CalpeNoticias EN

Friday, 25th:

• 6pm - Workshop on Forest Fire Prevention. Saló Blau. Pre-registration. More information: info@ecosilvo.es
• 8.30 pm - Theatre: ‘Music for Hitler’ with Carlos Hipólito and Kiti Mánver. Auditorium. Free admission.
• Medieval market. Old town:

6 pm - Opening of the medieval market with medieval musicians and dancers.

6 pm - Storytelling.

From 6 pm to 9 pm - Children's workshop on painting chests and masks.

7.30pm – Storytelling.

8pm – Music group with dancer and fire show ‘Ánimas de la noche’ with Vendaval Folk.

9pm – Music group with dancer ‘Los lobos salvajes’ with Vendaval Folk.

• Painting exhibition ‘Numen’ by Isabel de la Mata and Francisca Sanz. Until 30 April. Exhibition Hall of the Ajuntament Vell.
• Photography exhibition ‘La poética del espejo’ by Pedro Javier Pascual, organised by the Foto Club Ifach as part of the XV Penyal d'Ifach Photography Rally. Until 26 April. Exhibition Hall of the Casa de Cultura.

Saturday, 26th:

• Festive Gathering 2025. Plaza Mayor:

From 9.30 am to 12 noon: Popular ‘Esmorzar’ (light lunch)

From 12 noon to 2 pm: Charanga La Motora

From 11.30 am to 6.30 pm: Children's games

From 4 pm to 9 pm: Tardeo with ABDLB brass band

Traditional games tournament and bar service

Giant screen and DJ

• 15th Peñón de Ifach Photo Rally organised by the Ifach Photo Club:

11.45 a.m. – Presentation ‘Mangata, la poética del espejo’ (Mangata, the poetry of the mirror) by Pedro Javier Pascual. Saló Blau.

1 p.m. – Award ceremony for the 15th Peñón de Ifach Photo Rally. Auditorium.

• 5pm - Gardening workshop. Youth Club (Punt Jove - Plaza de la Constitución).
• Painting exhibition ‘Numen’ by Isabel de la Mata and infantil Francisca Sanz. Until 30 April. Exhibition Hall of the Ajuntament Vell.

• Medieval market. Old town:

11am - Market opening.

From 11 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. - Children's workshop on painting chests and masks.

12 noon - Music group with dancer with Vendaval Folk.

12 noon - Storytelling.

1 p.m. - Music group with dancer with Vendaval Folk.

1.15 p.m. - Storytelling.

6 p.m. - Storytelling.

From 6pm to 9pm - Children's workshop on painting chests and masks.

6.30pm - Musical group with dancer with Vendaval Folk.

7.30pm - Storytelling.

8pm - Musical group with dancer and fire show ‘Ánimas de la noche’ with Vendaval Folk.

9pm – Music group with dancer ‘Los lobos salvajes’ with Vendaval Folk.

Sunday, 27th:

• 11am – Free guided tours of the historic centre of Calpe. Registration required on 965836920 / 965 83 85 32 / turismo@ajcalpe.es. Maximum 25 people per group. Meeting point: Casa de Cultura.
• 5pm – Chess tournament. Youth Club (Punt Jove - Plaza de la Constitución).

• Medieval market. Old town:

11am – Market opens.

From 11am to 1.30pm – Children's workshop on painting chests and masks.

12pm – Music group with dancer with Vendaval Folk.

12 noon – Storytelling.

1pm – Music group with dancer with Vendaval Folk.

1.15pm – Storytelling.

6pm – Storytelling.

From 6pm to 9pm – Children's workshop on painting chests and masks.

6.30pm – Music group with dancer with Vendaval Folk.

7.30pm – Storytelling.

8pm – Musical group with dancer and fire show ‘Ánimas de la noche’ with Vendaval Folk.

9pm – Musical group with dancer ‘Los lobos salvajes’ with Vendaval Folk.

           10pm – Market closes.

Last year, Calpe Town Council applied to the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office to register the trademark “Gamba Blanca de Calpe” with the aim of creating a distinctive symbol to help promote and enhance this product, as well as highlighting its excellence.

The Town Council has now been informed that the period for filing objections has expired without any opposition being lodged, and the Patent and Trademark Office is therefore initiating the procedure to register the trademark ‘Gamba Blanca de Calpe’ so that it will soon be official.

As part of the celebrations for the centenary of the Fishermen's Guild last year, various initiatives were organised to promote the ‘Gamba Blanca de Calpe’ brand, from the 1st Calpe White Prawn Conference organised by the Guild and the Town Council to the participation of the three Michelin-starred chefs in Calpe (Rafa Soler, from Audrey's, José Manuel Miguel, from Beat, and Andrea Drago, from Orobianco) at Madrid Fusion cooking Calpe white prawns, and the distribution of cones of fried white prawns at Fitur.

