Residential areas Orihuela Costa North

Includes La Chismosa, La Florida, Lago Sol, Los Balcones, Las Piscinas, Villa Rosa, La Ciñuelica, La Florida, Alameda del Mar, Los Pinos, Playa Flamenca (an extension of the beach residential area) and Citrus

At the northern end of the Orihuela Costa area, on the landward side of the main N-332 road which runs along the coast linking all of the beaches and residential areas, is a collection of developments which to a certain extent run seamlessly into one another, creating a large residential area populated in the main by northern Europeans, of whom there are over 18,000 in the municipality.

The developments encompassed by this area include, in no particular order, La Chismosa, La Florida, Lago Sol, Los Balcones, Las Piscinas, Villa Rosa, La Ciñuelica, La Florida, Alameda del Mar, Los Pinos, Playa Flamenca (an extension of the beach residential area) and Citrus, and all of them date almost completely from the 1980s onwards. For this reason the properties contained in them are far from old, and most of them follow the same design: they are small low-rise chalets and apartments: none of the buildings rise above five stories, and most are just one, two or three. There is little construction work still in progress, and indeed little more land left here to build on.

Typically the bungalows and houses have small gardens and are modest in proportions, and many are on gated cul-de-sacs. There is a relatively high occupancy rate all year round, unlike in many of Spain’s coastal resorts and developments, and the resident population ensures that various small shopping centres are able to survive (for example La Florida, Las Piscinas and La Chismosa) alongside the larger complexes in nearby areas, and restaurants offering all types of cuisine are numerous.

Shopping and eating out
The largest of the nearby shopping areas are located next to the N-332, which on its inland side is flanked by a strip of brash, glitzy restaurants, bars and retail outlets catering for shoppers, diners and those seeking leisure activities. This is not to imply that they are in any way sub-standard, but they contrast fairly sharply with the smaller, more discreet establishments which populate the Playa Flamenca and Punta Prima areas next to the beaches. These grew up with the original Spanish “invasion” of Orihuela’s coast a decade or two before the landward side was built up.

Just to the south of this zone is the La Zenia Boulevard mall, while other large retail parks within easy striking distance include Habaneras in Torrevieja (10 minutes’ drive), Dos Mares in San Pedro del Pinatar (15 minutes), Espacio Mediterráneo in Cartagena (30 minutes) and the Nueva Condomina and Thader centres in the north of Murcia (45 minutes). Another interesting shopping visit for shoe fans is to the towns of Elda and Elche, where thousands of locals make their living in the footwear industry, one of the few sectors which have continued to thrive during Spain’s economic crisis over recent years. Shoes from this area are exported all over Europe and the rest of the world, and for those who like to keep abreast of the latest fashions the factory outlets in the area are a veritable shopper’s paradise.

Sports facilities
The main municipal sports facilities of Orihuela Costa are located in the Las Piscinas area, containing an indoor swimming pool, full-size and five-a-side football pitches, tennis courts and paddle tennis facilities and a basketball court, while many of the residential developments also have their own pool and paddle tennis courts. There is a popular bowls club in the La Florida area, with afternoon sessions which are well attended even in the depth of the Mediterranean winter!

Local street markets
Those wishing to sample the wares at typical local street markets in the morning can make a trip to any of the following, all of which are held weekly:
Monday: Santa Pola, San Pedro del Pinatar, Elche.
Tuesday: Orihuela, Mil Palmeras, Benijofar.
Wednesday: Monforte del Cid (fruit and veg only), Guardamar del Segura, La Mata. Santiago de la Ribera, San Miguel de Salinas.
Thursday: Campoamor, Cabo Roig, La Marina, Aspe (fruit and veg only), San Javier, Rojales.
Friday: Torrevieja, Pilar de la Horadada, Los Montesinos.
Saturday: Santa Pola, Almoradi, Playa Flamenca, Elche.
Sunday: La Marina, Ciudad Quesada, Campo Guardamar.

Facilities for local residents
The Orihuela Costa Town Hall offices are located at the southern end of this area on the main road, alongside the Playa Flamenca roundabout on the N-332. This building includes the tourist information office, the council’s department for international residents, the padrón office and representatives of the Policía Local and Guardia Civil. This office is multi-lingual, and there are no difficulties in being given information in English.
For those wishing to take part in courses and other cultural events the Centro Cívico Alameda del Mar is also in this part of Orihuela Costa, on Calle Santa Alodia, just a hundred yards from the N-332 behind the “Flamenco Beach” shopping centre.

Health facilities( Click Orihuela medical facilities)
The local public health centre is in Calle del Mar at the inland end of the Aguamarina area, a couple of kilometers away next to the N-332. During the week there is an all-night emergency unit at this centre, and at weekends this facility is operative 24 hours a day. The telephone number is 965 322965.
The nearest chemist’s is in the older part of La Zenia, on the Avenida del Mar turning off the N-332 at the La Zenia roundabout and heading a few metres down towards the beaches.
Two hospitals are located between 15 and twenty minutes’ drive away: one is the Los Arcos hospital to the south just outside San Javier (leave the AP-7 motorway at km 780 on the RM-1/MU-301 heading towards Santomera and Sucina), and the other is the Torrevieja hospital to the north (signposted from the N-332 on the CV-95 towards Orihuela).

Golf courses ( Click Orihuela sporting facilities)
There are three golf courses within a ten-minute drive of these residential areas, namely Las Ramblas, Campoamor and Villamartín, and Las Colinas and Vistabella are only a few kilometres further afield, as is Lo Romero in the neighbouring municipality of Pilar de la Horadada a few kilometers further south. Under half an hour away by car is the historic town of Orihuela itself, which gives the municipality its name, and other possible visits include the cities of Alicante, Murcia and Cartagena, all of which are well under an hour away by road.

Orihuela City

Under half an hour away by car is the historic town of Orihuela itself, which gives the municipality its name, and other possible visits include the cities of Alicante, Murcia and Cartagena, all of which are well under an hour away by road.

Orihuela as a municipality has a wide range of attractions and activities, with plenty of places to visit and activities to enjoy. More detailed information can be found in the dedicated Orihuela municipality section, accessed via the map box at the bottom of every page, including suggested places to visit and things to do.

The area has a good social scene due to the year round presence of a multicultural community, with a wide range of clubs, charities and associations in not only the La Zenia area but also neighbouring residential areas.

English speaking services are supplied by the Town hall which has an office dedicated to the needs of its foreign residents nearby.

Click for Foreign residents office, Orihuela Costa

Click for beaches overview to see beaches in the Orihuela municipality

Click for the full Orihuela municipality section, which includes information about the whole municipality.

Click for Business directory listings of Agents selling, renting and maintaining property in this area, select property.