WHEN you come here in Denia, Spain, you will experience festivals the whole year. Among the fiestas that stand out are the falles bonfire, the fiesta in honor of patron Holy Blood, the commemoration of the Moors and Christians battle and the All Saints attraction fair. In the falles bonfire, fireworks accompany the burning of the bonfire. In the feast in honor to the Holy Blood, the locals here in Denia dedicated their bulls to the sea. Speaking of bulls, Denia has lots of them Spain being the country where bullfighting all began. Bulls are not only considered for fighting, they are also considered as exotic food. You may find cooked bull meat in the ranches or served in a few daring restaurants.

Speaking of food, Denia espouses the most exquisite Spanish cuisine. Their main staple here is arros a banda or rice cooked with fish stock. Rice is actually a staple in Spain which extends its influence as far as Japan and even in Southeast Asia. Only Americans and Italians eat their buns, here in Spain we serve rice. The fish stock itself doesn’t come from frozen fish, it comes from fish immediately cooked after being caught in the Mediterranean. All you need to do in cooking arros a banda is to sauté your boiled rice in a pan mixed with garlic then add in the fish broth. Let it simmer for a few minutes. By the way, Denia hosts the annual Arros a Banda International Contest every March. There are a lot more dishes in Denia that are seafood-based and they are derived from sea urchins, octopuses and clams. They do sell salted dried octopus here which is very yummy once sautéed. Denia has a total of 300 budget to luxury restaurants so indulge.

If you want to relax and pamper yourself, then go to a spa. The most renowned spa in Denia is the one located at Hotel Marriott. There, you will experience hydrotherapy baths with clay, algae and lavender as well as massages, aromatherapy treatments and even reflexology.

Aside from being famous for its year-round festivals, Denia has also been declared by the World Health Organization as one of the world’s healthiest places. With its unexplored coastline coupled with very tidy people and tourists, Denia boasts of some of the most crystal clear beaches in the world. It also has a total of five 18-hole golf courses plus havens for yachters, scuba divers and fauna lovers. In Montgo mountain, you’ll find different species of flowers.

If you can afford it, spend even at least two nights at the Denia Marriott. Guests can avail of their offers like flamenco, horseback riding, regattas and tours around the city. Of course, these are exclusive of the rate of your stay but I’m pretty sure this is worth your money. You are already assured of an excellent experience because there are professional tutors in every endeavor you are trying – from flamenco to horseback riding. So come now here in Denia and have a good life.