Scenes like this were typical with  hillside forts overlooking colorful villages.

The lure of the region are the many beaches lining the coast. In Alicante, the Explanada D'Espanya extends around the yacht harbor and includes mosaic sidewalks under the palms. Towering above is the Castell de Santa Barbara, a Carthaginian fortress later used by Romans and Arabs. 

Torrevieja, once a sleepy fishing village and salt manufacturer is now a modern Spanish city of 50,000.

Like most towns, Torrevieja has experienced a construction boom to keep pace with the demand for holiday homes by Germans and British seeking the sun.

The ancient Moorish city of Murcia lies on the highway between Valencia and Granada. Although it suffered much from fire and bombardment during the Spanish Civil war, it abounds in grand 18th century homes.

The blue tiled roof on this church typifies the Moorish influence on architecture in this region.