ‘Jaume Pastor i Fluixà’.

A total of 121 theatre companies from all over Spain have participated in this edition, once again placing this competition among the most prominent in the amateur field at the national level. After the jury's evaluation process, three finalist productions have been selected, which will be performed on Sundays 9, 16 and 23 November at 6.30 pm. Admission will be free until the auditorium is full.

The programme will begin on Sunday 9th November with a performance of the play ‘La decisió de Lola / Lola's Decision’ by Jose Warletta, by the Associació de Teatre Pànic Escènic. On Sunday 16th, it will be the turn of ‘7 AÑOS’ by José Cepeda, performed by the Asociación Cultural ‘Aquí te pillo, Aquí teatro’. Finally, on Sunday 23rd, the comedy ‘No te vistas para cenar’ (Don't Dress Up for Dinner) by Marc Albert Camoletti, adapted by Juan José De Arteche Goñi, will be staged by the Rare Diseases and Disability Association ‘Sense Barreres’.

In addition, two reserve groups have been selected to participate in the event that any of the finalists are unable to attend. These are the Squizo Teatro Cultural Association, with the play ‘La chica de la luciérna’ (The Firefly Girl) by Juan Castilla, and the La Tarumba Cultural Association, with the play ‘Totus Plautus (o casi)’ (Totus Plautus (or almost)) by Plautus.

The closing ceremony and awards presentation will be held on Sunday, 30th November at 6:30 pm. To round off this edition, actor Rafa Maza will perform ‘Fabiolo Connection’, putting the finishing touch on the event with a show full of humour and satire.

Friday, 3:

• Alicante Gastronómica 2025. From 3 to 6 October, Calpe Town Council will have its own stand at the 7th Alicante Gastronómica fair, at IFA Alicante. In collaboration with the Fishermen's Guild, AEMCO and CREAMA, Calpe's white prawns will be promoted.
• Balconadas in the historic centre of Calpe. Calles Purísima, San José, Justícia, Dos de Mayo and the Mosquit, Miguel Roselló and Plaza de España squares
• 7 p.m. – Blues Rock concert by Eric Sardinas Band. Auditorium of the Casa de Cultura.
• Exhibition ‘Banys de la Reina, la huella romana’ (The Queen's Baths, the Roman footprint). Until 30 December. Museo del Coleccionismo.
• Collective photographic exhibition ‘Imperial’, a tribute to Carlos Balsalobre. Until 31 October. Exhibition hall of the Casa de Cultura. (Avda. Masnou, 1). Organised by Foto Club Ifach.

Saturday, 4th:

• 10 a.m. – Celebration of Bird Day with a guided tour to discover the species that inhabit our salt flats. From 10 a.m. to 12 noon Esplanade of the Calpe Salt Flats
• 7 p.m. – Celebration of the Guardian Angels, patrons of the Police Force, in Plaza Colón.
• Balconadas in the historic centre of Calpe. Purísima, San José, Justícia and Dos de Mayo streets and Mosquit, Miguel Roselló and Plaza de España squares.
• Exhibition ‘Banys de la Reina, la huella romana’ (The Queen's Baths, the Roman footprint). Until 30 December. Museo del Coleccionismo
• Collective photographic exhibition ‘Imperial’, tribute to Carlos Balsalobre. Until 31 October. Exhibition hall at the Casa de Cultura (Avda. Masnou, 1). Organised by Foto Club Ifach.
• Alicante Gastronómica 2025. From 3 to 6 October, Calpe Town Council will participate with its own stand at the 7th edition of the Alicante Gastronómica fair at IFA Alicante. In collaboration with the Fishermen's Guild, AEMCO and CREAMA, Calpe's white prawns will be promoted.

Sunday, 5th:

• Balconadas in the historic centre of Calpe. Calles Purísima, San José, Justícia, Dos de Mayo and the squares Mosquit, Miguel Roselló and Plaza de España.
• Exhibition ‘Banys de la Reina, la huella romana’ (The Queen's Baths, the Roman footprint). Until 30 December. Museo del Coleccionismp
• Collective photographic exhibition ‘Imperial’, a tribute to Carlos Balsalobre. Until 31 October. Exhibition hall of the Casa de Cultura. (Avda. Masnou, 1). Organised by Foto Club Ifach.
• Alicante Gastronómica 2025. From 3 to 6 October, Calpe Town Council will participate with its own stand in the 7th edition of the Alicante Gastronómica fair, at IFA Alicante. In collaboration with the Fishermen's Guild, AEMCO and CREAMA, Calpe's white prawns will be promoted.