The ‘Gamba Blanca de Calpe’ brand joins the already recognised ‘Peix de Calpe’ brand launched years ago by the Town Council, Creama and the Fishermen's Guild to promote and enhance the fish sold by the Guild in the municipality. The ‘Gamba Blanca de Calpe’ brand highlights the excellence of this gastronomic product, of which 2,000 kilos arrive daily at the port of Calpe, emphasising its versatility, which makes it an ideal delicacy for both haute cuisine and home cooking.

The Head of the Calpe Fishermen's Association, Paco Catalá, pointed out that ‘white prawns are currently the star product of the Calpe Fishermen's Association. They are fished throughout the Mediterranean, but those that arrive at the Calpe fish market are particularly tasty due to the combination of grass and rock found on our coastline. The white prawn is a very healthy product because it comes directly from its natural environment, without any artificial processes. Both the Guild and the Town Council are working to promote this product, to make it known as it deserves, and we are also trying to involve restaurants so that they offer it on their menus because it is a quality product’.

Calpe Town Hall invites residents and visitors to travel back in time with the celebration of the Medieval Market, which will take place from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 April in the Old Town of the town.

For three days, the streets of the historic centre will be transformed into a colourful stage with craft stalls, medieval atmosphere, live music, parades, storytelling and fire shows. All of this will be set in an atmosphere evoking the Middle Ages, with period costumes, an exhibition of traditional tools and the presence of a majestic medieval dragon.

The little ones will also have their space with a children's corner, which will have educational games, ingenuity tables, and workshops for painting chests and masks, available at different times throughout the weekend.

The programme kicks off on Friday at 18:00 with the official opening of the market and will continue with storytelling, musical performances and a fire show entitled ‘Ánimas de la noche’ (Souls of the night). The activities will continue throughout Saturday and Sunday with a varied repertoire of cultural and leisure activities, including the participation of the group Vendaval Folk, who will perform traditional music accompanied by dancers.

The market will close its doors on Sunday 27th at 22:00, putting an end to a weekend full of magic, tradition and entertainment for all ages.

Plainclothes and uniformed officers from the Civil Guard and Calpe Local Police deployed a police operation a few days ago against the illegal sale and counterfeiting of products. This action is part of a prevention and deterrence campaign that will continue throughout the spring and summer of 2025 in the fight against illegal street vending.

The police operation, which was assisted by a drone from the UMAC (Calpe Local Police Air Unit), involved officers from the Civil Guard Main Station and the specialised unit that monitors the borders and controls taxation in our country, known by the acronym PAFIF (Tax and Border Patrol), as well as the UTAI and USCCALPE units of the Calpe Local Police. of the Calpe Local Police. In total, more than 25 officers from both forces took part in this police operation, which was carried out on the Levante and Poniente beaches in Calpe.

As a result of the operation, five vehicles used as alleged warehouses were seized, along with 180 leather goods, 212 T-shirts, 38 swimsuits, 12 caps and 291 pairs of trainers were seized, all counterfeit goods with a potential market value of 15,000 euros, counting only the seized material, plus the value of the immobilised vehicles. The identified sellers were also reported to the competent authorities.

The Councillor for Public Safety at Calpe Town Council, Guillermo Sendra Guardiola, expressed his satisfaction with the good relationship and spirit of collaboration and cooperation between the Civil Guard and the Local Police. ‘The fact that both forces work together and combine their efforts and resources translates into increased safety for the residents of Calpe and visitors,’ said the councillor.

The municipal by-law prohibits both the street sale and purchase of these products, so the local government's commitment is not only focused on enforcing the law, but also on raising awareness in the community about the risks and implications of supporting this type of illegal trade.

The Calpe Tourist Board has taken part in a roadshow in Poland with the aim of promoting the municipality and attracting new tourists from this booming emerging market.

The event, Spanish Event 2025, was organised by Nekera, one of Poland's leading tour operators, and Turespaña, and took place in Katowice, Poznan and Warsaw. Fifteen Spanish regions and 11 hotel chains participated, and more than 360 of Nekera's best travel agency salespeople from all over Poland attended.

The travel agents had the opportunity to learn about Calpe's tourist attractions and talk directly with representatives from the Department of Tourism and the AR Hotels chain. Specifically, they were able to learn not only about Calpe's beaches, but also its sports, gastronomic and cultural offerings, as Polish tourists, in addition to sun and beach tourism, like to engage in activities and enjoy cultural events during their travels.

This is the first time that Calpe Town Council has taken part in this tourism promotion tour together with the AR Hotels hotel chain, given the importance that the Polish market has acquired in recent years. It should be noted that the Valencian Community was the autonomous region that saw the highest growth in Polish tourist visits in 2024, with an increase of 59 per cent over the previous year, and was, with 18.5 per cent, the second most popular destination for visitors from this country last year, after the Canary Islands.

Furthermore, Alicante airport receives the most flights from Poland in the whole of Spain. Most tourist traffic from Poland to Spain is carried by regular airlines, including low-cost carriers such as Ryanair and Wizz Air.

