Jávea is protected by Montgó, the mountain which overlooks the town and shelters it from the north winds. This means that the area enjoys a mild, healthy climate and has more hours of sunshine every year than anywhere else in Spain. This makes it a popular winter destination for visitors from the north of Europe, attracted not only by the climate but by the wide range of reasonably priced property available. In fact, permanent foreign residents make up nearly a third of Jávea´s population of 30,000. It’s also popular with the Spanish from neighbouring areas and even further a field, giving it a nice cosmopolitan feel.