A couple of years ago I came across this amazing building called La Muralla Roja. I couldn’t believe the colors and design of the building, so I looked up its location and found it was situated in a small beach town called Calpe.
Unfortunately, I didn’t do any more research before going there since we only booked for two nights at La Muralla Roja. After spending time in Calpe, I wish we would have stayed longer because it’s a beautiful destination!
It has some awesome beaches and Roman ruins right on the beachfront – including Roman swimming pools carved out of the reef: “Baños de la Reina”. You can’t miss this place if you are heading to Calpe for a few days.
Calpe also has nice seafood and plenty of activities to do. In addition to the beaches and Roman ruins and pools, you can also take a boat tour and go hiking through incredible trails. The town itself isn’t crowded with tourists and therefore accommodation is very cheap. If you want to escape the city to spend some relaxing time by the beach, then Calpe is a great option.
Price Per Night at La Muralla Roja
La Muralla Roja popped onto my radar when I was on Instagram one day. I was immediately drawn to its extraordinary architecture. My first thought was this would be a cool place to do a photoshoot and fly my drone.
Since it’s a private apartment, the only way to take photos is to book an Airbnb inside the building. We stayed during the off-season (October) and the price was 110 Euros per night. The problem is there are only a few units to book on Airbnb. So try to book in advance or you might miss out.
A Masterpiece Designed by Ricardo Bofill
The design of La Muralla Roja is insane! It was done by Ricardo Bofill and was finished in 1973. To think that next year it will be 50 years old is crazy as it still looks ahead of its time. It has become one of the most iconic buildings in Spain. My favorite part was all the crazy stairways without handrails. Many believe La Muralla Roja inspired the Squid Game series.
Ricardo Bofill first designed this building to be strictly a private residence. Until this day, when you stay there, you won’t see many tourists on the property. It’s mostly residents living here. I actually saw some people parking outside the property to take photos, but if you are not staying you won’t be able to enter and take the stunning images you see on Instagram.
Where to Book La Muralla Roja? Airbnb
As it’s a private residence, the only place I found where you could book a night was on Airbnb. I know for a fact that there are only a few apartments available on the platform. Walking around the property, you will notice a lot of elderly locals living there. They have been there for decades now.
The price of 110 Euros per night – plus a cleaning fee – was fair. Our unit was a bit dated but was reasonably priced considering it had three bedrooms and a bathroom. Just my fiance and I stayed, so we had lots of extra space. We had a nice time staying and shooting photos. I would highly recommend booking a night or two if you are a passionate photographer.
What you Need to Know Before you Go
This goes without saying: you can’t shoot photos on the property unless you are a guest. Also, after my first drone flight at the building, I found out that you are not allowed to fly drones from the building. The staff will regulate your drone flight (there are posted signs on the property). But you could always walk down to the beach and try to get aerial footage there.
I suggest booking well in advance. There aren’t many units available at La Muralla Roja. Give yourself a few extra days to explore the awesome town and beaches in Calpe. Baños de la Reina is only the beginning of Calpe!