The Calpe delegation highlighted the importance of maintaining a constant presence at these international events, especially in emerging markets with high growth potential such as Poland. ‘Our participation in the Polish roadshow is essential to consolidate our position in this strategic market. The excellent results obtained last year encourage us to persevere with these promotional activities,’ said the Councillor for International Promotion, Marco Bittner, adding that the tourism sector is seeking to diversify its traditional source markets and take advantage of the significant increase in air connections with Poland.

The tour operator Nekera, organiser of this promotional event, currently has contracts with almost 2,400 travel agent offices and 50 franchise offices. It should be noted that when booking their holidays, Poles prefer to contact their travel agent directly, and this trend is expected to continue over the next few years.

In 2024, Nekera increased traffic to Spain by 60% and expects to increase it by another 30% in 2025. It offers holiday trips to 150 destinations in 51 countries around the world. It has a network of 2,600 multi-channel agencies in Poland and operates from 14 Polish airports.

This event has become an unmissable date in the calendar of important events in the Polish tourism sector, as it has a wide reach and extensive coverage in foreign media.

The meeting in Warsaw was also attended by the Spanish Ambassador to Poland, Ramiro Fernández Bachiller, and the Secretary of State at the Polish Ministry of Sport, Piotr Borys.

This week, students from Calpe will begin to receive subsidies to cover the transport costs of their studies outside the municipality. A total of 229 students have benefited from these subsidies, for which the Town Council has allocated a total of €113,803.

This aid is intended to help cover part of the transport costs of students who have been enrolled during the school year in a public, private or state-subsidised private educational centre located outside the municipality.

To apply for the grants, applicants must have been registered as residents of Calpe for at least two years, be up to date with their tax obligations to the Town Council, the Tax Agency and the Social Security, submit the application and all other relevant documentation in the required form and on time, and have passed 50% of the subjects they are enrolled in.

The grants range from €198 to €633 depending on the distance from the centre. Thus, the maximum amount of the grants in the case of Intermediate or Advanced Vocational Training is up to €264 if the distance is less than 20 kilometres and up to €396 if it is greater than 20 kilometres, for professional arts education, up to €264 if the distance is less than 20 km and up to €396 if it is greater than 20 km; for higher arts education, up to €396 if the distance is less than 20 km and up to €528 if it is greater than 20 km.

In the case of undergraduate, master's and doctoral university courses, up to €396 if the distance is less than 20 km and up to €528 if it is greater than 20 km, and for UNED distance learning and online university courses, €198.

A total of 52 students have been excluded for reasons such as late submission of documentation, not having passed 50% of their subjects or not studying at centres recognised by the Ministry of Education.

Calpe City Council has taken a decisive step in its commitment to gender equality with the creation of the Working Group for the Feminisation of Public Spaces, and the drafting of regulations that establish the principles and procedures for incorporating female references into the municipality's street map.

This working group was created as an advisory body for the Equality Unit of Calpe Town Council, and its purpose is to provide perceptive and non-binding information on all matters relating to the naming of women's names for the municipality's various public spaces, as well as to document and propose names of women or groups of women for incorporation into the names of streets, squares and other public spaces. The aim is to make the role of women in history and society more visible.

The regulations establish that the group will be made up of the Mayor's Office or the person delegated by the Mayor's Office on equality issues, who will chair the group; technical staff from the City Council's culture, geographic information systems, urban planning and equality departments. The group will also include one person representing each of the municipal political groups and another person for each of the associations in Calpe whose main objectives include gender equality, the elimination of discrimination between men and women, and the promotion of women's empowerment and participation.

The regulations provide for the creation of a Proposal Bank in which justified nominations of women or women's groups likely to receive public recognition may be included. The working group will be in charge of evaluating and ranking these proposals by score.

Among the general criteria, preference is given to women with links to Calpe, as well as to those who have contributed to the feminist struggle, the advancement of rights or who have excelled in fields such as science, education, art or culture.

Likewise, the so-called ‘zipper criterion’ will be applied to ensure a balanced geographical representation: one woman from the municipality, one from the Valencian Community, one from the state and one from an international context. Duplications will also be avoided and traditional local toponymy will be prioritised.

With this initiative, Calpe Town Council reinforces its commitment to effective equality between women and men, promoting the symbolic and social recognition of women through their visibility in public spaces.

Special Easter security measures - Calpe

To coincide with Holy Week, Calpe Town Council is activating special measures from today, Friday 11th April, which will involve increasing police presence on the town's streets. The aim is to guarantee the safety of both Calpe's citizens and the numerous visitors expected to arrive during these holidays.

The councillor for public safety, Guillermo Sendra, and the local police have held a meeting to coordinate the operation. The plan is to increase the number of patrols, especially in areas with the highest concentration of people, such as the promenades and the old town, where the traditional processions will take place.

In addition, surveillance will be stepped up against unauthorized street vending, which is common on the promenades at this time of year.

‘We have very positive forecasts in terms of hotel occupancy, which indicates a large influx of tourists. This means an additional effort for the Local Police, and for this reason I would like to sincerely thank them for their dedication, commitment and professionalism,’ said Sendra.