With the slogan ‘Don't stay in the shadows, register or renew your registration’, Calpe Town Council is launching a campaign to encourage people to register and update their details. To this end, the Department of Registration, headed by Paqui Solivelles, will distribute flashlights at the Citizen Service Office starting this week, sending the message about the importance of registering and renewing registration in the case of foreigners. The flashlights will be distributed to citizens who come to the Citizen Service Office to carry out any municipal procedures.

The flashlights are dynamo-powered and screen-printed with a QR code and the logos of Calpe Town Council and Alicante Provincial Council. The QR code provides information on the documentation required to register on the register or to update your details in the event of a change of address, as well as the procedure for carrying out these formalities. It also indicates how Spanish citizens should proceed if they move to another municipality or country. It also provides information on the advantages, benefits and programmes available to those who are registered. The campaign is subsidised by the Alicante Provincial Council.

Last January, the National Statistics Institute notified the Town Council that the figure for the municipality, resulting from the revision of the municipal register as of 1 January 2024, is 26,821 inhabitants. This means that the register has increased by 967 new inhabitants since the last official figure. In addition, the proposed figure for 1 January 2025 is 27,616, which will be made official in December this year, to be used during 2026.

However, reaching this figure and preventing a decline in the cvity´s census requires intensive work on the part of the City Council. In recent years, the Census Department has implemented various measures to prevent population loss. One of the problems identified is the lack of information among citizens, who in many cases are convinced that they are already registered or are unaware of the need to renew their registration if they are foreigners.

The Town Council estimates that hundreds of foreign residents are not registered with the INE because they have not renewed their registration in the municipal register, as by law, EU residents registered in the Central Register of Foreigners or non-EU residents with long-term residence permits must renew their registration in the register every five years, and other foreigners every two years.

For this reason, the Town Council has launched a series of campaigns aimed at all citizens, foreign or otherwise, residing in Calpe, to encourage them to register or renew their registration.

The Councillor for the Register, Paqui Solivelles, has pointed out that "the council continues to work to inform citizens of the need to be registered or to update their registration. The process for registering or renewing your registration is simple. All you must do is go to the Citizen Service Office on the ground floor of the Town Hall and provide the deed to your home, or your latest property tax bill or current rental contract, as well as your ID card, passport or foreigner identification number. If you are only renewing your registration, you only need to provide your passport, foreign resident ID card or national identity card. Being registered also has a number of advantages, such as access to the Home Help Service or home telecare programmes. You must also be registered to access the services of the Senior Citizens' Civic Centre (gym, exercise classes, courses, trips, etc.), or to access reduced fares on local buses or free Spanish courses for foreigners.

Last Saturday, Calpe held a litter collection day at Cala Manzanera, where 110 kilos of waste were collected. This initiative is part of the national campaign ‘1m2 for beaches and seas’, within the LIBERA Project promoted by SEO/BirdLife and Ecoembes, which the Calpe Town Council has joined in order to raise public awareness of the impact of litter on natural environments, especially coastal areas.

‘We had a fantastic day collecting Basuraleza (litter) at Cala Manzanera. We regret that the cove was so dirty, but we are immensely proud of the response of all the participants, as together we removed 110 kg of waste from our beaches and seas,’ said the Councillor for the Environment, Pere Moll.

Of the 110 kg removed, 70 kg were containers, 10 kg were paper and cardboard, and the remaining 30 kg were other types of waste such as household items, glass and many cigarette butts. Thirty volunteers took part in the day, including young people from the CEPAIM Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting social inclusion and equal opportunities for people in vulnerable situations. ‘This effort reminds us of the importance of civic responsibility. The key to a clean environment is not only the work of volunteers, but also daily responsibility: “It is not the one who cleans the most who is the cleanest, but the one who dirties the least,”’ said the councillor.

