Backing Torrevieja are two large lagoons, a pink one used for salt extraction and a green one. They are important habitats for flamingoes and other waders and together form a protected area. From a small visitor centre off the N332 northeast of town near La Mata, you can access paths for strolling, pedalling or birdwatching. Check www.forestbike.es for bike hire nearby.
Parque Natural de las Lagunas de la Mata y Torrevieja
Costa Blanca
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
25.72 MILES
Murcia’s resplendent casino first opened as a gentlemen’s club in 1847. Painstakingly restored to its original glory, the building is a fabulous…
Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Alicante
24.39 MILES
This splendid museum, inside the 17th-century Casa de la Asegurada, has an excellent collection of 20th-century Spanish art, including works by Dalí, Miró…
16.73 MILES
In the Islamic world, a garden is considered a form of Paradise. Elche’s past and culture couldn’t therefore be any more obvious than in these privately…
Museo Arqueológico de Alicante
24.92 MILES
This museum has a strong collection of ceramics and Iberian art. Exhibits are displayed to give the visitor a very visual, high-tech experience, and it's…
16.2 MILES
Low slung but achieving an understated majesty nonetheless, this cathedral is built of light-coloured stone in the centre of the old town and features…
25.71 MILES
Murcia’s cathedral was built in 1394 on the site of a mosque. The initial Gothic architecture was given a playful baroque facelift in 1748, with a…
15.01 MILES
This well-documented site is 3.5km south of the town centre. The Dama de Elche, a masterpiece of Iberian art that’s now in Madrid, was unearthed here…
17.15 MILES
This lovely park on the northern side of central Elche is one of several appealing places to stroll among the rustling palm trees. A small visitor centre…
Nearby Costa Blanca attractions
3.43 MILES
An appealing clutter of mementoes and bric-a-brac, this museum helps you appreciate why salt still means so much to torreviejenses. There's a slow-moving…
3.65 MILES
Anchored at the dock are a submarine and an old customs boat, both of which you can clamber aboard to explore. Onshore alongside are various other vessels…
15.01 MILES
This well-documented site is 3.5km south of the town centre. The Dama de Elche, a masterpiece of Iberian art that’s now in Madrid, was unearthed here…
16 MILES
A 16th-century monastery and university with two fine Renaissance cloisters and a refectory clad in 18th-century tile work, Santo Domingo was built on a…
16.2 MILES
Low slung but achieving an understated majesty nonetheless, this cathedral is built of light-coloured stone in the centre of the old town and features…
6. Museo Diocesano de Arte Sacro
16.21 MILES
This sizeable and sober episcopal palace next to the cathedral now holds a collection of religious art. There are some fine pieces but the undisputed…
7. Iglesia de las Santas Justa y Rufina
16.37 MILES
Worth admiring is this church's Renaissance facade and its Gothic bell tower graced with gargoyles. The single-naved interior also preserves architecture…
8. Iglesia de Santiago Apóstol
16.44 MILES
One of Orihuela's many noteworthy buildings is this mainly 14th-century church, with an impressive late-Gothic facade and a more extrovert baroque portal…