For his part, the Chief Superintendent of the Local Police, Juan Antonio Sánchez, has assured that the operation is ready: ‘Everything is prepared so that both the residents of Calpe and the visitors can enjoy a peaceful and safe holiday’.

Friday 11th

• 15th Book Fair. From 11 to 21 April. Plaza Mediterráneo.

6 pm – Opening of the fair.

• 18.30 h – Inauguration of the permanent photographic exhibition ‘Retrospectivas de Calp’ by Jacky Vázquez.
• 20 h – Easter Week - Procession of the Virgen de los Dolores. Historic centre of Calpe.
• Painting exhibition ‘Numen’ by Isabel de la Mata and Francisca Sanz. Until 30th April. Exhibition Hall of the Ajuntament Vell.
• Photography exhibition ‘La poética del espejo’ by Pedro Javier Pascual, organised by the Foto Club Ifach as part of the 15th Penyal d'Ifach Photography Rally. Until 26th April. Exhibition hall of the Casa de Cultura.

Saturday, 12th:

• 15th Book Fair. From 11th to 21st April. Plaza Mediterráneo.

11 am – Start of the drawing competition ‘Books and me’, a competition in which the participants (children aged 7 to 14) must express their relationship with books and literature through a drawing. Participants will deposit their drawings (with their name and surname and a contact telephone number) in a box at the stand of the Joanot Martorell Municipal Public Library.

13:00 – Book ‘Peque detectives, un fin de semana’ (Little detectives, a weekend), by Piedad Isabel Parra Garrido.

18:00 – Storytelling ‘Aventura Pirata’ (Pirate Adventure) by Grupo A Riure.

• From 10:00 to 14:00 – Yellow humour day with games, challenges and tests. Parc de la Creativitat.
• 7.30 p.m. – Easter: Holy mass of twinning and appointment of the Standard-Bearer of Holy Week 2025 and first ‘Levantà’ (raising of the statues) of the images at the end of the mass.
• Painting exhibition ‘Numen’ by Isabel de la Mata and Francisca Sanz. Until 30th April. Exhibition Hall of the Ajuntament Vell.
• Photographic exhibition ‘La poética del espejo’ by Pedro Javier Pascual, organised by the Foto Club Ifach as part of the 15th Penyal d'Ifach Photographic Rally. Until 26th April. Exhibition Hall of the Casa de Cultura.

Sunday, 13th:

• 11 h. - Free guided tours of the historic centre of Calp. Registration required: 965836920 / 965 83 85 32 / turismo@ajcalp.es. Maximum 25 people per group. Meeting point: Casa de Cultura.
• 15th Book Fair. 11th to 21st April. Plaza Mediterráneo.

11am – ‘Books and me’ drawing competition.

• 12pm – Workshop on the prevention of child sexual abuse, by Nuria Ruiz and Nerea Mascarell Rivas, Child Development Support Programme, Calp Social Services.
• 6pm – Giant Games Collection activity, by Grupo A Riure.
• 19.30 h – Micro-concert of guitar music by Alejandro González and Cristian Vázquez Such.

Easter:

• 11 h – Blessing of the Palms at the El Salvador hermitage of
• 18 h – Procession of the Nuestra Señora de la Salud Brotherhood

Calpe (08-04-2025). Calpe Town Council has approved a motion at the municipal plenary to improve street signage in the municipality with the aim of making it easier for residents and visitors to find their way around the town.

The new signage will include a detailed study to identify critical points and prominent tourist areas. This will allow for clearer and more up-to-date signs, facilitating the movement of both vehicles and people, and providing easier access to emblematic places and local heritage.

On another item on the agenda, the council expressed its support for the local fishing industry by presenting arguments against the proposed regulation of the Common Fisheries Policy. The Town Council emphasises the importance of defending the economic and social interests of a sector that is key to the local economy as well as to the maintenance of the cultural and gastronomic traditions of the town.

The Town Council will work to ensure that European regulations support and do not harm the sector, especially with regard to artisanal and traditional fishing. The three most important points of the manifesto are the review and updating of the data on the reduction of the fishing fleet; financial compensation for fishermen for the collection of marine waste; and the modification of the calculation of the Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) in the Mediterranean based on the most vulnerable species.

Another of the issues dealt with in the plenary session was giving the green light to the initial approval of the municipal ordinance regulating the possession and coexistence of pets in public spaces. This ordinance seeks to promote responsible coexistence between pet owners and the rest of the public, establishing clear rules on aspects such as the collection of excrement, permitted areas for animals and responsible behaviour.

Regarding the responsibility for collection and cleaning, animal owners are obliged to immediately collect excrement in public roads and spaces, with the aim of maintaining the hygiene and health of the town. In addition, all pets must be properly identified by microchip and registered in the municipal census to ensure animal protection, facilitate their location in case of loss and control responsible ownership.

The new Pet Ordinance will also include information campaigns to raise public awareness of responsible pet ownership.

Off the agenda, it was voted that, on a transitional basis, the City Council may pay social emergency aid since it has not been covered since 1 January 2025 as the 2025-2028 Programme Contract between the Generalitat and local authorities has not been signed. This programme contract implements transfers for the financing of actions in the field of social services, including social emergency aid.