Calpe Town Council has published the call for entries for the 2025 Culture and Sports Awards in the Official Gazette of the Province of Alicante. The awards will be presented at the Sports and Culture Gala, scheduled for 27 November at the Jaume Pastor i Fluixà Cultural Centre Auditorium.

Both calls for nominations aim to recognise the efforts, careers and achievements of people registered as residents of Calpe who have excelled during 2024 in the fields of culture or sport, through a competitive selection process.

Culture Awards

The cultural awards cover three categories: performing arts/musical creation and/or dance; plastic arts and design; and literary arts. Both local cultural associations registered in the Municipal Register and independent artists may submit nominations. Up to five prizes of €1,000 each will be awarded, and categories with no valid nominations may be left vacant.

Sports Awards

The sports awards are also divided into three categories: the most outstanding player in the youth category, senior category or with other abilities. In this case, local sports clubs or independent athletes may submit nominations. As with the culture awards, up to five prizes of €1,000 each will be awarded.

Deadline and submission

The deadline for submitting applications is from 30 September to 14 October 2025, inclusive. Nominations must be submitted in person at the Citizen Service Office (OAC) using the standard SUB 20 form, accompanied by the required documentation and a sworn statement of compliance with the requirements.

Calpe Town Council encourages all interested organisations and individuals to participate in these calls for applications, with the aim of raising the profile and recognising local talent and reinforcing the municipality's commitment to promoting culture and sport.

For more information on the rules, requirements and application forms, please consult the municipal website or contact the Town Council's Culture and Sports departments directly.

Calpe Town Council will have its own stand at the 7th edition of the Alicante Gastronómica fair, which will be held from 3 to 6 October at the IFA exhibition centre in Alicante. During the four days of the event, various activities will be held to promote local cuisine, with a special focus on Calpe white prawns, which have recently been awarded a quality label.

The official opening of the fair will take place on Friday 3 October at 12 noon, and from that moment onwards Calpe will be present with its own stand in collaboration with the Calpe Fishermen's Guild, the Calpe Business Association (AEMCO) and CREAMA. This joint initiative will highlight the quality of Calpe white prawns through two daily tastings, scheduled for 12:00 and 19:00, which will be offered at the stand itself.

In addition, the municipality will also participate in the ‘Saborea Costa Blanca’ (Taste the Costa Blanca) space, organised by the Costa Blanca Tourist Board, a platform that allows municipalities and entities in the province to showcase their gastronomic wealth and local products. Within this framework, Calpe will host a showcooking event on Friday 3 October from 11:00 to 11:45, in which chefs José Manuel Miguel and Diego Laso will cook together, creating culinary offerings based on the traditional flavours of the town.

The Alicante Gastronómica fair has established itself as one of the leading culinary events in Spain, aimed at both the general public and professionals. Those interested in attending as professionals must register in advance via the following link:

👉 https://alicantegastronomica.com/profesionales/

More information about the event:

👉 https://alicantegastronomica.com/ With this participation, Calpe Town Council is reinforcing its strategy of promoting tourism and gastronomy, focusing on high-quality, sustainable local products with their own identity.

The guided tours of Calp's old town, promoted by the Revitalisation of the Old Town Council, were very well received during July and August, with 280 people taking part.

This free municipal initiative aims to highlight the historical and cultural heritage of this emblematic enclave. Residents and visitors alike have responded very positively to the initiative, which has allowed them to discover the historic centre of Calp from a new perspective.

In emails sent to the Town Hall after the tours, participants highlighted the quality of the explanations, the interesting content and the appeal of the different spots and details along the route. They emphasise that the experience has allowed them to learn more about the history and customs of Calp and discover the artistic and cultural wealth of its historic centre.

The Councillor for the Revitalisation of the Old Town, Guillermo Sendra, highlighted the success of the initiative and announced that, given the high demand and excellent response from the public, Calp Town Council is already working on increasing the number of visits in future editions.

To mark World Tourism Day, Calpe Town Council has presented the new immersive virtual tour of the Red Wall, one of the projects included in the Destination Tourism Sustainability Plan, within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR) funded by the European Union - Next GenerationEU.

