Alicante Spain
Guide to the city of Alicante, Spain.
Cities of Spain - Alicante
Alicante Spain - Alicante in Spain is located in the bay naturally formed by the Cabo de las Huertas and the Cabo de Santa Pola, against the backdrop of the Monte Benacanti. It has a view out to sea and has become not only a major port but also a centre for tourism from which the city derives its main source of income. It is the second largest city in Valencia and due to the tourism enjoys a booming economy and all the modern conveniences of a major tourist city sit side by side with the tradition and history of the city itself.
Certainly there is much to see and enjoy for the visitor to Alicante and because of its wonderful shopping centres and wide streets and its strategic position close to the airport Alicante is one of the best known towns within the Costa Blanca and is often the starting point for holiday makers even if they are not staying in the City itself. Arguably Alicante has one of the most recognisable and beautiful seafront promenades in Spain, the Paseo de la Explanada. An extremely pleasant and enjoyable place to enjoy a stroll before or after dinner when the weather suits, the promenade is lined by four rows of palms standing guard along the route and the walkway itself is of inlaid marble coloured in red, cream and black and the pattern has been so designed to imitate the rolling waves of the nearby Mediterranean Sea.
Alicante had to endure the same historic fate as many of the towns and villages of the Costa Blanca and was ruled by various different governments and has seen its fair share of wars and conflicts throughout its history and because of its coastal position, so profitable in times of peace, all attacks have been made from the sea. During the Spanish war of Succession it sided with the Bourbons and suffered dreadful bombardment and the castle of Santa Barbara was destroyed by English troops. However, during the War of Independence (1801 – 1814) it was the provincial capital of the Kingdom of Valencia. It was during the 17th and 18th centuries that the City began to flourish and made determined progress, it was granted licences to trade with the Americas and a Sea and Land Council was formed to promote navigation and agriculture. In the 19th century the City walls were demolished, new districts created and the railway arrived. The 20th century saw Alicante’s transformation into a service centre and the tourist industry was encouraged and developed to create the City as it is today.
Perhaps the place to start your visit to Alicante is the old town centre with its narrow streets and white houses and the historical district is located in the area around the Calle Labradores and the Rambla de Mendez Nuñnez – a street that a river used to pass through.
There are also museums, historical buildings and wonderful parks, beaches and water sports to enjoy in this most diverse of cities. There is the Musea Aequeologico Provincial (The provincial Archaeology Museum) which was created in 1932 located in the basement of what was The Provincial Council building and it houses valuable displays of Iberian art and a collection of ceramics and artifacts found throughout the centuries.
The Col-leccio Capa has the largest contemporary collection of Spanish sculpture in the world and this can be found among the halls of the castle of Santa Barbara. There is also the La Asegurada displaying a contemporary art collection, the most important in Spain and was derived from a donation by the Alicante painter and sculptor Eusebio Sempere.
Historic buildings include the castle of Santa Barbara, one of the largest in the Mediterranean, reached either by a somewhat tiring climb up through the paths of the cliffs or alternatively there is a lift which will provide a much easier route for anyone wishing to see the castle and its collections and to appreciate the views.
The local gastronomy has much to offer, with rice being the unchallenged King of Alicante’s gastronomy. Also, not unnaturally from a seaport there is an abundance of fresh fish and shellfish dishes and for dessert Alicante’s most famous turrón, or nougat and not be forgotten are the Alicante Denomination of origin wines and worthy of a special mention is El Fondillón which is very similar to a tawny port but is a gem among wines.
One of the biggest attraction of the city and surrounding areas, is the fine weather conditions that it experiences, with over 300 days of sunshine each year, perfect for holidays and golfing.
Whilst in Alicante a visit to the busy resort of Benidorm must also be on the cards and apart from the Terra Mitica theme park you may also want to visit the Aqualandia water park, its sister park the Mundomar Marine and Exotic Animal Park and also Terra Natura animal park. For entertainment and shows Benidorm nightlife cannot be beated and a huge range of possibilites are on offer, as would be expected for a resort that attracts over 4 million visitors every year and is now the busiest coastal attraction in Europe.
Other places to visit around Alicante include - Altea, the city of palms, Elche, Moraira a relatively unspoilt town, Denia, Castell de Guadalest, the lovely Gallinera Valley, and the waterfalls at Fuentes de Algar.
This fine article on the city of Alicante Spain was provided by kind permission of the Leader newspaper, one of the finest local newspapers available on the Costa Blanca.
Alicante Links: Alicante Information - Alicante Map - Alicante Weather
Nearby Places: Benidorm - Denia - Moraira - Calpe - Altea - Albir - Javea - Guadalest - Villajoyosa - El Campello - Callosa d'en Sarria - Finestrat - Alfaz del Pi
Attractions: Terra Mitica - Aqualandia - Mundomar - Terra Natura - Penon de Ifach - Caves of Canelobre - Fuentes de Algar - Santa Barbara Castle
Golf Courses: Ifach Golf Club - Real Faula Golf - Spain Golf
Related: - Builders
HOME