Calpe Town Council has officially presented the project for the new Museu Fester, which will be built in Plaza de España, where the house of Poquet Beltrán is currently located. This project involves the recovery of a cultural facility that closed its doors approximately fifteen years ago due to structural problems in the old building and municipal economic difficulties.

This innovative building, designed by Procon Studio in Benissa, aspires to become an architectural landmark that will revitalise the historic centre of Calpe in both cultural and urban terms. The structure of the future museum will consist of some 400 square metres distributed over a ground floor and two upper floors, designed to integrate respectfully into its historical surroundings, while at the same time providing an outstanding contemporary character.

A unique feature of the project is its backlit façade, covered by a white lacquered ceramic latticework, which will change colour, giving the building a unique visual appeal that can be adapted to the different festive celebrations of the town.

The tour of the museum is designed to begin on the second floor, which covers 87 m² and will house the exhibitions dedicated to Holy Week, the festivities of El Carme and La Merced, the patron saint's day celebrations and the bullfighting festivities, as well as having a multipurpose area for events and temporary exhibitions with capacity for around 25 or 30 people.

On the first floor, with a surface area of 170 m², there will be a space dedicated to the Moors and Christians, where the costumes of the festive positions, pennants and a special exhibition of the typical festive trousseaus will be displayed in a more secluded and intimate environment.

Finally, the 160 m² ground floor will house technical services, toilets, reception, lift and stairs. Of particular note on this level is the innovative multimedia room, designed to project audiovisuals about Calpe's traditions on the walls and ceiling, making them visible even from the outside.

The Museu Fester forms part of the Plan for Sustainable Tourism in Calpe, within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, financed by Next Generation EU funds with the support of the Regional Ministry of Tourism of the Valencian Community - Turisme Comunitat Valenciana - and the Secretary of State for Tourism. This project will involve a total investment of 1,664,000 euros, of which 401,722 euros will be financed with Next Generation funds, supplemented by the Calpe City Council's own resources. The City Council will soon proceed to tender the works, which will have an estimated execution period of 10 months from their award.

This museum is envisaged as a living place that promotes interaction, collective memory and pride in the traditions of the inhabitants of Calpe.

This Easter, healthcare returns to the beach in Calpe. From 14 April to 4 May, the Dénia health department will open the auxiliary clinic located on La Fossa beach in Calpe.

The opening hours are Monday to Friday, from 08:00 to 15:00. It will be closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. The service will be provided by health personnel from the Calpe Health Centre and will have a team consisting of a doctor, a nurse and an administrator.

The opening of this auxiliary healthcare centre represents a reinforcement of healthcare in areas with the greatest healthcare pressure during holiday periods. It offers basic care to citizens such as minor emergencies, treatment or control of chronic pathologies. Users are recommended to bring their health card and, in the case of chronicity, to bring the prescribed medication.

The medical centre is located at number 3 Avenida Juan Carlos I.

The Casa Nova country house in Calpe will become the setting for the charity exhibition ‘Arte por la DANA’ (Art for DANA Flood), organised by the Calpe Culture Council in collaboration with the Arte-son Group. This exhibition will feature the participation of almost 50 contemporary artists who will present works in various disciplines, including sculpture, painting, ceramics, photography and graphic design.

The Arte-son Group is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the organisation of contemporary art exhibitions in different locations in Spain, bringing together nationally renowned artists. They have held exhibitions in cities such as Santander, Toledo, Madrid, Valencia, Benicarló and Alcoi, among others.

The initiative arose in response to the devastating storm that affected the province of Valencia. In a first solidarity exhibition, 70 artists, both Valencian and from other parts of Spain, contributed their works to the Clock Building of the Port of Valencia, raising 12,722 euros. This amount was donated to AADISA, the Alfafar-based association for the support of people with functional diversity, enabling the installation of a new boiler, the replacement of a multi-sensory bed and the purchase of materials for classrooms dedicated to pupils with autism spectrum disorder.

Now, the Arte-son Group, together with the Department of Culture of Calpe Town Council, is organising a new charity exhibition of contemporary art at the Masía Casa Nova. The funds raised from the sale of the works will be managed by the Aportem Puerto Solidario Association, which was also in charge of the previous exhibition in Valencia.

The new exhibition will feature the work of 47 artists, some of them from Calpe, as well as Valencian and international artists. To facilitate the purchase of the works, the artists have decided to significantly reduce the sale prices, allowing visitors to acquire quality art at affordable prices, with the aim of allocating the funds to those affected by the DANA.

The exhibition ‘Art for DANA Flood’ will be open to the public from 11th April to 10th May 2025, from Monday to Saturday, at the Masía Casa Nova in Calpe.

Calpe is preparing to host a new edition of its traditional Book Fair, which this year celebrates its fifteenth edition from 11 to 21 April, from 11:00 to 21:00. The event, organised by the Joanot Martorell Municipal Public Library and the Department of Culture, has the collaboration of the local bookshops Nou Art, J. Vázquez and Librería Vázquez Such.

