Guide to Alicante

Alicante has one of the best locations for a Mediterranean town- it lies snuggled between the warm sea and the scenic mountains. Over the last decade, the town has been improved and developed so much it has become a great location for sight seeing, dancing the night away, visiting local places of interest and, of course, enjoying the beaches.� Inhabited for more than 3,000 years, Alicante is the capital of the Costa Blanca. The port has been an important feature of Alicante for thousands of years and now boasts a substantial marina filled with yachts.

The history of the area has encouraged numerous museums and monuments of interest that visitors can see dotted around the town. The Archaeological Museum has a collection which has grown in scope and stature to become one of Spain's best. The interactive displays and educational tools make the museum a great place for children and anyone with an interest in the region's history. Castell de Santa Barbara is the dominating structure that overlooks the capital and the bay. The tunnelled rooms, barracks and features of the fort make it a great exploration ground. There is a large selection of modern statues amongst the gardens and grounds of the castle. Moving to more modern sights, the Museo de la Asegurada, located in the Plaza de Santa Maria, features the works of such modern day artists as Alfaro, Gris, Miro, Viola Canogar, Chillida, Bacon, Zobel and Picasso. The Gravina Palace Museum of Art features work produced in the last 300 years by local artists; it is an inspiring gallery housed in a beautiful 18th century building. The Paseo de la Explanada is Alicante's famous promenade that runs along the seafront and is lined with palm trees and local flora.

The town is surrounded with natural beauty so leaving the city attractions to the surrounding countryside is enormously rewarding. For a day on the waves, a visit to the nearby island of Tabarca, a dedicated marine reserve, in a glass bottomed boat is just the thing. The nearby town of Elche, just 30 km away, is renowned for the hundreds of thousands of palm trees that shade the charming streets of the town and lending it a calm, exotic air.

The transformation of Alicante has encouraged visitors to return year after year. The parks, gardens and wonderful cafes enhance the atmosphere of this seaside town making it a great destination for a holiday getaway. Constant improvements, the reclamation of the cultural heritage and the mass effort by the people and government is restoring the town to its former glory.�

Please check with the local tourist office for further information and updates:
Patronato Provincial de Turismo,
Plaza del Ayuntamiento, 1
03002 ALICANTE.
+34 (0) 96 514 9100
alcaldia@alicante-ayto.es
http://www.alicante.es/ingles