Lively Alicante, south of Valencia on Spain’s sun-kissed Costa Blanca, is renowned for its party atmosphere and gorgeous beaches. Its prime hot spot is the Old Town in Barrio de la Santa Cruz, whose narrow streets lined with colorful buildings host unforgettable fiestas until the early hours.
*Alicante airport (El Altet airport). The next nearest airport is that of Valencia airport (Manises airport)
It is definitely worth spending some time in Alicante (Alacant). With beaches, nightlife, a lovely renovated old town and, if you’re there at the end of June, a great fiesta, Las Hogueras.
As well as the town with its wide avenues and seafront paseos full of cafés and bars there is the Castillo de Santa Barbara standing high above Alicante’s beach. A shaft has been cut straight up the hill with a lift up to the Castillo.
The best part of Alicante is arguably its wonderful harbour-side promenade – the Explanada de Espagne. The pavement is a marvellous marble mosaic and it is lined with palm trees and runs the length of the harbour. Along its length are lots of cafés where you can stop and soak up the sun and atmosphere.
The Castillo de Santa Barbara, Alicante’s medieval castle is at the top of Mount Benacantil and was the lookout against ships and pirates, once common in these waters. It is a medieval fortress but there are also Roman remains on the site. The views over the city and Postiguet beach are superb. The Santa Barbara castle is one of the biggest medieval fortresses in Spain.
After exploring the Castillo relax in the castle gardens, the Parque de la Ereta. The views of the city are not to be missed.
The main city itself centers around the lovely main square, the Plaza del Ayuntamiento and aound it are lovely old streets and parks and squares. The lovely baroque town hall dominates the Plaza del Ayuntamiento and has elegant twin towers.
Nearby is the elegant cathedral of St Nicolas built in the 17th century in a mix of baroque and renaissance styles. It has a lovely blue-domed roof. From here the old town meanders gently uphill towards the castle at the top. Palm trees and flowers abound the streets and houses of Alicante and the atmosphere is light and vibrant.
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