The event was attended by the Councillor for Tourism Planning, Mireia Ripoll, and the Councillor for International Promotion, Marco Bittner, as well as Luiza Dinu, audiovisual creator at Touristinnovación360 S.L. (Lookish Spain), the company responsible for implementing the project, who revealed the details of this innovative tool that will allow visitors to explore, for the first time, the iconic Muralla Roja, a privately owned building that is not accessible to the public.

To carry out the virtualisation of the visits, 3D scanning technology was used, which allows a physical space to be captured in its entirety, in three dimensions, using special cameras and sensors. In total, more than 450 scans were made in corridors, stairways, terraces, courtyards and viewpoints.

These captures were then processed to create a unified, navigable digital model that reproduces the complex structure of this iconic building and can be explored virtually, as if the visitor were inside the building. "The biggest challenge was the complexity of the Muralla Roja itself: its labyrinthine courtyards, the variety of levels and the mixture of light and shadow. But that is precisely where the richness of the project lies: in having been able to digitally recreate every corner of this unique work," said Luiza Dinu.

The virtual tour is interactive, allowing visitors to move freely through the corridors, explore the terraces, stop in the courtyards or contemplate architectural details. To this end, the City Council has 60 virtual reality headsets and 150 tablets (which the company Touristinnovación360 S.L offered as an improvement in the tender for this project) that will be made available to tourists, visitors and citizens at the two tourist information offices, from where they can enjoy this virtual tour. There are also plans to offer them in the town's museums in the near future.

Furthermore, as Luiza Dinu pointed out, 3D scanning is a ‘valuable tool for documenting and preserving heritage’, as it provides a record of the current state of the building for future restoration work or studies.

The project also has an important educational and cultural component, as students, researchers and curious visitors will be able to learn in depth about Ricardo Bofill's architecture and the relevance of the Muralla Roja in the recent history of Calpe.

This is the first immersive experience project carried out by Calpe Town Council, and there are plans to soon virtualise visits to Penyal d'Ifac as well as the archaeological sites of the medieval village of Ifac and Banys de la Reina. All this will cost €186,194.80, financed entirely by the European Union with Next Generation funds.

‘Our aim is to make tourist resources accessible to everyone, including those that cannot be visited because they are privately owned or because their characteristics make them inaccessible to groups with mobility problems,’ said Mireia Ripoll, Councillor for Tourism Planning.

‘We are committed to making tourism accessible to everyone and, therefore, to a more accessible and sustainable tourist destination,’ said Marco Bittner, Councillor for International Promotion and Next Generation Funds.

Accessible Tourism Certificates

Meanwhile, the Mayoress of Calpe, Ana Sala, together with the Councillor for Tourism Planning, Mireia Ripoll, presented the Equalitas Vitae ‘We are Accessible Tourism’ awards to tourism companies that meet accessibility criteria. These include eight hotels (Hotel AR Diamante Beach, Hotel AR Roca Esmeralda, Hotel TheCookbook, Hotel Gran Sol, Hotel Port Europa, Hotel Porto Calpee, Gran Hotel Sol y Mar and Hotel SuitopíaSol y Mar Suites), a hostel (HostelSea and Dreams), a tourist apartment (Apartamento Realet – Interhome), three campsites (Camping Calpeemar, Camping La Merced and Mediterráneo Camping), a motorhome area (Paraíso Camper) and the two tourist offices in Calpe, as well as the tourist information point on La Fossa beach.

The director of Equalitas Vitae, Izaskun Benito, highlighted that this distinction rewards companies committed to accessible tourism and recognises their efforts to make their establishments accessible. This certificate entails the promotion of companies on the Equalitas Vitae portal, a benchmark in accessible tourism, with details of the accessibility features offered by each one.

She also announced that new courses and workshops will be held in the near future so that local tourism companies and agents can continue to learn about tourism accessibility: workshops on dealing with and caring for people with disabilities, inclusive communication, inclusive commerce and inclusive events. These are in addition to the nine courses offered in the spring, which had a total of 205 registrations.

With this initiative, Calpe Town Council aims to continue advancing in its commitment to becoming an inclusive tourist destination.

