ALICANTE

View of Alicante
View of Alicante

Alicante is the capital of the homonymous Valencian province. The city houses an important port on the Mediterranean from where the agricultural and industrial products of the region are exported. Its climate added to the beauty of the sea and mountains of this city of the Valencian Community have made of Alicante a well-known and concurred touristic centre, mainly in the summer months.

The early Alicante was a Greek colony of the IVth century B.C., by Almícar Barca who named it Aera Leuca made it bigger, while the Romans named it Lucentum, town destroyed by the vandals. In its current location, the city emerges as the Arabian castle of Alicant, inhabited in 1248 by Alfonso X the Wiseman. In the year 1296 Jaime II of Aragón united the city to his kingdom. Because of the loyalty shown in the "Guerra de las Germanías" (Germanic Wars) Carlos I granted the "Toisón de Oro" (Golden Fleece) to the city.

The city has an industrial life that is symbolized by its tobacco and ceramic factories and the mettallurgy industry but its great richness comes from tourism.

Places of interest

The early Casco Urbano (Town Centre) of Alicante stretches at the foot of the Benacantin Hill, from which the streets and houses of the traditional Barrio de Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz District) hang. The Rambla de Méndez Núñez (Méndez Núñez Boulevard) and the Explanada de España (Esplanade of Spain) are its most famous arteries; without a lack of parks and gardens nor residential areas by the border of the sea. Among its monumnents the Colegiata de San Nicolás (Collegiate Church of San Nicolás), nowadays Cathedral of the city, and the Iglesia de Santa María (Church of Santa María) stand out. Taking a look to the civil buildings the City Hall (Ayuntamiento) that has a Baroque style of the XIIIth century, and the Santuario de Santa Faz (Santa Faz Sanctuary) are admirable.

Tours around

Elche, town of Alicante located in the centre of a plain watered by the Vinalopo, where palm trees, date palms, olive trees, cereals, vines, almond trees, figs, lemon trees, tomatos, melons and cotton are farmed. Its palm forests have been declared artistic gardens of national interest. Among its monuments the Churches of Santa María and San Juan Bautista stand out and also the Moorish Tower of Calahorra and the Altamira Palace. Its "fiestas" where the celebration of the Asunción Mistery takes place are very well known. In addition to its agricultural richness Elche has an active industry: footwear, rubber derivatives, work done with the palm. Two kilometres away from the city the Dama de Elche (Lady of Elche), the best-known sculpture carve of the Iberian art and given the name of the Moorish Queen, was found in 1897.

Denia is another of the best known municipalities of the coast of Alicante. Orange trees, almond trees and vines, which provide a tasty muscatel and raisins for export, are farmed. In addition to its great touristic attraction due to its beaches, Rotes and Marines, it has a strong concrete and wooden and metal toy industry. Its main cultural heritage treasure is the Castle but also the Hermitages of the Conquest, the Old Town Centre, the Archeologic Museum, the Etnographic Museum, the Toy Museum, the Gerro Tower and the churches of San Antonio and of the Asunción should be visited.

But it is probably Benidorm the best-known town of Alicante for its tourism. Metres and metres of beach have made of this city one of the most important touristic centres in Spain. It is famous for the Modern Song Festival held every year. The Bali Hotel, the highest sky-scaraper in Spain has been opened this year, 2002. Benidorm has much more to offer to its visitors than just sun and beach: the Iberian Town of Tossal de la Cala from the IIIrd century B.C., the Historic Town Centre, the House Museum of classic and modern painting, the Wax Museum and the Agricultural Museum.

Links:

Services Directory

Hotels:

HOTEL TRYP CIUDAD DE ALICANTE ***
Gravina 9
Alicante
+34965210700
70 rooms

HOTEL MEDITERRÁNEA PLAZA ****
Plaza del Ayuntamiento 6
Alicante
+34965210188
www.hotelmediterraneaplaza.com
50 rooms

HOTEL MELIÁ ALICANTE ****
Playa Postiguet s/n
Alicante
+34965205000
545 rooms


HOTEL TRYP GRAN SOL ****
Avenida Méndez Núñez 6
Alicante
+34965203000
123 rooms

HOTEL CASTILLA ALICANTE ***
Avenida de países escandinavos 3 (Playa de San Juan)
Alicante
+34965162033
www.hotelcastillaalicante.com
155 rooms

Museums:

GRAVINA FINE ARTS MUSEUM
(MUSEO DE BELLAS ARTES GRAVINA)
Gravina 15 (palacio Conde Lumiares)
Alicante
Telephone: 965146780
Visiting Hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 10-14 h., 16-20 h.
Sunday: 10-14 h.

MUSEUM OF THE ASEGURADA
(MUSEO DE LA ASEGURADA)
Plaza Santa María 3
Alicante
965140768
Visisting Hours: June to September: Tuesday to Saturday: 10-14 h., 17-21 h.
Sundays and public holidays: 10.30-14.30 h.
October to May: Tuesday to Saturday: 10-14 h., 16-20 h.
Sundays and public holidays: 10.30-14.30 h.
Closed Mondays.
Free Admission.

ARCHEOLOGIC MUSEUM OF ALICANTE
(MUSEO ARQUEOLÓGICO DE ALICANTE)
Plaza Doctor Gómez Ulloa s/n
Alicante
965149000
Visiting Hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 10-14 h., 16-20 h.
Sundays and public holidays: 10-14 h.
Free Admission.

PROVINCIAL ARCHEOLOGIC MUSEUM
(MUSEO ARQUEOLÓGICO PROVINCIAL)
Paseo de la Estación 6
Alicante
965121300
Visiting Hours: 10-14 h., 16-20 h.
Sundays (summer): 10-20 h.
Admission Fees: General 6 €
Reduced 3 €
Groups 1.50 €

Restaurants:

Aldebarán
Adress: Muelle de Poniente 1, Alicante (Real Club de Regatas)
Telephone: 965123130
Price: 18-30 €

Govana
Adress: General Lacy 17, Alicante
Telephone: 965925658
Price: 18-30 €

Jumillano
Adress: César Elguezabal 62-64, Alicante
Telephone: 965212964
Price: 30-48 €
Menu: 18-30 €

Dársena
Adress: Muelle de Levnate 6, Alicante
Telephone: 965207589
Price: 30 €

Nou Manolin
Adress: Villegas 3, Alicante
Telephone: 965200368
Price: 30 €

Transports:

Buses
Bus Station
Portugal 17
Alicante
965220700

Main destinations from Alicante: Bilbao, Zaragoza, Valencia, Madrid, Murcia, Andalucía, Badajoz, Jaén.

Trains
RENFE
Explanada de España 1
Alicante
965211303

Main destinations from Alicante: Coruña, Albacete. Ávila, Barcelona, Burgos, Bilbao, Ciudad Real, Gijón, León, Lleida, Logroño, Madrid, Orense, Oviedo, Palencia, Pamplona, Pontevedra, Santander, Santiago de Compostela, Valencia, Valladolid, Vigo, Vitoria, Zamora, Zaragoza.

TAXIS:

RADIO TAXI 965252511
SERVI TAXI 965256061
TELE TAXI 965101611

Emergency:

Hospital General Universitario de Alicante 965908300
Hospital provincial 965201110
Emergency 112
Cruz Roja 965254141