Calpe Old Town is absolutely stunning with beautiful street art and colorful corners. Walking around its narrow streets is by far one of the best things to do in Calpe.
From the Spanish Flag steps to the old city walls, you want to make sure you don’t miss out on any of the highlights in old town Calpe and that’s where I come in.
In this post, I’ll highlight the top sights in the old town of Calpe so you can make sure you don’t miss out on any of them.
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Hi, I’m Linn Haglund, the face behind Brainy Backpackers. I’ve been based in Spain for the last 10+ years, and travel locally and abroad whenever I have a chance. I’m passionate about responsible travel, slow and off the beaten path travel, and outdoor activities, especially hiking. I’m currently slow traveling in my van Persistence (Persi among friends) with my fiancée Mohammed and rescue puppy Atlas. I’m excited to help you explore this planet responsibly!
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Things to do in Calpe Old Town
Walk up the Spanish flag steps
One of the main highlights of Calpe Old Town is walking up the steps that are painted in the colors of the Spanish flag.
Not only is the staircase cool, but there are beautiful things to see on the way up, like artwork on the walls and beautiful doorways with colorful potplants.
Street art of a woman holding a flower
The wall painting of a woman holding a flower in the old town might just be my favorite piece of art. It covers the entire wall in two parts and the artist has made it look like she stares out of the broken wall, holding a flower in her hand out of a different hole in the wall.
You can find this art piece by walking straight down the street after exiting the old city wall’s gate.
Moros y Cristianos wall art
Located on Placa Don Manuel Miró, you’ll find an astounding piece of wall art dedicated to the famous festival of Moros y Cristianos which takes place in several Costa Blanca towns, including Calpe.
It’s a historical fiesta that celebrates the battles between the Moors and the Christians with parades during several days in October every year.
The festival has taken place in Calpe since 1977. We experienced the Moros y Cristianos festival in Crevillente last year and it was such an incredible experience! I just love how the Spanish are proud of their history and culture.
Walk through the old city walls
If you’re a little bit like me, you’ll love the old city walls. There’s not that much left of it, but I really liked the small section going around the main church.
There are some canons outside the gate on the foot of Torreó de la Peça, which is a remaining watch tower on the corner of the wall.
Walk among orange trees
Along the old city walls, behind the Parroquia Nuestra Senora de las Nieves, there’s a beautiful square dotted with orange trees.
In the middle of the square, there are human-sized bronze statues of two children talking with an elderly woman.
Walk down a street with red shoes above your head
Walking past the bronze statues on the square with the orange trees we found a really cool street where there was a multitude of red shoes of all sorts hanging across the street.
It’s not something you see every day and definitely one of the most quirky things to see in Calpe Old Town.
Admire the wall art by Lapsus Bistro (Calle Torreón)
The corner where Lapus Bistro is located in Calle Torreón is not only super cute but there’s a whole wall painted.
This painting depicts Calpe’s streets and has a real Mediterranean feel to it. A few steps further down, there’s a wall with pictures on a “family tree” too which is pretty cool.
Take a picture of the flamingo house
I really loved this small ice cream shop on Placa dels Mariners. It was closed when we were there, but the facade is so cute with colorful paintings of flamingos, which are so typical of Calpe.
It’s definitely worth stopping by to snap a picture even if you can’t try the artisan ice cream.
Parroquia Nuestra Senora de las Nieves
Parroquia Nuestra Senora de las Nieves is a modern church located within the old city walls. While it’s not my cup of tea, there are beautiful paintings inside and pretty stained glass windows worth seeing.
The Old Church
While I don’t really think much of the modern church building that dominates Calpe Old Town (even though there are some nice details inside), I was surprised to explore an old chapel adjacent to the modern building.
You can enter the old 15th-century church either by entering the small garden to the left of the main entrance or through the left opening inside the main church.
It’s a beautiful example of Mudéjar Gothic style. Though it’s a small chapel, it’s got beautiful features keeping the original while having it renovated.
Mosaic mural
This mosaic mural was created in 1902 by a local artist from Alicante, Gastón Castelló. It encompasses Calpe’s history in fishing and farming.
You find it by the tourist information, just around the corner from Placa del Mosquit and the Elias Úrbez mural.
Summing up what to see in Calpe Old Town
Summing up what to see in Calpe Old Town, there’s no doubt it’s a must-see when visiting this charming Costa Blanca town.
What I liked the most about Calpe’s historic center is that no matter what corner you turn, there’s something nice to see.
Wondering if Calpe is worth the trip? Check out my complete post on whether Calpe is worth visiting or not.
Happy travels!