The town was settled over the ruins of a Roman village called Portus Ilicitanus (literally, Harbour of Elche); after being abandoned for decades, then a castle was constructed in the 16th century which marked the repopulation of Santa Pola.

Population more than doubles during the summer, with people coming mostly from the rest of the Alicante province, and also from the Basque autonomous community, Madrid, France and the UK, just to mention some.

The new town of Gran Alacant, 5 km (3 mi) north of Santa Pola along the Alicante bay, accounts for about one third of the population of the district.

Gran Alacant lies only a few kilometres from Alicante Airport and a few hundred metres from the town of Los Arenales which is located in the Elche district.

During the first century CE, near the former site a port was built, serving the city of Illici, named Portus Illicitanus (Greek: Ἰλλικιτάνος Λιμήν) (cited by Claudius Ptolemy in Geography).

With a modern fleet and professional drivers, the taxi service in Santa Pola offers a safe and efficient way to explore the town and its surroundings.

Thanks to these transportation options, Santa Pola stands out as an accessible and well-connected town, ideal for enjoying its tourist attractions and natural environment.