These actions are part of a broader project to consolidate inclusive tourism, as set out in the Destination Tourism Sustainability Plan (PSTD) within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR) funded by the European Union - Next Generation.

Friday, 26:

• 10 am / 11.30 am / 1 pm - Free guided tours of the Banys de la Reina archaeological site. Registration: at the site or by emailing cabdelareina@esatur.com.
• From 6 pm to 1 am - Craft markets. Calle Alemania (Arenal-Bol beach) and Plaza Mediterráneo (La Fossa beach).
• Balconadas in the historic centre of Calpe. Calles Purísima, San José, Justícia, Dos de Mayo and the plazas Mosquit, Miguel Roselló and Plaza de España.
• Exhibition: Banys de la Reina, la huella romana’ (The Queen's Baths, the Roman footprint). Until 30 December. Museo del Coleccionismo
• Exhibition: ‘Xanadú Ilustrado’ (Illustrated Xanadu). Until 30 September. Exhibition hall of the Ajuntament Vell.
• Exhibition: ‘Colores en acción’ (Colours in action). Until 30 September. Casa de Cultura Exhibition Hall. (Avda. Masnou, 1).

Saturday, 27:

• 10 a.m. / 11.30 a.m. / 1 p.m. - Free guided tours of the Banys de la Reina archaeological site. Registration: at the site or by email at cabdelareina@esatur.com.
• From 6 pm to 1 am - Craft markets. Calle Alemania (Arenal-Bol beach) and Plaza Mediterráneo (La Fossa beach).
• 7 pm - 22nd Musical Exchange Campaign 2025: Colla Portitxol de Xàbia and Colla Xirimiters del Carellot de Calpe. Auditorium.
• Balconadas in the historic centre of Calpe. Calles Purísima, San José, Justícia, Dos de Mayo and the plazas Mosquit, Miguel Roselló and Plaza de España.
• Exhibition ‘Banys de la Reina, la huella romana’ (The Queen's Baths, the Roman footprint). Until 30 December. Museo del Coleccionismo
• Exhibition ‘Xanadú Ilustrado’. Until 30 September. Exhibition hall of the Ajuntament Vell.
• Exhibition ‘Colours in action’. Until 30 September. Exhibition hall of the Casa de Cultura. (Avda. Masnou, 1).

Sunday, 28th:

• 10 a.m. / 11.30 a.m. / 1 p.m. - Free guided tours of the Banys de la Reina archaeological site. Registration: at the site or by emailing cabdelareina@esatur.com.
• From 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. - Craft markets. Calle Alemania (Arenal-Bol beach) and Plaza Mediterráneo (La Fossa beach).
• Balconies in the historic centre of Calpe. Calles Purísima, San José, Justícia, Dos de Mayo and the plazas Mosquit, Miguel Roselló and Plaza de España.
• Exhibition ‘Banys de la Reina, the Roman footprint’. Until 30 December. Museo del Coleccionismo
• Exhibition ‘Xanadú Ilustrado’. Until 30 September. Exhibition hall of the Ajuntament Vell.
• Exhibition ‘Colours in Action’. Until 30 September. Exhibition hall of the Casa de Cultura. (Avda. Masnou, 1).

Next Saturday, 27 September, Calpe Town Council is joining the national ‘1m² for beaches and seas’ campaign with a litter collection at Cala Manzanera. The initiative, part of the LIBERA Project promoted by SEO/BirdLife and Ecoembes, aims to raise public awareness of the impact of litter on natural environments, especially coastal areas.

The activity will take place between 10:00 and 12:00 and is open to all citizens. The meeting point will be Cala Manzanera, and for approximately two hours, participants will collaborate in the removal of waste with the logistical support of Calpe Town Council, through the Calpe Blau programme, and volunteer staff.

The organisation will provide the necessary materials for the collection (gloves and bags), insurance for participants and coordination throughout the activity, which is completely free of charge.

Calpe Town Council encourages citizens to join this initiative, which contributes to keeping the municipality's natural areas clean and reinforces the collective commitment to sustainability and environmental protection.

For more information, interested parties can contact 663 23 33 36.

