For ten days each August this small Costa Blanca town goes all in. The Moors and Christians parades are the thing to catch: troupes in heavy embroidered costume march down Calle Mayor behind brass bands, and on the 13th there's a mock battle where the Christians take back a castle built in the square. Floats and decorated carriages roll through too.
Stick around after dark for the verbenas, when an orchestra sets up and the dancing carries on late. There are communal paellas laid out along the main street, blessed fruit handed out at mass, and the whole thing closes on the 16th with a proper fireworks display. If you fancy the bous al carrer, the street bull-running runs on for a few more days afterwards. It's free, loud and genuinely local.
