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 Places of interest |
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| It's best to start exploring Alicante from the beachfront, along the Explanada de España , the city's main pedestrian pathway. This beautiful boulevard stretches around the harbor and is shaded with palm trees and lined with shops, restaurants and cafés.
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| Northwest of the elegant boulevard, towards the heart of the city, you'll see the impressive Cathedral de San Nicolas . Around it are the narrow streets of the El Barro , or old quarter, which has most of the economical accommodation and the best of nightlife. Meanwhile, southwest near Calle de Italia , are the central tourist office, post office, and the city's main train and bus stations.
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| You should also witness the Paseo de la Explanada . With its rows of street cafes and red, cream and black marble, strolling and shopping is such a pleasant activity in this exquisite, seafront promenade. Check out the music pavilion and enjoy a free al fresco concert beside the sea. Musical performances are held in the afternoons, on feast days and on Sunday mornings during summer.
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For endless years, a timeless symbol of Alicante, the Castillo de Santa Barbara, is the sole structure puncturing the skyline of Alicante. This fortress is the stuff of fairy tales, with its age old high walls and domed turrets. Seated atop and crowning Monte Benacantil, a rocky promontory flanking the city and its harbor, the Castillo de Santa Bárbara has to be the most conspicuous feature in all of Alicante. The Castillo de Santa Barbara is a stately and ancient fortress towering six hundred feet on Mount Benacantil, dominating the city’s horizons. From the apex of the castle, visitors can grasp a commanding panoramic view of the bay and city, affording an impressive sight of the beautiful coastline and many kilometers of the beautiful countryside. Here, the views over the city sweep the visitors of their feet.
Bearing the historical marks of all the inhabitants of the city, the building dates back to as remote as the Bronze Age. The Carthaginians are credited for being the masterful original engineers of the impressive castle. They erected the initial version of the castle and its defenses in 400 BC. Later, the castle was used by the Romans and Moors. Most parts of the fortress at present dates to around the 16th century, all in all. The fortress’ grandiose mass evidently encompasses awesome moats, drawbridges, tunneled entrances, guardrooms, bakery, cisterns, underground storerooms, hospitals, batteries, powder stores, barracks, high breastworks, deep dungeons, and the stately Matanza Tower and the keep.
Located in the fortress is the Collección Capa, showcasing a large display of many contemporary Spanish sculptures. Admission is free; open 10 am - 2 pm / 4 pm - 7pm Tues - Sat, Oct - Mar, 10 am - 2 pm / 5 pm -8 pm, Tues - Sat, Apr - Sept, 10 am - 3 pm, Sun / holidays all year. Outside still, there are many such stunning masterpieces by Spanish master sculptors, in a beautiful garden that has the Mediterranean as a dramatic backdrop.
Accessible by road, the tourist could drive up the hill to the castle. The good paved road off Avenida Vásquez de Mella links one directly to the parking lot just adjacent to the castle. In driving so, admission is considered free. Alternatively, one could choose to take the passenger lift from Postiguet beach. By walking up a footbridge opposite Playa del Postiguet, an elevator comes into view, carved directly into the bowels of the mountain like a giant endoscope. The elevator is accessed across from the information office at Playa del Postiguet. Admission for the passenger lift is 2.40€ ($2.75). In summer it is open daily from 10 am to 8 pm, and in winter, daily from 9 am to 7 pm.
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Erected on the former site of an ancient Arab mosque, the Iglesia de Santa María is the oldest church in the town of Alicante, standing below the castle, on the slopes. The cathedral, built in the 13th century, was recently restored in the year 2003 -2004. Notably, the splendor of the church mostly lies in its facade along with the high altar, which is all entirely Baroque. The church’s interiors are spectacularly Gothic. Behind the cathedral is the Barrio de Santa Cruz, clinging to the hillsides. Forming part of the Villa Vieja (the old quarter), this is a section of the town characterized by lovely neighborhoods with wrought iron window grilles, banks of flowers, and a view of the entire harbor.
Just adjacent to the cathedral is the City Hall or the Ayuntamiento. Constructed in 1760, the town hall is exemplary of baroque civil architecture. At the foot of marble staircase, beneath the Dalì sculpture, is a small metal plaque indicating sea level, used as a reference point for measuring height above sea level for all other points in Spain. Also commendable are the elegant, plush upstairs rooms. The town hall is also distinct with its four stately columns and large ornate doors.
Remnants of Alicante’s older incarnation, the Roman town of Lucentum, are surrounded by La Albufareta's high rise apartments. From these ruins, visitors can still heave in a good picture of this fifth century Iberian city.
Located in the village district of Santa Faz, eight kilometers north of the City along the Alicante - Valencia route, the Monasterio de la Santa Faz (Monastery of the Holy Face) stands high and proud. This church was constructed in 1766 in accordance with the Renaissance style, complete with a baroque doorway. Supposedly one of the folds of linen used by Veronica to wipe Christ's brow during the Calvary is preserved in a reliquary in a side chapel of the church. This relic was transferred from Rome in the 1400’s. Jutting high atop the church is a fortified tower from the 16th century.
Castillo de San Fernando (Castle of St. Ferdinand) is located on the Tossal hilltop (although completely demolished). In the first place, there is truth to saying that this fortress was never completed, as it was begun just before the French invasion. Sports and leisure activities are held in its spacious platform regularly.
Constructed in the 18th century, Palacio Gravina (Gravina Palace) presently houses the provincial Archives. The Archives are governed by the provincial Council and more often than not, exhibitions and cultural activities are accommodated in this building.
With baroque elements embellishing the altar and communion chapel (Cathedral Church of St. Nicholas of Bari), in Renaissance style, is widely hailed as one of the best examples of Spain's high baroque. With a single nave and several adjoining chapels, the patterns of the cathedral are particularly designed after the Herrera style. One of the highlights of the church, finished in 1662, includes the cloister, which is adorned with grilles and wooden doors. This important series of grilles date back to the 18th century. The cloister itself was constructed in the mid 17th century. The main fronts of the cloister are enduring remnants from a previous temple, from the 15th century, as is the bust-reliquary of Santa Felicitas. Of its several chapels, the most significant is the Baroque style Communion chapel with its visually arresting main front. Baroque elements are also replete in the altar of Saint Nicholas of Bari which is located in the apse of the central nave. Surely the somberness of the Herrera style permeates the cathedral in extraordinary amounts. The Concatedral de San Nicolás de Bari is aptly situated in the historic quarter. The steps leading up to the high altar are made of marble from Genoa.
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