In addition, participants are invited to share images of the day on social media using the hashtags #LIBERA1m2, #basuraleza and #ProyectoLIBERA.

From 1 October, the municipal swimming pool will extend its opening hours and number of classes.

The facility will be open Monday to Friday from 7am to 10pm, Saturdays from 8am to 2pm and 5pm to 8pm, and Sundays from 10am to 2pm. During the daily time slots from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., on Saturday afternoons and on Sundays, it will be essential to make a reservation via the Resasports platform to gain access.

In addition, due to the high demand recorded in September, the number of baby swimming classes will be increased by 7 hours per week, and more advanced classes will be created for children between 2 and 3 years old. Two new swimming groups have also been established: for 3 to 5-year-olds and 5 to 10-year-olds. Users on the waiting list will be notified in order of registration.

The reopening of the municipal swimming pool in September after improvement and refurbishment work has been very well received. This September, the swimming pool has had 1,160 users (people who have visited the pool at least once a week), and all classes are full with, a waiting list for some of them, except for aqua gym classes, where there are still places available.

It is estimated that in September alone, the municipal swimming pool generated nearly €15,000 in revenue. In addition, at the beginning of next year, the tax ordinance regulating the swimming pool is expected to be amended to add new categories of passes and options.

Calpe Town Council has awarded the contract for tree pruning and maintenance of central reservations in different areas of the municipality, as well as the maintenance of palm trees, for a total amount of €617,947.

The company awarded all the lots is Martin y Paco Carbonell S.L., which submitted the best financial and technical bids in accordance with the evaluation criteria set out in the respective specifications.

The contract has been divided into four lots, grouping together different areas of the municipality, with a term of four years from its formalisation and no possibility of extension. The areas and amounts awarded were as follows: lot 1 for the town centre (old town and expansion) for €93,049; lot 2 for the southern area (Avenidas Masnou, Valencia and residential areas) for €37,944; lot 3 for the beach area (Avenidas Ejércitos Españoles, Juan Carlos I and beaches) for €198,713; and lot 4 for the northern area (access roads, school zones, sports areas and residential developments) for €190,527.

Each lot provides for additional staffing with seven gardening officers, ten gardening labourers, one crane driver, one transport truck driver, and a fleet of four vehicles between 0 and 10 years old. In addition, a reduction of up to 91 minutes in the maximum response time to emergencies is guaranteed.

The contract for palm tree maintenance has also been awarded for a maximum amount of €154,546 and an initial term of 12 months, extendable for a further two years.

The contract includes the pruning of Phoenix dactylifera, Phoenix canariensis and Washingtonia spp. specimens, with up to two pruning per year depending on the species, as well as the application of annual phytosanitary treatments.

All contracts provide for the reduction of the environmental impact of vehicles by requiring that at least three units be no more than five years old. The ability to respond to urgent situations was also particularly valued.

With these awards, Calpe Town Council is reinforcing its commitment to the maintenance and improvement of green areas and urban trees, ensuring more efficient, sustainable and professional management of these public spaces.

Calpe Town Council has launched a project to install CCTV cameras with the aim of improving security in the municipality and monitoring traffic. In recent days, a network of video surveillance cameras has been installed on the main roads of the municipality, such as Diputación, Ejércitos Españoles and Generalitat Valenciana avenues, as well as other secondary roads.

This is the first phase of an ambitious traffic monitoring and control plan that has begun with the access roads to the municipality. The intention of the Departments of Public Safety and IT is to continue this process by implementing a second phase in which the network of cameras will be extended to other areas of the municipality. The aim is to reinforce security in Calpe, monitor traffic and obtain data management tools to analyse traffic and pedestrian flow levels.

This first phase has cost €100,000 and the contract has been awarded to Elecnor, a company with extensive experience in this type of work. All the information from the images is sent to the traffic control centre installed in the Local Police headquarters. The Local Police are responsible for controlling and viewing the cameras from their headquarters. In addition, a budget of €100,000 has already been allocated to carry out the second phase of this project.

Guillermo Sendra, Councillor for Public Safety, points out that ‘with this video surveillance system, Calpe is substantially improving traffic management and public safety by controlling the main access points and arteries of the city’.

