Alicante
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Alicante Costa Blanca
Lying on the Eastern coast of Spain, south of Valencia , the city of Alicante is one of the more popular towns of the Costa Blanca.
Alicante in Castillian Spanish, or Alacant in Valencian Catalan, is the capital of the province of Alicante and of the comarca of the Alacantí, in the southern coast of the Land of Valencia in Spain.
Alicante lies 81 km (50 miles) north of Murcia, 40 km (25 miles) south of Benidorm, 172 km (107 miles) south of Valencia, and 417 km (259 miles) southeast of Madrid.
The population of the city of Alicante proper was 334,757, estimated as of 2009[update], ranking as the second-largest Valencian city.
Alicante has some of the finest beaches, stretching for several kilometres and attracting countless sun worshippers and pleasure seekers. Indeed, the sun in Alicante shines endlessly.
It is best to start exploring Alicante from the beachfront, along the Explanada de España , the citys main pedestrian pathway. This beautiful boulevard stretches around the
harbour and is shaded with palm trees and lined with shops, restaurants and cafés.
Northwest of the elegant boulevard, towards the heart of the city, you will 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 – from 5 star restaurants to glam casinos (very popular with the German people who go to play
poker), this coast has it all. Meanwhile, southwest near Calle de Italia , are the central tourist office, post office, and the citys main train and bus stations.
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.
Alicante Alacant is the capitol of the Costa Blanca and has grown from a village under many sieges of war under the watchful eyes of Castillo de Santa Barbara to the second largest city in the Valencia providence. This bustling City of the Sun is nestled between the mountains and the sea and its microclimate makes for a wonderful visit year round.
Alicante Sun, sea and sand is what attracts visitors to the beaches of Alicante, such as the Playa de San Juan with 5km of golden sand with all facilities. Venture past its clear, clean aqua colour water and take a stroll in the city along the Explanada promenade surrounded by softly swaying palms, terrace cafes and tri-colour marble mosaic tiles below your feet.
Alicante the impressive newly renovated Paseo Maritimo port was the starting point of the Volvo 2008 Alicante and consists of shops, an entertainment centre and a cinema.
Alicante the city presents a wealth of history with numerous major and minor museums so you can not go wrong with a holiday in Alicante it offers a good selection of hotel accommodation and self catering apartments in Alicante.
Places to see in Alicante
Alicante historical district, El Barrio, tenders winding streets and is where many points of interest are located. Some of the highlights include:
Ayuntamiento This is Alicante s Town Hall and its point of interest is a prime example of Baroque design and you will descend upon your entrance into El Barrio.
MARQ Mueso Arqueologico Provincial de Alicante Elected European Museum of the Year in 2004, the MARQ is an innovated hi-tech architectonical museum and that will thrill the whole family. Civilizations from prehistory to modern day are covered along with Alicante's rich past touched upon.
Palacio Gravina Alicante Housed in an 18th Century palace of Count of Lumiares and his family, the Gravina Museum of Fine Arts is home to a phenomenal collection of artwork. The permanent collection features an impressive 500 works by major artists of the 16th through 20th centuries.
Mueso de la Asagurada Alicante This casa dates back to 1685 and has been carefully restored to its former glory. It now houses a collection of 20th century fine arts with the majority loaned by Alicante art collector, Eusebio Sempere. Within the collection you will find Miró, DalÃ, Picasso, Juan Gris and Julio González.
Las Hogueras Museum de Sant Joan Alicante One of the most important festivals in Alicante is the highlight each year in June celebrating St. John. Needless to say, if you can not make it, Alicante has a museum which one can learn all about the festivals history. On display are old posters and advertisements, costumes, photos and videos. It will be almost like attending the festival.
Iglesia de Santa Maria Alicante No town in Spain would be without a church and Alicante has many. The Iglesia de Santa de Maria is one of the prettiest and oldest in El Barrio.
Transport in Alicante
Alicante Airport outranks its Valencian counterpart, being among the busiest airports in Spain after Madrid, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca and Málaga and keeps expanding. The El Altet International Airport is 10 km (6 miles) southwest of
Alicante's city centre. It is connected with Madrid and Barcelona by frequent Iberia and Spanair flights, and with many Western European cities through carriers such as Easyjet, Ryanair, Air Berlin, Monarch Airlines, and Jet2.com. From the airport there are also regular flights to Algeria and Russia.
