- Urban romance of Alicante
- Alicante squares
- Historical landmarks
- Museums of Alicante
Alicante is one of those cities on the Spanish coast, where tourists tend to visit every year. Developed infrastructure, the presence of interesting sights, the best beaches of the Costa Blanca - all this makes the city in demand at any time of the year. Guests of Alicante will always find a place to go in this amazing city.
Urban romance of Alicante
Avenues, streets, boulevards, districts are considered a kind of attraction, as they create a harmonious space of the urban landscape. Each of the streets is an original design object developed by eminent architects. If you are visiting Alicante, be sure to pay attention to its beautiful streets.
Esplanade is a boulevard that is known to all visitors and locals. The street is 520 meters long and originates in the area of the city port. Walking along the Esplanade is a separate type of recreation for the Spaniards. Firstly, it is a great opportunity to see the key sights of the city, and, secondly, to get acquainted with its distinctive culture. The street is paved with blue, red and white pebbles replacing each other in various forms. A long alley of tall palms stretches along the boulevard, framing the street on both sides. Also on the boulevard there are restaurants, boutiques, bars, beauty salons, souvenir shops, etc.
The main port is located in a quiet Mediterranean harbor. Yachts, motor boats and other types of vessels are moored here. For the Spaniards, the port of Alicante is a visiting card of the city, since in the past it was an important strategic site of the city and played an important economic role. Today the port also functions as a trading point, from where cargo ships regularly depart. For tourists in the port, the rental of yachts and other water transport is organized.
The Santa Cruz area is located near Mount Benecantil in the central part of the city and is considered an iconic landmark. Santa Cruz has absorbed the spirit of the city's history and still retains the features of the provincial Spanish quarter. If you want to plunge into the charming atmosphere of ancient Spain, then feel free to go to Santa Cruz. Traditional multi-level architecture, miniature houses of different colors, verandas, beautiful flower gardens, facades decorated with mosaics - this is why tourists come to Santa Cruz. In addition, here you can taste dishes of national cuisine, which the residents of the area are happy to cook for their guests.
Alicante squares
In Alicante, in different periods of its existence, a large number of squares were built, each of which was dedicated to a certain important event. Currently, the city has about 5 squares with their own history and unusual architecture.
Once in Alicante, do not forget to include in your tourist program the inspection of the following areas:
- The Town Hall Square is the most visited square in the city. It differs from other Spanish squares in that there is no vegetation on it. The base of the square is a large stone rectangle, framed on all sides by gray buildings. Therefore, in cloudy weather, the square looks especially gloomy. However, this is what attracts most of the tourists. Another feature of the square is the jets of water escaping from under the stone slabs. This interesting effect allows you to observe the play of rays of sunlight in the water. Another interesting detail is that tables are set up around the perimeter of the square every evening, where you can dine and watch the flickering fountain.
- Luceros Square is the starting point for all tourist routes. It is here that buses from the airport arrive, and then the visitors go to hotels. The pearl of the square is the old fountain, installed here in the early 30s of the 20th century. The fountain is round in shape and is decorated with sculptures of Spanish mythical characters. There are several flower beds and palm trees around the fountain. Luceros is rightfully recognized as one of the greenest areas in Alicante.
- Gabriel Miró Square is a beautiful shady park where centuries-old trees grow. The square got its name in honor of the eminent writer who was born and worked in Alicante. In memory of him, a white stone was installed on the square with engraved quotes from the best works of Miró. Locals come to the square, as a rule, to hide from the heat in the shade of spreading trees. On the square there are several small cafes, a dance floor, benches, lanterns and a fountain.
Historical landmarks
Alicante is a city with a long history, therefore, many objects of the country's cultural heritage have been preserved here. Most of it is made up of ancient fortresses, cathedrals and castles. They are scattered in different areas of the city and are open to the public at any time of the year.
Fortress of Santa Barbara, which is located on the famous Benacantil hill at an altitude of 165 meters above sea level. This powerful structure was erected in the 9th century at a time when the territory of Alicante was under the rule of the Moors. The fort-fortress was used for its intended purpose for a long time, up to the 14th century. The structure of the fortress is particularly striking for its well-thought-out system of entrances and exits, as well as precise planning of the location of strategic premises. From the 15th to the mid-20th centuries, the fortress was in complete desolation, but at the initiative of the local authorities, it was completely restored, and it became the hallmark of Alicante. In the evening, the fortress is illuminated from all sides with multi-colored illumination, which gives it additional charm and majesty.
Basilica of Santa Maria is a Gothic cathedral that was built in the 14th century on the site of a former mosque. An important event for the Spaniards was timed to the construction of the church: the expulsion of the Moors from Spain and the collapse of Arab rule over the country. Over the course of several centuries, the basilica was rebuilt several times and received its final appearance in the 17th century, when most of it was supplemented with elements in the Baroque style. The church amazes tourists not only with its external sophistication, but also with its interior decoration. It contains a rare organ, statues of Saints John and the Virgin Mary, amazing frescoes, an altar covered with artful gilded details.
Cathedral of Saint Nicholas, built in honor of the main patron saint of Alicante. The main stages of construction took place in the 17th century. A team of professional architects worked on the project of the temple, which managed to create a unique building that combines the Baroque and Renaissance styles. The facade of the cathedral is rather laconic, restrained and minimally decorated. The color scheme is distinguished by calm tones. The pride of the temple is considered to be a dome 45 meters long, trimmed from the inside with white marble. The cathedral houses the relics of saints, rare frescoes and a magnificent altarpiece by Nicola Borras.
The House of Carbonell is an unusual attraction in Alicante, included in many tourist routes. The construction of this building dates back to the 20s of the 20th century. The project was developed by the architect Ramos on the initiative of the largest Spanish industrialist at that time, Eduardo Carbonel, who allocated impressive funds for the construction of this family estate. Today the building houses shops, various organizations, a museum and a hotel.
Museums of Alicante
Among the various attractions of the city, numerous museums occupy a worthy place. They vary in subject matter and are popular with both children and adults. Museum tickets are inexpensive, and you can visit them at any time convenient for you.
Archaeological, which houses an impressive collection of rare artifacts. In total, the collection of the museum has over 90 thousand unique items. The spacious exhibition halls of the museum are equipped with the latest technology, which allows visitors not only to quickly move from one hall to another, but also to take an audio guide in different languages. In addition, on the basis of the museum, educational lectures, master classes and other interesting events are periodically held, the purpose of which is to popularize knowledge about science and archeology.
Volvo Ocean Race is an original museum with a different concept. The museum exposition is dedicated to the round-the-world regatta, which originates in Alicante every year since 2005. This event became so important for the residents and authorities of the city that this unusual museum was opened in his honor. In the halls, collections on the marine theme are presented, and in a separate hall there is a space in which visitors can feel like participants in a regatta. This is possible thanks to the interactive hardware built into the ship models.
The Gallery of Contemporary Art, founded in 1978, attracts the attention of lovers of contemporary painting. The initiative to open the gallery belongs to the famous abstractionist E. Sempere, who donated his unique collection of paintings to the gallery. An old building of the 17th century was allocated for the museum, which today houses the unique works of Picasso, Chagall, Miro, Gonzalez, Kandinsky and other "mastodons" of modern art.
