Alicante (Spain) - the most detailed information about the city with photos. The main attractions of Alicante with descriptions, guides and maps.

Alicante city (Spain)

Alicante - resort town in eastern Spain, the center of the province of the same name. It is considered the capital of the eastern Spanish coast and the main resort of the Costa Blanca. Alicante is a place where you can find almost everything a tourist needs: sea and snow-white sandy beaches, rich history and attractions (from a medieval fortress to a classic Mediterranean old town with narrow cobbled streets). It is a dynamic and modern city, which is one of the best places holidays in Spain.

Geography and climate

Alicante is located in the southeastern part of Spain on the coast Mediterranean Sea. The province is bordered by Valencia to the north, Murcia to the south, Albacete to the west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the east. Alicante has mountains in the northern and western regions. The south is quite flat. The Segura River flows east through the entire province. The climate is mild Mediterranean. Summers are hot and dry, winters are very warm.

Best time to visit

Alicante can be visited all year round. The ideal time to visit is from May to October.

Practical information

Population - 328.7 thousand people (11th most populous city in Spain).
Area - 201.3 square kilometers.
Language - Spanish. Locals speak the Valencian dialect.
Currency - euro.
Visa - Schengen.
Time - Central European UTC +1, summer +2.
Meal times: breakfast: from 7:30 to 10:00, lunch: from 14:00 to 16:00, dinner: from 21:00 to 22:30.
Most hotels, restaurants and shops accept bank cards.
The mains voltage is standard - 220-240 V.

Tourist Information Centers:

Avda. de Salamanca, s/n. Alicante
Rambla Mendez Núñez, 41 Alicante 03002
Plaza del Ayuntamiento 1 Alicante 03001
Playa de San Juan (Beach of San Juan)
Alicante's Airport (ALC)

Beaches of Alicante

The province is famous for its beaches, many of which have a "blue flag" (the sea water here meets the highest standards). The most famous and largest beaches of Alicante:

San Juan is one of the most popular and largest beaches in Alicante. Almost three kilometers of golden sand, turquoise sea and excellent infrastructure.
Albufereta is a popular sandy beach among locals, located northwest of the city. Length - 400 meters.
Postiguet is a famous sandy beach located in the city center at the foot of the Santa Barbara Castle. The length is almost one kilometer.
Saladar Urbanova is a sandy beach 5 km south of the city center. Length - 1600 meters.

Story

During the time of the ancient Greeks, a fishing harbor was located on the site of modern Alicante. In the 3rd century BC, the Carthaginians founded a fortified settlement here, Acre Leuca, which was later captured by the Romans and named Lucentum by them. In the 12th century, the city was captured by the Arabs and named it Al-Laqant, which transformed into its modern name.

In 1246, Alicante became part of the Kingdom of Castile. In 1308 the city became part of the Kingdom of Valencia. By the end of the 15th century, Alicante had become one of the largest trading ports in Spain.

In the 19th century, the city began to rapidly expand and prosper, which was facilitated by the presence of a port and railway. Today, the province of Alicante is the second largest region in the Valencian Autonomous Community, and the city itself is one of the largest and most popular resorts Spain.

How to get there

The airport is located 11 km south of Alicante. There is a bus from the airport to the city every 20 minutes, which departs from level +2 of the new terminal.

Main Train Station located in the city center. All major Spanish cities such as Madrid, Seville, Barcelona have daily train connections to Alicante. There is a high speed train from Madrid and Valencia. The average travel time from Alicante to Madrid is 3 hours 30 minutes.

One of the best ways To travel short and long distances from Alicante is by bus. The bus station is located in Calle Portugal - close to the harbour. Many bus operators operate from this bus station and offer services to other cities and regions of Spain.

Shopping and purchases

Along the Explanada d'Espanya you can find many places where souvenirs are sold. In general, Alicante has a lot to offer in terms of shopping. The streets between La Rambla and Federica Soto do de Alfonso El Sabio have many shops. In El Barrio, the old quarter of Alicante , there are also many retail outlets.

Large shopping centers:

El Corte Inglés
Centro Comercial Plaza Mar 2
Centrol Comercial Panoramas
Centrol Comercial Gran Via
Centrol Comercial Puerta de Alicante

Food and drink

As elsewhere in the region, seafood dishes, tapas and paella predominate. To save on food, we recommend ordering the “menu of the day”. Many restaurants don't serve dinner until 9 pm, so keep this in mind when planning your evening meal. Among the drinks, it is worth noting the excellent wines.

Alicante is famous for its nightlife. The El Puerto area is famous for its clubs and bars. IN summer time many parties take place on the beaches of Postiguet and San Juan. Also known for its nightlife is El Barrio, whose narrow streets are filled with many bars, while Esplanade Square is more popular in the summer months.

Attractions

The most important attractions and interesting places in Alicante.

