Alicante - The Costa Blanca’s Hidden Jewel

Bearing in mind that it is a gateway into the Costa Blanca, Alicante is an ideal touring base. Containing a refreshing melange of old and modern traditions and culture, Alicante is situated within the popular holiday region of the Costa Blanca. Visitors to Alicante enjoy a sunny, warm climate, some of the best beaches Spain can offer as well as the most remarkable of Moorish architecture.

Situated on the Spanish coastline between the resorts of Elche and Benidorm, The city sits below its mountain top castle. Alicante and its surrounding areas are peppered with churches with the most recognised of all of them being the Iglesia de Santa Maria. This is the oldest church in the city and was built between the 14th and 16th centuries being at one time a mosque. St Nicholas Cathedral in the city was constructed in the 17th century in honour of Alicante’s patron saint and is therefore one of the most significant buildings in this area.

Alicante has a great selection of monuments to satisfy historians and sightseers and can be found throughout the region with columns and statues making a feature of many a once unexciting location. Providing a keen eye out to Alicante Bay, the Castillo de Santa Barbara is said to be one of the biggest medieval fortresses in Europe. Readily accessed by road or by lift (elevator) from the Paseo Maritimo, the castle has unrivalled vistas of the wonderful surrounding region. Apart from the benefits the Castillo offers to visitors, Alicante has further architectural gems including the Provincial Gallery, once the Gavina Palace, together with its 19th century bull-ring. All of the Alicante sights are easily reached using a hire car from Alicante Airport. Arranging your car rental online would be expected to produce big savings as well as guaranteeing that the model of car that you want to book is guaranteed to be available when you arrive at the airport.

Alicante is the perfect venue to come to enjoy your self and the leading reason visitors come back each year. With such a varied range of accomodation available, there’s a great selection of of Alicante Hotels to suit all tastes and pockets. The beaches here consist of wonderful golden sand and offer a variety of both accessible as well as secluded coves ideal for private sunbathing. Make your way to Albufereta Beach where you will find outstanding water sport capabilities. It is a peaceful spot that is generally undiscovered by the majority of tourists.

The Playa del Postiguet is the perfect location for an after dinner stroll. You will be joined by the locals along this attractive seaside walk - it’s a ideal location for a romantic evening. Once the Port of Madrid, Alicante Harbour combines fishing and sailing and is the ideal place to come to find the top fish restaurants in town. Alicante harbour provides an ideal source of activity day and night. Here is where visitors come to eat incredibly fresh, delicious fish, learn sailing and finish the day off with a bout of clubbing into the wee small hours.

Nobody likes a celebration as much as the inhabitants and visitors of Alicante! Here you will find an event of one type or another happening throughout the year, no matter when you decide to go. One of the more sombre of Costa Blanca festivals is that of the Easter Procession. Dressed in black and carrying candles, an effigy of Jesus is paraded on a cross through the streets. Every November, in order to honour the Patron Saint Crist del Bon Encert, each town has an individual fiesta. Expect shops to be closed all day, every day as everything stops for this amazing event of dancing, singing and firework displays. On a lighter note, one of the most renowned local festivals is the International Puppet Festival.

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