Alicante

In Alicante, you can stroll along the Explanada de España. The beautiful paved promenade attracts many visitors both during the day and in the evening, who can walk from the harbour to Canalejas Park. Due to its location by the sea, there is often a slightly cooling breeze, which is certainly very welcome in a place like Alicante, especially in the summer. Here and there you will see locals playing a game of chess, conversations are held on one of the many benches and chairs, you can cool off on a terrace and there are a number of stalls with trinkets. When evening falls, the romance comes to the fore and it is also considered a popular meeting place. Explanada de España is even the symbol of the city of Alicante.

This important square in Alicante has a very stately appearance. The beautiful baroque town hall contributes to this. It was built in the eighteenth century by architect Lorenzo Chápuli. The buildings on the Plaza del Ayuntamiento are well maintained, so that the valuable features from previous centuries are well preserved. At the entrance to the town hall there is another attraction. Here is a point marked as ‘Cota Cero’ from which the height above sea level of various Spanish cities is measured. A visit inside is rewarded with interesting archaeological findings that are exhibited there.

On old remains of a mosque that was placed there during the Islamic rule, this fairly sober basiliek de Santa Maria was build. The architectural style can be described as Gothic, which was characteristic of the late medieval period between the twelfth and sixteenth centuries. The Basilica de Santa Maria dates from somewhere between the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Inside, many richly decorated works of art can be admired, including a golden altar from the eighteenth century. The many works of art in this basilica are of inestimable value and certainly worth a visit.

Thanks in part to this beautiful sandy beach, the city of Alicante is a popular summer destination for sun seekers. The Playa del Postiguet beach is approximately 900 metres long and is beautifully located, namely at the foot of the mountain ‘Monte Benacantil’ with the castle ‘Castillo de Santa Bárbara’ on top. In addition to relaxing by the sea, the beach is also ideal for activities such as beach volleyball. The facilities are excellent. You can rent sunbeds and parasols and during your stay the lifeguard keeps a close eye on everything. The only disadvantage is that it can be quite busy at times.

The start of the walk to the castle ‘Castillo de Santa Bárbara is located in this old part of the city El Barrio. This most traditional district after Casco Antiguo, is characterized by cozy and traditional houses with a lot of color. During the blood procession, parades regularly pass through the El Barrio district where traditions are honored. The many streets and alleys have many differences in level where some stairs have to be climbed. Because of this, you sometimes end up in places where the view can be called phenomenal.

This historic part of the city of Alicante is filled with many valuable sights. The area covers the part between Rambla Méndez Núñez, Monte Benacantil and the beach. Here you will find, among others, Basílica Santa Bárbara, Palacio Maisonnave, Teatro Principal, Plaza Ayuntamiento and Mercado Central. When walking through this part of the city, you will sometimes be surprised by the beauty of small squares, narrow streets and authentic buildings.

At the Plaza de Santa María in the heart of the city, you can visit the museum of contemporary art. The museum is fully called the ‘Museo de Arte Contemporāneo de Alicante’. The museum was founded in 1976 by the Spanish artist Eusebio Sempere, who was known for his abstract works and playfulness with light. Some of his works can be seen in this MACA museum. The recently renovated museum is housed in the Casa de la Asegurada, a building from the seventeenth century. The originally baroque construction was built in 1685. Today it is considered the oldest civil building in the city of Alicante.

In Alicante, there are still a number of remains from history to be seen. For example, part of the defensive walls have been preserved at Paseíto Ramiro. This part of the city can be found between the streets Calle Jorge Juan and Calle Juan Bautista Lafora, which are located near the beach. The square Ramiro Paseíto, also known as Paseo Ramiro or Mirror Ramiro, used to have a lot of prestige when it was decorated as a romantic garden. Later, buildings were placed there.