Penon De Ifach

 Penon De Ifach
The enigmatic Penon de Ifach stands proudly at 332m at the head of Calpe, surrounded by the shimmering blue of the Mediterranean Sea. It is a huge calcareous rock, joined to the mainland by a detritic isthmus. With a protected surface area of just 45 hectares, Penon de Ifach is one of the smallest nature reserves in Europe. Despite its size, the reserve attracts approximately 100,000 visitors each year. 
 
 Penon De Ifach
Throughout history, Penon de Ifach has served several purposes. In the 4th to 3rd centuries before Christ, there was an Iberian village at the foot of the rock, on its western side. Later, in Roman times, the settlement moved to the isthmus joining the rock to the mainland, though findings confirm that the sides of the rock were once again inhabited throughout the Middle Ages.Penon de Ifach is home to a diverse colony of flora and fauna, including some rare and endangered species. Toward its base, there are many varieties of plants common to the Mediterranean, but at higher elevations, they become more Alpine in nature. Species such as the nearly extinct Silene hifacensis, Rock scabious and Thymus Webbianus, grow in crevices and ledges on the sheer rock face.