Welcome to Alicante

A modern, cosmopolitan city like Alicante has a historic quarter, often little known or totally unknown to visitors and even local citizens, a typical spot and a haven of peace where time seems to have stood still and which holds surprising secrets.

Clustered around the slopes of the Benacantil mountain, whose Castle of Santa Bárbara served it as protection, you will find a historic area where late Roman traces, the remains of Medieval walls and Modern Age streets have been discovered.

This area is the location of the most important historic-artistic quarter, plus one of the liveliest “nightspots”. As you will notice on other pages, we refer to it simply as “El Barrio” (“The Neighbourhood).

But here we should stop to contemplate the colourful, restored facades of many houses in the lower area, with their old viewpoints. Here it is advisable, even compulsory, to leave your car, which would get lost among the narrow streets, and take a  leisurely stroll, stopping to get your strength back in one of the bars you will find along your way.

We can start our route behind the Town Hall, in the Santísima Faz square, going up San Agustín street until we reach Quijano square, one of the oldest in Alicante. From here, via Pedro Sebastià street, we arrive at the street of San Roque, co-patron saint of the city, where the chapel of the same name is located. This chapel was built in 1559, rebuilt in 1875 and restored very recently. Inside is the image known as the Gypsy Christ, greatly revered by the people of this neighbourhood, which is none other than the “Barrio de San Roque”, the most typical part of Alicante.

In streets such as Toledo, San Luis and Diputado Auset we will discover the hidden, unexpected Alicante, with immaculate, brightly-coloured houses bedecked with flowers, wrought iron grilles, tile mosaics which reveal its inhabitants’ devotion to the Santa Faz, and also some old fountains. Steep, narrow streets with buildings reminiscent of the Moorish style, almost silent, which end at the eighteenth Century chapel of Santa Cruz, right at the top. Here there is a forecourt where one can listen to classical music concerts in the summer and heartrending “saetas” (flamenco verses sung at processions) when the most beautiful, moving procession in Alicante starts out from this humble place, and whose bearers have to bring down the floats on their knees in some sections of the route, one of which is the appropriately named Descent.

Cameras and videos should be at the ready to perpetuate spectacular panoramic views where, with the the huge mass of the Benacantil as a guardian and silent witness, you will discover quaint spots, facets and settings in which the traditional flavour of centuries-old houses contrasts with the skyscrapers of the city from which the noises of progress can just be heard as a murmur in the background.

Beaches ands coves of Alicante

Its splendid fifteen kilometre stretch of coastline boasts superb beaches, most of which are flat and sandy, as only the Cabo de las Huertas is located on uneven terrain.

The blue flag of the European Union which flies on almost all of them is a guarantee of cleanliness, quality of the water and optimum services.