For his part, the Councillor for IT, Marco Bittner, states that with the implementation of these measures, ‘the Council is taking a decisive step towards the technological modernisation of its services, committing to a more agile and efficient administration’.

The Mayoress, Ana Sala, has pointed out that ‘improving the safety of Calpe and its inhabitants is a long-standing demand that is being met in this legislative term, and I am grateful for the great effort and discipline of the councillors and technicians responsible for achieving this very positive goal for everyone’.

Calpe Town Council has begun maintenance and improvement work on the Arenal-Bol beach promenade, with the aim of improving pedestrian safety and resolving existing deficiencies in the paving and structures in the area.

The work includes upgrading the pavement, consolidating the masonry wall and replacing the coping stones that are in poor condition. This intervention aims to bring the promenade up to the usual standards of urbanised areas, thus ensuring a safer and more accessible space for both residents and visitors.

The works, awarded for a total of €155,340, have a completion period of 10 weeks and a possible maximum extension of one month, and are part of the municipal commitment to the conservation and enhancement of public spaces, especially those linked to the coastline.

With this action, Calpe Town Council continues to make progress in improving key infrastructure for the municipality, prioritising actions that have a positive impact on the safety, image and urban quality of spaces for public use.

This week, Calpe Town Council has begun work on remodelling the cycle lane that runs along Avenida de los Ejércitos Españoles, between Calle La Niña and Calle Letonia. The work consists of reorganising the space allocated to pedestrians and cyclists to improve safety for both users.

This project is part of the Destination Tourism Sustainability Plan (PSTD), which is supported by the Valencian Community's Regional Ministry of Tourism - Turisme Comunitat Valenciana - and the Secretary of State for Tourism within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR) financed by the European Union - Next Generation.

The works have been awarded to the company Pavasal Empresa Constructora, S.A.U. for a total of €388,984.75 and have a completion period of four months.

These actions will redesign the layout of the cycle lane, pavement and existing garden area in this section. Currently, there is a pavement-cycle lane, i.e. the cycle lane runs along the pavement without a kerb separating it and is located on the innermost part of the pavement. Next to the cycle lane towards the road is a one-metre-wide pavement and finally a garden area.

The new design will therefore allow the pedestrian pavement to be widened to three metres and moved to the innermost edge, thus facilitating access to shops in the area and preventing pedestrians from having to cross the cycle lane.

In addition, the pavement will be separated from the cycle lane by a landscaped strip more than one metre wide, where new street furniture and trees will be installed, creating a safer and more pleasant environment. The cycle lane will also be separated from the parking lane by a space of almost one metre, which will increase safety for cyclists.

The project also includes the renovation of the pavement, using a more resistant material that is more suitable for bicycle traffic.

Friday, 19:

• • From 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. - Craft markets. Calle Alemania (Arenal-Bol beach) and Plaza Mediterráneo (La Fossa beach).
  • CalpSulas 2025 – Artistic interventions in the historic centre of Calpe:
  • ‘Asesinatos 32 puñaladas’ (Murder 32 Stabs) (theatre). Museu de la Senyoreta. Performances: 7 pm / 7.30 pm / 8 pm / 8.30 pm.
  • ‘Familiaritzar-se’ (dance). Ajuntament Vell. Performances: 7 pm / 8 pm / 9 pm.
  • ‘20 años después’ (theatre). Ajuntament Vell. Performances: 7.30 pm / 8.30 pm / 9.30 pm.
  • Virgen de la Merced Festivities
  • 9 pm – Opening of the festival marquee: Tasting of local products. Free ‘Nit de coques’ (coconut cakes) while stocks last.
  • 10 pm – Musical performance by ‘RUMBAOS’.
  • 9 p.m. – Concert ‘Las canciones de tu vida – El Guateque’ (The songs of your life – The party). Bar service to benefit the Alicante Association for the Fight Against Cancer – Calpe Headquarters. Plaza Mayor.
  • Balconadas in the historic centre of Calpe. Purísima, San José, Justícia, Dos de Mayo streets and Mosquit, Miguel Roselló and Plaza de España squares.
  • Exhibition ‘Banys de la Reina, la huella romana’ (Banys de la Reina, the Roman footprint). Until 30 December. Museo del Coleccionismo
  • Exhibition ‘Xanadú Ilustrado’ (Illustrated Xanadu). Until 30 September. Exhibition hall of the Ajuntament Vell.
  • Exhibition ‘Colours in Action’. Until 30 September. Exhibition hall of the Casa de Cultura. (Avda. Masnou, 1).

