Alicante Tourist Attractions
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Alicante, chief town of its province, lies in a picturesque bay on the southeast coast of Spain, at the foot of Mt Benacantil, which is crowned by the Castillo de Santa Bárbara. With its many hotels and tower blocks Alicante, known to the Romans as Lucentum (the "place of light") and to the Moors as Lecant or al-Lucant, is a town of modern aspect. Alicante, the chief place on the Costa Blanca, is both a summer and a winter resort. In recent years new parks and gardens have been laid out and many streets and boulevards have been widened. The town also has a variety of industry (chemicals, aluminum), and it is an important port for the shipping of raisins, southern fruits, oil, licorice and esparto grass.
Harbor
The central feature of the town is the Plaza de Sotelo, from which the Avenida del Doctor Gadea leads down to the spacious harbor, protected by large breakwaters.
Santa María
A short distance beyond the Plaza Puerta del Mar in Alicante, on the left, is the park-like Plaza del Teniente Luciáñez, to the north of which is the old Santa Cruz quarter, with the church of Santa María, which was built by the Catholic Monarchs. It was remodeled in the 18th century, with a Rococo doorway, and has a richly decorated Baroque interior.
Asegurada Museum
In the Plaza Santa María is the Asegurada Museum, with a collection of 20th century art.
Town Hall
Southwest of Santa María is the fine Ayuntamiento, built between 1696 and 1760, with two square towers 35m/115ft high and a beautiful Churrigueresque facade. On the steps leading up to it is the "zero point" by reference to which all heights above sea level in Spain are measured. The Salón Azul (Blue Room) of the Town Hall is particularly worth seeing.
San Nicolás de Bari
Northwest of the Town Hall is the 17th century church of San Nicolás de Bari (also known as the Concatedral or Co-Cathedral), dedicated to the town's patron saint. The interior is impressive, with a number of notable retablos and a fine cloister.
Castillo de Santa Bárbara
The best way to reach the Castillo de Santa Bárbara, on Mt Benacantil (209m/686ft), is to take the lift from the east end of the Paseo de Gómiz. From the castle there are magnificent views of the town, the coast and the huerta and of the hills to the north. The Castillo itself is the successor to a Carthaginian stronghold built by Hamilcar Barca.
Museo Arqueológico
In the northwest of Alicante, housed in the massive building occupied by the Diputación Provincial in Avenida General Mola, is the Archeological Museum, which has an interesting collection of Greek, Roman and Iberian material, including a figure of the goddess Tanit, as well as a picture gallery and a coin collection.
Castillo de San Fernando
A counterpart to the Castillo de Santa Bárbara is the 19th century Castillo de San Fernando, situated on a low hill.
Surroundings
Airport
The airport, which handles 5 million passengers each year, is located 11km from the city center.
Cueva de Canalobre - Sierra de Cabeza de Oro
Location: Province of Alicante; at a height of 700m/2,300ft on the northern slopes of the Sierra de Cabeza de Oro, 10km/6mi ESE of Jijona and 3km/2mi north of Busot. Features: A large sloping hall 150m/165yd long, with a profusion of stalactites and stalagmites. Colored lights, music, stage for folk performances and concerts. Good view of the coast from the entrance.
The Passion, Callosa de Segura
In the village of Callosa de Segura the Passion of Christ is reenacted every year in March.
Map of Alicante Attractions
Map - Alicante
