|
|
<-- Back
Alicante Holidays
Holiday information about Alicante on the Mediterranean sea shore |
Holiday information about Alicante on the Mediterranean sea shore
Tourist information about Alicante in Spain. Travel to Alicante and let Spain-Holiday.com guide and accommodate you |
Alicantes exceptional location between the mountains and the sea
Alicantes location provides the city with a special kind of enrapturing beauty. The city, wherever one roams, is pervaded with the savour of the sea, playing its deeply-felt role as a seaport, as it has always done.
As Juan Gil-Albert said, "Alicante looks uninterruptedly to the Mediterranean", or in the words of Gabriel Miró "my city is pierced through and through by the Mediterranean". Another native author, Joan Fuster, wrote that Alicante "is without a doubt, the friendliest of all Valencian cities, a city one would choose to live in if one were to exchange a village for a city".
This love, care and affection shown to Alicante stems from two premises, the first of which is its privileged location and the second the mildness of its climate, with an average year round temperature of 18° C.
Alicante is a university city, with various faculties and a series of technical colleges. In summer a variety of Spanish courses for foreigners are held.
The City offers an interesting range of cultural activities taking place in various centres around town, such as the Casa de la Cultura (cultural centre), which has a well-stocked library, a historical archive and keeps locals and visitors abreast of cultural movements by staging expositipns, conferences and films.
A number of financial entities also have their own Cultural Centres, offering a diversified programme throughout the year. The Teatro Principal, a neo-classical building of the middle 19th century, with an extensive programme, the exhibition centre Lonja del Pescado...
In the month of September the National Theatre Meeting "Alicante a Escena" is held, along with the International Contemporary Music Festival. In December there is an International Puppet Festival.
Alicante looks towards the sea, and does so from its famous Paseo de la Explanada, one of the most beautiful seafront promenades in Spain. "To be in Alicante is to be on the Explanada" wrote Juan Gil-Albert, and there is nothing as pleasant as strolling along this quayside promenade lined by four rows of palms, tessellated with marble in Alicante red, cream and black in imitation of the neighbouring waves of the Mediterranean.
Along the Explanada there is a music pavilion where the Municipal Band gives concerts on feast days. Other parks in the city are the Canalejas, with an important display of giant f chus; el Palmeral, located on the seafront along the Murcia road; Lo Morant, with an auditorium: and el Benacantil, with extensive pine groves on the slopes of the Santa Bárbara castle.
Due to its mild, inviting climate, Alicante has an easy, carefree nightlife all year round, although the summer season obliges it to continue into the wee hours of the morning.
There are many places to have a drink or a bite to eat around town, but we can particularly recommend the old city centre, known as El Barrio. Youll find bars, cafés, taverns, cervecerías, pizza joints, mesones... each with its own style and personality, where the music never stops, from salsa to jazz, not to mention rock, sevillanas and others.
The "modern" zone (between Alfonso El Sabio and the Explanada) offers other types of entertainment, with elegant pubs, restaurants with famed cuisine, discotheques and dance salons, all with the most sophisticated of décors, where the nightlife is no less enthusiastic than elsewhere. In Summer, enjoy the nightlife in the Playa de San Juan.
The beaches are undoubtedly one of the citys strong points. Alicantes mild climate makes beach-life feasible practically all year round. You certainly have a lot of beaches to choose from.
An open beach? La Playa de San Juan, with seven kilometres of golden sand flanked by a road enabling you to stop wherever you want.
A secluded beach? La Albufereta, an intimate, residential stretch of sand, protected by the headland of the Serra Grossa.
An urban beach? El Postiguet, located almost within the city itself, at the foot of the Benacantil mountain, next to the port. And theres still another called los Saladares, Iying south of the city in the area known as Agua Amarga. The sands simply never run out in Alicante. But if you prefer rocks, at the Cabo de las Huertas youll find a rugged, rocky area with coves such as los Cantarales, los Judios and Palmera.
Nudist beaches? El Saladar and Los Judios.
For scuba divers we can recommend the shores of the Isla de Tabarca off the coast
This City offers an extensive range of sports facilities, with installations for football, volleyball, basketball, tennis, shooting, a riding school, swimming pools, gyms, the Real Club Náutico de Regatas Alicante marina and the Alicante-Costa Blanca Nautical Club, with over 800 moorings. Two golf courses will shortly be opened in the vicinity. In the nearby town of Muchamiel there is a local airport for private sports aircraft and ultralight aircraft.
What to do in Alicante?
For abstract art, pay a visit to the Eusebio Sempere Museum in the Casa de la Asegurada, where youll find an art collection donated to the city by this local sculptor and painter.
Panoramic views of the city and sea from 166m high, surrounded by castle walls? Go up the Benacantil mountain and visit the Castillo de Santa Bárbara. By road or using the lift from the Postiguet beach.
Music lovers can attend a concert next to the sea in the afternoons, on the Paseo de la Explanada. In summertime, the concerts are given on Sunday mornings.
Dont miss the magic and charm of Les Fogueres de Sant Joan. On the night of 24 June, the flames from blazing bonfires illuminate the Alicante sky.
Try any of the delicious varieties of rice dishes, combined with shellfish, fish or meat. To complete your meal, taste the local wines, and dont forget the famous icecreams, turrones and dates.
Get a good tan at practically any time of year on the fine sandy
beaches of Postiguet, la Albufereta or San Juan. If you prefer rocky coves and seclusion, try the Cabo de las Huertas.
You shouldnt miss the Island of Tabarca. Trips can be made from Alicante.
Where to go in Alicante?
Jijona is only 26 km from Alicante, and it would be inexcusable not to pay a visit to the birthplace of turrón. Close at hand are the Caves of Canelobre, a marvel of nature you will surely enjoy.
Dont miss the Habaneras and Polyphony Festival held in Torrevieja every year in August.
On the way youll see the famous Salinas, salt flats, and perhaps you can take home a barquito de sal, the typical souvenir. Torrevieja is only 42 km from Alicante.
Did you know that only 22 km from Alicante you can see the largest Palm Forest in Europe? A trip to Elx wont take long and youre sure to enjoy a stroll through this subtropical area so different from others in Spain.
If you happen to be here in August, do not miss the Misteri dElx, a liturgical drama of medieval origin.
If you are into mountaineering, you can have a go at the Maigmó mountain (1296 m) taking the road to Castalla.Although you can drive up a track leading almost to the top, the energetic will ascend on foot and have a pleasant rest on the Balcón de Alicante, which offers a magnificent panorama of the Castalla mountains and the Alicante plain, with the blue Mediterranean in the background.
Do not forget to visit the city of Orihuela, with its wide variety of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings. 54 km from Alicante.
They say that Ibi (40 km) is the Spanish headquarters of the Three Kings of Orient, who bring gifts at Christmas time. This may not be true, but it certainly has a huge number of toy factories. And also a Toy Museum your children will love to visit.
You should also visit the village of Agost, famous for its pottery. This town makes more earthenware botijos than any other spot in Spain. The authentic souvenir is the Botijo de Novia.
If youre visiting in summer and looking for action, ask about the Trensnochador ("night-owl"). Its a train that runs at night, connecting with all the disco centres and nightspots from Alicante up to Altea. The best of the movida (night scene) of the Costa Blanca!.
|
|