Alicante Airport Arrival Times
Alicante Airport Departure Times
Alicante railway station is used by cercanías linking Alicante with suburban and Murcia. Long-range RENFE trains run frequently to Madrid and Barcelona
Alicante Tram connects the city with outlying settlements along Costa Blanca. As of 2008, it runs up to Benidorm and further to Denia.
The city has regular ferry services to the Balearic Islands and Algeria.
Fiestas in Alicante
The said festival has sported varieties of nomenclatures as Noche de San Juan, Hogueras de San Juan, Fogueras, Bonfires of Saint John, but the modern festival is the amalgamated end product of an ancient pagan celebration of the summer solstice, and the Christian feast of San Juan. Marked as the key festival in the city of Alicante, the said festival is celebrated week-long, between June 19th to 24th. Before the year 1928, this fiesta was very
similar in Alicante as the rest of Europe. Such festivals basically saw people gathering together and burning objects of choice. Through the initiation of one man in Alicante by the name of Jose María Py, the idea was adopted according to the pattern set by the popular fiestas across Valencia called Fallas. When three months lapsed, the first Hogueras de San Juan came into being, and Alicante was never the same again.
The heart of the festival’s heart lies in the Día de San Juan, where giant cardboard, wood and paper maché effigies end up in a larger than life conflagration, on June 24th.
What first transpires on the way to Día de San Juan is colourful parades, along with the Flower Offerings to Our Lady of Remedy. There is also a bull fighting festival while musical concerts endlessly reverberate all throughout. People don’t stop to slumber as the street partying goes from dusk until dawn. Mascletás (firecrackers) resonate across the city.
Before the bonfires on the 24th, tourists and locals throng to the streets during the week to tour around Alicante and get a thorough glimpse of the artsy works pending the torching. For good measure, a local transit even sets up a free Hogueras bus that tours the streets to take in all of the main Hogueras and some of the minor ones.
The thrill begins just before midnight. Countdown ticks down the time until the clock strikes twelve on the night of San Juan, when a grandiose firework display erupts from the Castillo de Santa Bárbara. The reverberating lights signals the lighting of las hogueras. Far from over, the fiery display raises the celebrations to fever pitch, washing the streets aglow from the rising flames. After the pent up anticipation, the festival ends in a mind blowing razzle dazzle.
After these, scathing remarks are thrown to the bomberos (firemen). This is a strange ritual expected of everyone in Alicante to sufficiently 'motivate' the firemen to shower the crowds.
Seven days later at the start of July, it is time for the Feast of San Pedro. More processions are paraded, more effigies are torched, more fireworks explode above, and more drinking and dancing ensue around makeshift wooden party enclosures known as ‘barracas.’ Apart from these significant celebrations, the rest of the year for Alicante is generally more subdued. In September, the annual theatre festival, dubbed the Alicante e Esena and the Alicante International Music Festival exhibit significant works concerned. In December, the International Puppet Festival showcases the best puppets from around the globe.
Places to see in Alicante
Northwest of the elegant boulevard, towards the heart of the city, you will 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 citys main train and bus stations.
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 harbour, 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 kilometres of the beautiful countryside. Here, the views over the city sweep the visitors of their feet.
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 splendour 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 neighbourhoods with wrought iron window grilles, banks of flowers, and a view of the entire harbour.
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.
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.
Theatres in Alicante
The Teatro Principal, with its sumptuous interiors, is the throbbing heart of Alicante's performing arts. Teatro Principal stages plays, opera and ballet and often hosts free musical and dance performances. There is also the Obras Sociales by Cam Cultural (Tel No: 90 210 01 12, Website: www.cam.es, Address: Avenida Doctor Gadea 1).
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Weather Forcast for Alicante
Alicante enjoys Mediterranean climate with mild temperatures throughout the year and little rain, concentrated in equinoctial periods. The temperature on average is between 16.8° and 6.2° in January and between 30.6° and 20.4° in August, with the average annual temperature of 17.8°. Daily oscillations in temperature are very small due to maritime influence, although occasional episodes of wind from the west could result in temperature range in excess of 15°. Annual oscillations in temperature are small as well, i.e. winters are mild and summers are warm.
The average amount of rainfall is 336 mm per year. September and October are the rainiest months due to torrential rains caused by the cold drop, which can reach over 200 mm in 24 hours causing severe flooding. Because of this irregularity, only 37 rainy days are observed on average per year, and the annual number of sunshine hours reaches 2,864.
More Alicante Weather Forecasts
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