The fair, which is being held in the Plaza Mediterráneo, will have a large marquee that will house the booksellers who intend to publicise both the latest literary novelties and the great works of universal literature. In addition, the fair will feature parallel activities such as workshops, concerts, storytelling, competitions, exhibitions and book presentations.

The fair will open on Friday 11th April at 6pm and on the same day the permanent photographic exhibition ‘Retrospectivas de Calpe’ (Retrospectives of Calpe) will be inaugurated by JackyCalpe Ifac.

One of the central themes will be the drawing competition ‘Books and me’, aimed at children aged between 7 and 14, which will start on Saturday the 12th. The competition seeks to encourage a relationship between young people and reading through artistic expression. The awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday the 16th.

On Saturday 12th at 1 pm the presentation of the book ‘Peque detectives un fin de semana’ by Piedad Isabel Parra Garrido is scheduled and in the afternoon, at 6 pm, the storytelling ‘Aventura pirata’ by the Grupo A Riure will be held.

On Sunday 13th, at 12 noon, there will be a workshop on the prevention of child sexual abuse, by Nuria Ruiz and Neera Mascarell Rivas, at 6 pm there will be giant games with the A Riure Group and at 7.30 pm there will be a guitar micro-concert with Alejandro González and Cristian Vázquez Such.

On Monday the programme will continue with the presentation at 1 pm of the book ‘Morent’ by José Luís Luri and the book ‘Kao tiene dos caras’ by Andrea Roselló at 5 pm. On Tuesday 15 April the winners of the drawing competition will be announced and at 6 pm the book ‘El hermano de Caín’ by Ramiro Pérez Mañagil will be signed.

On Wednesday 16th at 1.30 pm the drawing competition awards ceremony will take place and at 6 pm Nuria Ruiz from Librería Nou Art will offer a storytelling session and a craft workshop. On Thursday at 12 noon the book ‘Quizá desde la ventana’ (Perhaps from the Window) by Sara Mañero Rodicio will be presented, at 6 pm there will be a children's workshop on mandala bookmarks by the A Riure Group and at 7.30 pm there will be a concert by students from the José Tomás Professional Conservatory in Alicante.

Friday 18 April will kick off with a mega guitar concert at 12 noon by students Rosario Caselló and Cristian Vázquez. At 5 pm Estefanía Villar Soler will present the book ‘Mi proyecto más importante soy yo’ (My most important project is me) and at 6 pm Sergio Ruíz Fuentes will present the book ‘Mejorar la memoria’ (Improve your memory). Finally, at 7 pm, a rap concert by the group Jocin is scheduled.

On the last Saturday of the fair, at 11 am, attendees can enjoy the exhibition of philatelic publications from the 19th and 20th centuries. At 12 noon the book ‘Dentro de Ifac’ by Rafael Terol will be presented, at 5 pm the book ‘El enigma del tesoro escondido’ by Albert Alanzabes González and at 6.30 pm the talk ‘La literatura filatélica a lo largo de los años’ by José Ivars Ivars.

Sunday 20th will begin with a mini-concert by the duo Amalgama with saxophonist Quico Bolo and guitarist Cristian Vázquez. And at 6 pm the A riure Group will offer the activity Bicipinta Caligrama.

The fair will close on Monday 21st April with the Games Workshop and the official closing ceremony at 2 pm. The Calpe Book Fair 2025 is thus consolidated as a space for cultural encounters, citizen participation and the promotion of reading at all ages.

The Calpe-based NGO Visió Sense Fronteres is planning to carry out a new campaign for the prevention and treatment of avoidable blindness. In this case, it will travel for the first time to the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, one of the largest in the world, housing nearly 300,000 refugees and asylum seekers.

The expedition will travel to this camp from 10 to 21 April and will be made up of three ophthalmologists, two nurses, an anesthetist, three optometrists and a volunteer. They have been helped by the humanitarian organisation Embracing the World in Kenya, as well as by two local nurses who have been in charge of finding patients affected by cataracts. There are two hospitals in the camp, but they do not have any ophthalmology specialists, only one nurse with some knowledge of the subject.

The Kakuma refugee camp, located in north-western Kenya, is home to refugees and asylum seekers mainly from South Sudan and Somalia, but also from other African countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Sudan and Ethiopia, most of whom have fled war, violence and persecution in East Africa and the Horn of Africa.

Visió Sense Fronteres expects to operate on 300 eyes and ‘thus give these people the opportunity, through a simple operation accessible to any citizen of the first world, to recover their vision and improve their quality of life as much as possible,’ said the coordinator of this NGO, Isabel Signes.

This campaign once again has the collaboration of Calpe City Council.

Friday, 4:

• 7.30pm. Presentation of the books on Freemasonry by Dr. José Antonio Ferrer Benimeli, historian and member of the Royal Academy of History. Assembly hall of the Seu Universitària de CALPE Casa Nova.

