Alicante

Alicante is a typically Mediterranean city, an area of convergence facing the sea, with different urban environments that emerged from the fusion of the different cultures that have inhabited the city until the present day.

It is a dynamic city, where the Sun and the breeze of the ocean contribute to create a privileged climate to enjoy every day. This, together with the excellent beaches and a modern infrastructure, make of Alicante the ideal place for leisure, relaxation or to enjoy a wide range of events.

A must visit place in the city

We suggest you to visit the most visited monument of the city: the castle of Santa Barbara, located on the Summit of Mount Benacantil. Through its exhibition halls and spaces get to know the history of one of Spain’s largest medieval fortresses, with its perfect looks of the Bay of Alicante. The time schedule of the Castle goes from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the winter and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. in summer, and you can check their various activities on the website www.alicanteturismo.com

Walk down the skirt of the Castle you will discover a unique Park with fantastic views of la Ereta Park. Walkthrough streets that conserve a traditional atmosphere such as the ones from the Santa Cruz quarter, one of the most beautiful and typical districts in Alicante, located in the heart of the old town. If you walk around the area you can visit the Museum of Contemporary Art (MACA), Gravina Museum of Fine Arts (MUBAG), the building of the Town Hall and the archaeological remains that are known as La Ciudad Descubierta, in the building annexe to the Town Hall.

Another must visit place is the Procathedral of Saint Nicholas of Bari and its beautiful cloister of the 15th century. In its vicinity is located the oldest religious building of the city: the Basilica of Santa Maria. A Gothic style building that stands out for its beautiful façade. Its interior houses an impressive Valencian Baroque organ of 1653.

To end the route, go to the Esplanade, one of the most popular walks in the city, composed of 6,6 millions marble tiles that draw a wavy tricolor mosaic.

There are many ways to visit Alicante. The most common one is to enjoy it by taking a walk through its streets, but it is also perfect for exploring on wheels, either with a bicycle or with segway. Another great way to discover the capital is with the help of a tourist guide, who will show you the most emblematic sites and will tell you all the stories and most important curiosities of the city.

Would you like to add something different to your visit? Then, we propose a Gastronomic Tour through which you will travel the streets of the city and meet the flavours of the local cuisine.

A way to quickly and easily see Alicante is to use tourist bus called Turibus. With this bus you can get on and off as many times as you wish during the day.

Shopping in Alicante

Alicante is a land of craftsmen, manufactures, footwear and textiles. This city has always been cradle of the best producers of accesories, leather goods and gourmet products such as salting, nougats and wines.

Alicante is a showcase where multiple and varied shops get combined: the traditional ones, the urban ones and the great national and international firms. In the centre of the city we can find several shopping spaces.

It is the largest field of event-specialized shops of the Valencian Community. In the streets Bailén, Bazan, César Elguezábal, chestnuts and Gerona, converge a large number of shops of clothing, footwear and accessories for weddings, ceremonies and festivals. The streets of the Theatre, Médico Pascual Pérez and its surroundings, have a varied and attractive range of shops where you can buy unique products and gift yourself or others the latest fashion.

The Central market is located in a magnificent Art Nouveau building, where you can enjoy all the charm of a traditional market and gastronomic specialties of the area: salted meats or fish, nougats, candy, fruits, sausages, etc.

The streets of the surrounding area make up a lively shopping area, complemented by bars and restaurants with fresh market cuisine. The street Poeta Quintana shows an interesting fusion between traditional trade and brands which can be described as slow shopping.

After admiring one of the most beautiful corners of Alicante, the Gabriel Miró square, you can access the street of San Francisco, where, in addition to interesting shops, restaurants and tapas bars, you will find amazing sculptures of mushrooms and giant insects which create a unique identity.

Selected shops are located in the surroundings of the square, leading to the commercial area of the avenue Maisonnave and nearby streets, where you will find the largest concentration of national and international city franchises as well as department stores.

The city also boasts other covered markets, and markets outdoor, as well as several shopping centres distributed in its periphery. (Visit the website www.alicante.es/mercados for further information).

Information on trade routes and shops at www.comercioalicante.com