Costa Blanca
Elche air raid shelter opens to the public on Friday April 11th

The inaugural shelter constructed during the Spanish Civil War has been accessible to the public, as announced by the Department of Culture and Tourism. Last December, this entirely renovated facility was inaugurated at the Jardín de la Concordia on Paseo de Germanías.
Irene Ruiz, the councillor for the area, has announced that as from yesterday, Monday, April 7th, appointments can be made. However, visits will not commence until Friday, April 11, as they must be requested at least 72 hours in advance via the City Council website (https://www.elche.es/refugio-no1-del-paseo-de-germanias/). The activity must be authorised as extracurricular by the corresponding School Council in the case of school groups.
Visits must be scheduled on the specified days and times, Monday through Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The minimum group size is 15 individuals, and the maximum group size is 21, and admission is free. The tour is suitable for all ages, lasts approximately 45 minutes, and is 117 metres in length.
Shelter No. 1 on Paseo de Germanías is only one of thirteen shelters constructed in the city during the Spanish Civil War. The construction was designed to safeguard the civilian population from prospective air attacks; however, this function was never realised, as the city of Elche was never bombed.
Its architecture, which consisted of lengthy, parallel corridors, was originally designed with three entrances; however, only two were ever completed. These entrances have been restored and are now accessible to the public for excursions.
The air-raid shelter located on Paseo de Germanías is the most architecturally intricate of all the urban shelters. It is comprised of two long parallel corridors that are connected by four transverse passageways and can be accessed by descending 18 metres. The compacted earth floor and masonry walls that were its original features were replaced with concrete in the 1950s.
Information panels, photographs, signage, and lighting are present throughout the tour of the facility, which is now a museum.
Irene Ruiz reminded visitors that the sanctuary is not accessible to individuals with reduced mobility due to the absence of an elevator. Instead, there are two 87-step staircases. Additionally, there are no facilities, prams must be folded down during the visit, pets are prohibited, and the shelter’s or tour guide’s instructions must be adhered to at all times.
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Costa Blanca
The installation of sail awnings to provide shade in Elche has started

The Shade Plan, which includes the installation of shade sails on public roadways, began this week on several of the primary shopping streets in the municipality’s historic centre, including Obispo Tormo Street, Hospital Street, Major del Pla Street, and Corredora Street.
Claudio Guilabert, the Councillor for Public Services, emphasised that “it is a very positive step— a commitment by this municipal government to provide shade, especially during the hottest months of the year, thereby creating greater climate comfort.”
Guilabert underscored that the primary goal of installing the shade sails is to “encourage activity, both for tourists and locals, with much more pleasant and enjoyable walks,” as well as to reduce the seasonality of the commercial offering with shaded areas.
The awnings, which will be designated as municipal property, are included in the €297,000 investment in the project. They will be installed in May and removed between September and October for a period of two years, contingent upon weather conditions and the requirements.
Additionally, the councillor for the region has verified that efforts are currently ongoing to ensure that “these shade sails” can be extended to other commercial streets in the municipality, such as the districts or neighbourhoods of Altabix, El Pla-Sector V, and Carrús, by the end of the year.
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Costa Blanca
In Alicante, sex is practiced 6.1 times a month, less than the national average

