The south of Spain is famous for its cities with an interesting history. Alicante is no exception. The first mentions of the city, located on the sunny Costa Blanca, appeared in the 3rd century BC. Then a small settlement appeared on this site, founded by the father of the legendary Hannibal - Hamilcar Barca.
The Greeks called the place Akra Leuké (from Greek - "white peak"), and the Romans later - Lucentum ("city of bright radiance"). This tasty piece of land, located on a strategic elevation, surrounded by hills on all sides and with access to the sea, then liked the Moors. After the conquest, they turned the city into a large port, and also began to call it al-Laqant, from which the modern name later came.
In the 11th century, the Spaniards themselves - the Kingdoms of Castile and Aragon - fought for the right to become the undivided owners of these lands. Having come under the control of the Castilian crown, from the 14th to the 15th century Alicante began its rapid development as a major center of maritime trade. By the way, Alicante, among other Spanish cities, withstood the attempted conquest by Napoleonic troops.
The beginning of the 19th century is a very successful milestone in the history of the city. Railways are laid through Spain, which became a link between the center and the south of the country and finally strengthened the position of this port. Well-preserved historical and architectural monuments of different eras, a mild Mediterranean climate and a long line of beaches - all this in the 60s of the last century forced travelers from all over the world to pay attention to Alicante.
It was then that from an important maritime hub it also became a popular resort.
Vacationers choose Alicante, in particular, because here you can spend a vacation, successfully combining beach entertainment with sightseeing.
There are several places in the city at once, for the sake of which it is worth putting aside your swimsuit for a while and walking along the ancient streets. For example, the Santa Barbara Fortress (Castillo de Santa Barbara). One of the largest medieval fortresses in Spain was built during the Arab rule, and then was completed and modernized at different times by the French and the Spaniards themselves. It combines several architectural styles at once. It is also worth noting its successful location - on the top of Mount Benacantil (166 meters above sea level). Visitors to the fortress have the best panoramas of the city. You can climb here on a paid elevator built into the mountain, but you will not have to pay for entrance to the building. It is recommended to go down to the city along the road that runs through the picturesque park of La Ereta. It is also worth visiting the local museum of modern art - MACA (Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Alicante). Its halls contain an impressive collection of paintings and sculptures, including works by Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso. A separate plus is that admission to the museum is free.
The city's business card and one of the most popular attractions is the Explanada de España. A wide promenade runs along the embankment and is completely paved with a mosaic made of approximately 6.5 million marble pieces. Palm trees and flowers are planted on both sides of it, and you can see bizarre sculptures on the lawns.
Another place worth taking time to visit when visiting Alicante is the Central Market (Mercado Central). You can go here not only for shopping, but also to admire the ancient house with magnificent bas-reliefs. Walking through the Old Town, you can visit several key attractions in one walk. So, we recommend including in the itinerary the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, built on the site of a destroyed Muslim mosque. The Gothic Basilica of St. Mary pleases the eye of visitors with an organic mix of Baroque and Rococo, as well as ancient sculptures located in the building. The city hall building, built in the 18th century, is also very interesting. On a sunny day, you can go to the island of Nova Tabarca.
To get away from everything worldly and feel one with the magnificent Valencian nature, this place with its charming bays, grottos and beaches with crystal clear sea is just perfect. The small Mediterranean island is located about 22 km from Alicante, so the journey here takes no more than an hour. Many catamarans depart from the city pier to the island every day, the cost of a ticket (depending on the carrier) usually does not exceed 20 euros.
Alicante is rightfully proud of its numerous sandy beaches. For cleanliness and compliance with environmental standards, they have repeatedly received the international Blue Flag award. The best of them are considered to be San Juan, Urbanova and Postiguet. On any of the local city beaches there will be activities for fans of water sports: snorkeling, diving, surfing and windsurfing, as well as fishing competitions, are common here.