• 20:00. Tribute concert to Giuseppe Verdi by tenor José Luis Luri and pianist Shlomo Rodríguez. Saló Blau, Casa de Cultura. Tickets €10.

• Painting exhibition ‘Numen’ by Isabel de la Mata and Francisca Sanz. Until 30 April 2025, the Exhibition Hall of the Ajuntament Vell

• Photographic exhibition ‘La poética del espejo’ by Pedro Javier Pascual, organised by the Foto Club Ifach as part of the 15th Penyal d'Ifach Photographic Rally. Until 26th April in the exhibition hall of the Casa de Cultura

Saturday, 5:

• Presentations of the 15th Penyal d'Ifach Photographic Rally in the Saló Blau of the Casa de Cultura.

• 10:00h – ‘Photographing the darkness’ with Arturo Rodríguez.

• 12:00h – ‘History of a project that seemed impossible: From closed doors to an award-winning work’ with Laura León.

• 16:30h – ‘From Hollywood glamour to African schools’ with Ana Palacios.

• 17h. Graffiti workshop at the Youth Club (Punt Jove- plaza Constitución)

• 18:30h. Children's Theatre ‘Bunji the Little Koala’. Auditorium, free admission.

• 7.30pm. Easter proclamation by the Reverend Joaquín Blas Pastor in the parish church of Virgen de las Nieves.

• Painting exhibition ‘Numen’ by Isabel de la Mata and Francisca Sanz. Until 30th April 2025, the Exhibition Hall of the Ajuntament Vell

• Photographic exhibition ‘La poética del espejo’ by Pedro Javier Pascual, organised by the Foto Club Ifach as part of the 15th Penyal d'Ifach Photographic Rally. Until 26th April in the exhibition hall of the Casa de Cultura

Sunday, 6:

• 11 am. Free guided tours of the historic centre of CALPE. Registration required: 965836920 / 965 83 85 32 / turismo@ajcalpe.es. Maximum 25 people per group. Meeting point: Casa de Cultura.

• 12:45. Xaranga La Xarlotà concert. In the parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Merced.

• 17:00. Youth Challenge: New challenges: Youth Club (Punt Jove - Plaza de la Constitución).

A few months ago, it was announced that Calpe, together with Benigánim and Alcora, had been chosen as pilot municipalities for the implementation of the Single Social Record computer system. This project, with a cost of more than 4 million euros and which should be implemented in all the municipalities of the Valencian Community by the end of 2026, aims to bring together health and social services records, creating a common space to avoid bureaucracy and improve citizen services.

It is a tool that will enable the relationship between the levels of primary care and social care, with the aim of achieving continuity and complementarity of interventions and providing a better service to citizens. The social history will facilitate health and social services professionals in planning the diagnosis, the design of customized social intervention plans and individual care plans and diagnoses.

To begin the implementation of this project, training has already begun for the staff of the Social Services department, who over the past week have received instruction on the tools and development of the Single Social Record.

The Councillor for Social Policy and Equality, Itziar Doval, stressed that this implementation is a fundamental step towards improving social care in Calpe. ‘We are very proud to be the first in the province to implement this innovative system that simplifies management and improves the quality of care for our residents. With the Single Social Record, we are taking a leap forward in our ability to offer more efficient, coordinated and integrated social services, always with the aim of guaranteeing the well-being of the people we serve,’ said Doval.

The creation of this electronic social and healthcare space will enable a more effective and agile response to the needs of residents, taking into account the relationship between health and social care. In addition, it establishes a solid basis for integrating other areas of the Generalitat in the future, such as education and employment, creating a more efficient system.

Calpe is thus positioning itself as a benchmark in the modernisation of social services in the province, with the aim of continuing to improve the quality of life of service users and optimising the management of available resources.

The Town Council has carried out an exhaustive review of the state of the solar streetlights installed in various housing developments in the municipality. This review has been carried out in collaboration with the successful tenderer, Sociedad Ibérica de Construcciones Eléctricas, S.A. (SICE), and the manufacturer of the lights, with the aim of verifying that they are working correctly.

During the inspections, which were carried out on 3, 5, 11 and 18 February and 3, 10 and 11 March 2025, visual checks and functional tests were carried out by forcing the activation of the luminaires using a manufacturer's remote control.

In total, 366 solar-powered streetlights have been inspected, of which 20 have been stolen and 32 are not working properly. Of these 32 streetlights, 29 will require an additional review by the contracted company to determine the necessary repair actions, that is, the company must repair the street lights that are not currently working. The theft of 20 streetlamps has already been reported.

Calpe Town Council will continue to monitor the state of the installations and will demand that the contractor company take the appropriate measures to guarantee the correct functioning of the solar lighting in the municipality. Likewise, the necessary measures will be taken to avoid new acts of vandalism affecting this infrastructure.

On the other hand, the municipal services are already preparing a new contract to continue installing lights in new areas and improve the current service. The new contract will have a tender price of €150,000.