What is the manner in which Spaniards perceive their sexuality? What is the frequency of their sexual intercourse? Which fantasies are most prevalent and in which regions? These are some of the enquiries addressed in the most recent study on sexual habits in Spain in 2025, which was conducted by the specialised online store Diversual.com. Diversual.com has established itself as a reliable indicator of the health and sexual habits of our nation in recent years. The report, which was conducted by sexologists Lucía Jiménez and Bárbara Montes, compiles the testimonies of 4,794 individuals between the ages of 18 and over 60. It provides a comprehensive analysis that is classified by gender and province.
The study indicates that Spaniards engage in sexual activity with another individual on an average of 6.3 days per month. Girona is the province with the least sexual relations, with an average of 5 days per month, while Teruel is the most sexually active, with an average of 8.1 days per month. The most active cities are Jaén (8.0), Cáceres (8.0), Ciudad Real (7.9), and Ávila (7.8), while the least active cities are Tarragona (5.2), Álava (5.3), Córdoba (5.3), and Orense (5.5). The Valencian Community’s average for the three provinces is 6.3 times per month, with Valencia leading the way at 6.7, while Alicante and Castellón have an average of 6.1 times.
During sexual intercourse with another individual, 75.4% of the respondents reported experiencing orgasm. This percentage exhibits a substantial gender disparity: 86.1% of men consistently accomplish it, while 65.9% of women do. Curiously, the orgasm incidence is highest among women over 65, at 81.3%. The province with the highest incidence of orgasms with a partner is Guadalajara (84.7%), while León is at the opposite end of the spectrum, at 68.6%. The Valencian Community is barely below the national average in this regard, with Castellón at 75%, Valencia at 74.8%, and Alicante at 74.6%.
Orgasms are even more prevalent in the context of masturbation, with 88.4% of men and 86.6% of women experiencing them on a regular basis. During solitary masturbation, climax is reported by 90.4% of men and 86.6% of women.
Fantasy and infidelity
The results suggest that 28.9% of the respondents admitted to having been unfaithful at some stage in a stable relationship. The rate of female infidelity is marginally higher, with a maximum of 30%. Girona is the province with the highest infidelity rate, at 40.6%, while Toledo is the most faithful, at only 12.5%. This is based on geography.
The most prevalent sexual fantasy, as indicated by 57.7% of respondents, is the desire to engage in a threesome. Teruel (83.3%), Ávila (75%), and Zaragoza (67.9%) exhibit an especially high level of this ambition. In provinces such as Lugo (64.2%), Badajoz (62.3%), and Vizcaya (60%), relationships in locations other than the bedroom are the most prevalent choice. The fantasy of being sexually subjugated is the most prevalent in Huesca (70.3%), Zamora (66.6%), and Ciudad Real (58.8%).
In terms of fantasies that have been realised, 69.3% have engaged in sexual activity outside of the bedroom, while 56.3% have engaged in sexual activity in public areas. On the other hand, only 1.8% of individuals have engaged in sexual intercourse with a celebrity, and 4.1% have been involved in a swinger relationship.
Pressure to refrain from using protection
The diversual.com study contained some of the most concerning data regarding contraception use: 40.6% of men and 52.6% of women have engaged in unprotected sexual activity with non-steady partners. Additionally, 45.8% of women report that they have experienced peer pressure to forgo the use of a contraceptive, which is significantly higher than the 14% recorded among men.
Additionally, Spaniards devote an average of 18.9 minutes to non-penetrative sexual activities, with the 55-64 age group dedicating the most time (21.2 minutes). Oral intercourse (88.8%) and partnered masturbation (71.6%) are the most prevalent practices. Conversely, threesomes and companion swapping account for a mere 2.4%.
The bedroom is the preferred location for intercourse for 73% of participants, with the living room (11.7%) and hotels (6.2%) following in that order.
Although 74.2% of respondents believe that it is easier to locate a sexual partner in the present day, 42.3% continue to believe that it is still difficult to do so. Pornography is accessible from a young age; 57.5% of individuals first encountered pornography between the ages of 8 and 16, with an average age of 15.2. It is currently estimated that males watch pornography an average of 11.5 days per month, while women watch it an average of 2.7 days per month. Palencia is the province with the maximum consumption (9.8 days per month), while Albacete has the lowest (3 days).
A study to enhance and comprehend sexual well-being
“Lucía Jiménez, a sexologist at Diversual, explains that the objective of this study is to enhance one’s comprehension of individuals’ sexuality in order to continue to support their welfare.” Bárbara Montes, a sexologist at Diversual and co-author of the study, explains, “Our objective is to facilitate dialogue, advocate for a more equitable and healthier sexual lifestyle, and provide support for sexual education from a realistic and respectful perspective.”
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Alicante adds 15 temporary firefighters, increasing its total staff to 175

The Fire Prevention, Extinction, and Rescue Service has added new personnel. On Monday, May 5th, the Alicante City Council bolstered the force’s workforce by hiring 15 temporary firefighters to fill vacant positions that have arisen as a result of personnel transfers and retirements. Among these demands are ongoing negotiations between the Human Resources Department and the unions to resolve the improvements requested by over 70% of the firefighters, which are grouped around a platform. These demands encompassed the appointment of individuals to vacant positions.
At present, municipal sources have reported that the basic ranks of the municipal Speis now consist of 145 firefighters, as well as 30 commanding officers, including corporals, sergeants, non-commissioned officers, officers, and the chief of staff, for a total of 175 members. Julio Calero, the Councillor for Security, emphasised that the Speis staff is currently being reinforced, and the vehicle fleet, material resources of the firefighters, and parks and facilities of the corps are being improved. He also said that these additions are in addition to the 47 officers added since 2017, as reported by the same sources.
According to the public notice, Calero stated that Speis will receive two new vehicles this week: a diving van and an FSV model for traffic accident coverage. These vehicles are part of the fleet development and renewal plan, which includes the acquisition of 10 new first-response vehicles. This would also satisfy another of the firefighters’ enquiries.
However, the security councillor emphasises that the city council has allocated nearly 10 million euros to the Speis facilities over the past five years, including investments in vehicles, equipment, and renovations. Additionally, the Speis facilities have secured a maintenance contract for their vehicle fleet for the 2023-2027 period, with a budget of 360,000 euros, a first in the organisation’s history.
Meanwhile, Manuel Villar and Cristina Cutanda, the co-spokespersons for the governing team, said during their weekly public appearance, where they share updates on the agreements approved by the Local Council, that the investigation into the incidents from the March meeting, where a group of firefighters interrupted the session, is still ongoing. They did not say if the legal report has been finished yet. They did not specify whether the issuance of the legal report had already been completed. The report will detail the behaviour of those responsible for the aggression that, according to reports, occurred against one of the Local Police officers who participated in the eviction of the protesters. In this regard, Mayor Luis Barcala stated on Monday that the file was still pending, but he did not specify whether it was an informative file or a disciplinary one. Simultaneously, he acknowledged that negotiations with the unions are ongoing to prevent any incidents that could compromise the security measures for the Nit de la Cremà as a result of a shortage of firefighters. He did not provide an indication of the outcome of that case.
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