Alicante, in Valencian Alacant, with about 365,000 inhabitants, is the second city of the Valencian Community and capital of the Costa Blanca. Its mild, dry climate, with very little rain and warm winters, makes it a favourite with northern Europeans, and many foreigners live here all year.
History
Settled by Iberians, Greeks and Romans, who called it Lucentum, it later became Muslim Laqant. Taken by the Christians in the 13th century, it became part of the Kingdom of Valencia. For centuries it was an important trading port exporting wine, raisins and almonds.
What to see
- Santa Bárbara castle, on Mount Benacantil at 166 metres, one of Spain's largest medieval fortresses, reached by a lift cut into the rock from Postiguet beach; the view sweeps over the city and the sea.
- The Explanada de España, the palm-lined promenade with its wave-patterned pavement of over six million marble tiles.
- The Santa Cruz quarter, on the castle slopes, with white houses, flowers and stairways.
- The co-cathedral of San Nicolás and the Gothic basilica of Santa María, the city's oldest church.
- MARQ, the Provincial Archaeological Museum, European Museum of the Year in 2004, and MACA, the contemporary art museum.
- The Central Market and the marina.
Beaches
- Postiguet, the city beach below the castle.
- San Juan beach, about seven kilometres of fine sand.
- La Albufereta and the coves of Cabo de las Huertas.
- Tabarca island, a marine reserve reached by boat, with an 18th-century fortified village.
Festivals and food
The Hogueras de San Juan, from 20 to 24 June, are the main festival: large papier-mâché monuments, the fogueres, are burned on the night of San Juan, much like Valencia's Fallas. There are also Moors and Christians and Holy Week. The cuisine is dominated by rice dishes such as arroz a banda and arroz con costra, turrón from nearby Xixona and Fondillón wines.
Getting there
Alicante-Elche airport, one of Spain's busiest, is about 10 km away, with buses to the centre. The AVE links Alicante with Madrid in about two and a half hours. From here it is easy to reach Benidorm, Elche, Altea and Torrevieja.