Saturday, 20:

• • 9 a.m. – Free Zumba class. Plaza Colón (Arenal-Bol beach).
  • 10 a.m. / 11.30 a.m. / 1 p.m. - Free guided tours of the Banys de la Reina archaeological site. Registration: at the site or by emailing cabdelareina@esatur.com.
  • From 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. - Craft markets. Calle Alemania (Arenal-Bol beach) and Plaza Mediterráneo (La Fossa beach).

Virgen de la Merced festivities:

• • 6.15 pm - Gathering in Plaza Mediterrani to begin the procession and floral offering to the Virgin, scheduled for 6.30 pm.
  • 8 pm - Solemn mass.
  • 8:30 p.m. - Opening of the festival marquee.
  • 10:30 p.m. - Musical performance by ‘EL PAYO KE KANTA’.
  • CalpSulas 2025 - Artistic interventions in the historic centre of Calpe:
• ‘Asesinatos 32 puñaladas’ (theatre). Museu de la Senyoreta. Performances: 7 pm / 7.30 pm / 8 pm / 8.30 pm.
• ‘Familiaritzar-se’ (dance). Ajuntament Vell. Performances: 7 pm / 8 pm / 9 pm.
• ‘20 years later’ (theatre). Old Town Hall. Performances: 7.30 pm / 8.30 pm / 9.30 pm.
  
  • Balconadas in the historic centre of Calpe. Purísima, San José, Justícia and Dos de Mayo streets and Mosquit, Miguel Roselló and Plaza de España squares.
  • Exhibition ‘Banys de la Reina, la huella romana’ (The Queen's Baths, the Roman footprint). Until 30 December. Museo del Coleccionismo
  • Exhibition ‘Xanadú Ilustrado’. Until 30 September. Exhibition hall of the Old Town Hall.
  • Exhibition ‘Colours in Action’. Until 30 September. Exhibition hall of the Casa de Cultura. (Avda. Masnou, 1).

Sunday, 21st:

Virgen de la Merced Festivity. Bicycle Day:

• • 9:30 a.m. - 1st ‘Baydal’ tribute biker breakfast.
  • 10 a.m. - Children's go-karts in Plaza Colón.
  • 11:45 a.m. – Cycling tour departing from Plaza Colón, arriving at the Church of La Merced at around 1:15 p.m. In-person registration on the 21st, from 10 to 11 a.m. Plaza Colón.
  • 12 noon – Holy Mass for all the deceased.
  • 12:30 p.m. - Children's activities (face painting, workshops, bouncy castle, mechanical bull, etc.).
  • 1:30 p.m. - Batucada performance by ‘BATUGARIA’.
  • 2 p.m. - Giant paella for all attendees, with entertainment by DJ Abraham Pla and DJ David.
  • 8:30 p.m. - Holy Mass for Blessed Francisco Sendra.
  • 10 a.m. / 12 p.m. - Free guided tours of the Banys de la Reina archaeological site. Registration: at the site or by email at cabdelareina@esatur.com.
  • From 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. - Craft markets. Calle Alemania (Arenal-Bol beach) and Plaza Mediterráneo (La Fossa beach).

• • Balconies in the historic centre of Calpe. Calles Purísima, San José, Justícia, Dos de Mayo and the plazas Mosquit, Miguel Roselló and Plaza de España.
  • Exhibition ‘Banys de la Reina, the Roman footprint’. Until 30 December. Museo del Coleccionismo
  • Exhibition ‘Xanadú Ilustrado’. Until 30 September. Exhibition hall of the Ajuntament Vell.
  • Exhibition ‘Colours in action’. Until 30 September. Exhibition hall of the Casa de Cultura. (Avda. Masnou, 1).