In this way, the Urbanisation Lighting Plan will be continued in order to keep improving public lighting in these areas. The Town Hall's objective is to implement new lighting plans with the aim of ensuring that all housing developments have public lighting. In this sense, it should be remembered that Calpe has 75 housing developments within its municipal boundaries, some of which date from the 60s and 70s, with the consequent deterioration of their infrastructures.

The mayoress, Ana Sala, has pointed out that ‘it is good news to hear the report on the state of the solar streetlamps that the City Council has been installing over the last three years. We are going to continue improving. Some streetlamps have been stolen and the corresponding complaint has been filed. Other streetlamps must be repaired because we are within the warranty period and we are going to ask the company that holds the contract for this installation to repair them as soon as possible. On the other hand, we are going to invest 150,000 euros in new street lighting for new streetlamps with their corresponding maintenance in those residential areas where the lighting is more precarious, and we hope to continue investing in this area in the coming months. In no case do we forget about the residential areas”.

Calpe Town Council plans to modify the cycle lane that runs along Avenida de los Ejércitos Españoles, between La Niña and Letonia streets. The aim is to redistribute the space used by pedestrians and cyclists in order to improve safety for both users.

Currently, this section has a combined pavement and cycle lane, i.e. the cycle lane runs along the pavement without a kerb and is located at the innermost part of the pavement. Next to the cycle lane towards the road there is a one-metre-wide pavement and finally a garden area. The aim of these works is to move the pedestrian pavement to this innermost end in order to facilitate access for pedestrians to the shops located in the area, while avoiding the need for people to cross the cycle route.

The pedestrian pavement will also be wider, increasing from one to three metres in width, and will be separated from the cycle lane by a landscaped area of more than one metre - where street furniture and trees will be located - thus making the route safer for cyclists and pedestrians. The cycle lane, in turn, will be separated from the line of on-street parking that exists along this entire stretch by a space almost one metre wide.

In addition to the renovation of street furniture and tree planting, the works will also include the installation of special paving for the cycle lane, more suitable and resistant for this use.

This project is included in the Plan for Sustainable Tourism in Destinations (PSTD) which has the support of the Regional Ministry of Tourism of the Valencian Community - Turisme Comunitat Valenciana - and the Secretary of State for Tourism within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR) financed by the European Union - Next Generation.

The project, which has a base amount of €449,682.13, has already been put out to tender and is currently in the evaluation phase pending award. It is estimated to take four months to complete.

‘With this initiative we not only aim to create a safer route for citizens, but also to facilitate their mobility and accessibility along one of the main thoroughfares in Calpe,’ said the Councillor for Infrastructure, Juan Manuel del Pino, who added that this project is part of the Calpe council's commitment to promoting the use of bicycles and pedestrian routes.

The Mayoress of Calpe, Ana Sala, and the Councillor for Health, Itziar Doval, held a meeting yesterday with Eva Suárez, Director General of Primary Care, Enrique Soler, Deputy Director General of Primary Care, Juana Belmar López, Deputy Director General of Infrastructure of the Regional Ministry of Health and César Jiménez Alcañiz, Head of the Healthcare Infrastructure Service, to convey directly the urgent need to build a second health centre in the municipality. To this end, the Town Council has already approved the transfer of a 13,675 m² plot of land for public use.

This meeting is in response to the unanimous agreement adopted by the Plenary Session of Calpe Town Council on 8 October last, in which the Regional Ministry of Health was urged to resume a project that had been committed to since 2008 in the management contract signed with Marina Salud S.A. This contract expressly contemplated the construction of a second integrated health centre in Calpe, an infrastructure that was never built.

Following the end of the concession and the return of healthcare management to the hands of the regional government in 2024, the City Council believes that it is time to settle this historical debt with the citizens. To facilitate its execution, the Calpe City Council has ceded to the Regional Ministry a 13,675 m² plot of land located in the Gargasindi area, next to the future Les Salines Secondary School.

However, at yesterday's meeting, municipal officials were told that it is necessary to formally present the transfer of the land to the Regional Ministry to analyse the suitability of the plot before it is accepted.

This new infrastructure would help alleviate the current saturation of the only existing health centre, designed in 1990 for just 9,000 health cards, and which today serves a population that multiplies by five in high season, reaching peaks of almost 125,000 people.

The Regional Ministry has also pointed out that the fact that the investment in the new health centre does not appear in the general budget of the Regional Government for 2025 does not mean that it cannot be carried out.

The Mayoress and the councillor for health have also requested that until the new health centre is a reality, healthcare provision be reinforced by opening the auxiliary summer clinic all year round. In this regard, the regional authorities have emphasised the difficulty of filling vacancies in the Denia health area. In fact, even with a budget, the auxiliary centre does not open all year round due to a lack of professionals. However, there is a willingness to open the auxiliary centre to improve the service while the second health centre is being built, provided that there are enough professionals.

The municipal government team has positively valued the climate of dialogue maintained during the meeting. ‘This second health centre is not a whim: it is an urgent necessity, planned for since 2008 and which Marina Salud S.A. has failed to fulfil. It is a key project to guarantee decent healthcare for residents and visitors,’ said the Mayoress, Ana Sala.