Alicante City, in the Costa Blanca region of Spain
Map showing the location of Alicante
If you're on holiday in Benidorm - there's every chance you arrived at Alicante airport. However to think of Alicante City only as the gateway to the Costa Blanca does this vibrant city an
injustice.
A short visit will introduce you to an elegant city with a stylish marina, fashionable shops, a wide sandy beach and enough history and culture to satisfy most!
How to get there
Alicante City lies on the coast about an hour's drive from Benidorm (40 KM). For those who prefer not to drive, other travel options are the regular buses and tram, which takes a picturesque coastal route.
For information, Alicante is the capital city of the province of Alicante; and the Costa Blanca is the name given to the coastal area of the Alicante province!
What will you discover?
Alicante is a city with a village atmosphere. You will still find those old Spanish shops where the owners sit outside on a stool to gossip with the locals as they stroll by. No-one is ever too busy to chat.
It's an elegant city with much to offer – an as yet, undiscovered gem which can delight for a day trip or a weekend break.
To get a sense of the history of Alicante and breathtaking views of the coast, make the trip up to Santa Barbara Castle. Originally built by the Moors in the 10th century, and extended and modified over the years, the castle has everything you could wish for; a palace, cannons, a moat, dungeons and plenty of places where boiling oil was thrown over attacking marauders!
Down on the ground - the heart of the city is the Esplanada de España, a long promenade dotted with cafes and craft stalls and shaded by four rows of palm trees on either side. It’s the perfect place to soak up the atmosphere, but don't stop there - across the road you will find the marina complex with its fabulous bars and fish restaurants. Popular with the boating crowd, you can see fine examples of what a few million pounds would buy you! Well, we can all dream!
Leading off the Esplanada is La Rambla, the main road in the city. Here you will find the tourist centre and many of the city's interesting buildings, such as the Cathedral of St Nicolas, hidden in the back streets.
Sunday is the official 'strolling about' day in Alicante, when you can also enjoy a free concert performed on the Esplanada. Whilst in the warm evenings open air concerts are held in many of the squares along with entertainment for children.
A final
suggestion would be to take a stroll around Santa Cruz, the most picturesque area of the city. Its narrow cobbled streets wind upward towards the quaint chapel built into the old
town wall. As you climb you pass small, colourful houses with geraniums overflowing from wrought iron balconies, and when you reach the top - panoramic views; you'll kick yourself if you've forgotten
your camera
Everything in this user-friendly city is within easy reach. So, have we managed to whet your appetite? Then why not explore more of Alicante with us!
Visit Alicante Spotlight for the complete guide to Alicante
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