Castle of Santa Barbara - one of the largest medieval fortresses Spain and the most famous attractions of Alicante. Located on the top of Mount Benacantil at an altitude of 166 meters beautiful view to the city and the bay. The fortress has Moorish roots. The last reconstruction of the castle dates back to the 16th century. Best time to visit this place morning or evening.

Church of St. Maria

Church of St. Maria is one of the main attractions of Alicante. It was built in the Gothic style between the 14th and 16th centuries on the ruins of a Moorish mosque. The church has a richly decorated Baroque facade, among which the image of the virgin by the sculptor Juan Bautista Borja is worth highlighting. The main altar is made in the Rococo style.

Cathedral of St. Nikolai Bari

Cathedral of St. Nicholas Bari was built in the 17th century in Renaissance and Baroque style. It is located in the old town near the town hall. The church has a wonderful blue dome and a beautiful garden.

The Town Hall is a historical building in the Baroque style. Interesting features The town hall contains a meeting hall, a chapel and twin towers over 30 meters high.

Casco Antiguo is a charming area in the old town, more like a Spanish village. Locals take pride in their homes, decorating balconies and doorsteps with fresh flowers and painting on shutters.

Explanada de España - Alicante's elegant marble promenade. It starts in the old town and continues to the pier.

Tabarca Island - located 11 nautical miles from Alicante. Charming place.
Archaeological Museum- exhibitions from antiquity to the Middle Ages.
Museum of Modern Art - 800 works of art representing many of the most celebrated artists of the 20th century, including Picasso, Francis Bacon, Salvador Dali and Joan Miró.
Towers - Beginning in the 1500s, a complex network of defense and observation structures was built to protect the coast from pirates. About 30 of them have survived to this day.

Alicante map. The Spanish city of Alicante is located on Mediterranean coast and plays the role of the capital autonomous community Valencia. Throughout the history of its existence, it was considered one of the most important ports in Spain. Where is it located? The wonderful climate has created its reputation as an excellent beach resort.

Alicante was founded by Greek colonists. In 201 BC. it was captured by the Roman legions, after which it received the name Lucentum. In Greek it sounded like Akra Levka (White Peak), which is where its current name comes from. In the mid-20th century, this city received the status of a popular tourist center, after which it began to actively develop. Today it is one of the most fashionable resorts on the Costa Blanca. It has wonderful conditions for a carefree beach holiday and the richest cultural heritage. During its existence, this city has absorbed the traditions of various nationalities. Nowadays this can be seen in the lifestyle of the townspeople and the architectural appearance of the city. The main sources of replenishment of the city budget are the food, tobacco, wine industries and, of course, tourism. Dozens of new cozy hotels are built in Alicante every year, and the tourism infrastructure is constantly being modernized.

St. Mary's Church is one of the most striking attractions of the city. It was originally built in the Gothic style in the 16th century. A little later it was rebuilt in the Baroque style. Opposite the temple is the La Asegurada Museum, where you can admire the beautiful creations of such architects as Eusebio Sempere, Julio Gonzalez and Juan Gris. The Fortress of St. Barbara plays the role of a symbol of Alicante. This beautiful religious building flaunts on picturesque rock Benacantil. At some distance from the citadel, the majestic San Fernando Castle rises. www.site

The Explanada de Espaça boulevard serves as a favorite walking place for citizens and tourists. Its pavement is decorated with wonderful mosaics. The boulevard is framed by picturesque palm trees, which stretch in four rows. A couple of kilometers from this place is the Elch Gate Square. Along its colorful ancient streets you can walk to the Old Town, replete with squat houses and taverns.

La Rambla de Mendez Nunes is considered the heart of this city. All kinds of special events are held here. Five kilometers from the city limits stands the holy monastery El Monasterio de Santa Veronica de Santa Faz, built in the mid-18th century. Next to the monastery there is a fortress tower from the 16th century. Primorsky Boulevard is considered the most popular place for all kinds of entertainment. It is a beautiful palm alley, along which there is a whole scattering of entertainment and culinary establishments, as well as various shops. The pedestrian zone of the boulevard is lined with colorful multi-colored marble slabs.

Life on the local coast never stops for a single second. Every night you can hear music coming from the windows of nightclubs. During the day, various festivals and themed concerts are often held here. In particular, the Nit del Foe (Night of Fire) festival, held in June, is very popular here. This holiday begins with the mayor of Alicante setting fire to a wooden doll to the cheerful cries of tourists and city residents. This fun ends only at dawn.

Tourist town Alicante on the map of Spain - history, inhabitants, photos and videos

In hot and sunny Spain Tens of millions of tourists come every year. Naturally, most visitors try to settle in big cities And famous resorts. But is this really necessary? Maybe it’s better to find a quiet and peaceful place, which is also beautiful and picturesque? One of these places is the resort of Alicante. On the map of Spain it can be found on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. And this is not just a city, but a modern resort where you can relax on the beach, walk along beautiful nature reserves and enjoy active recreation. Today, the resort of Alicante is one of the best and most sought-after resorts in the country, and the annual influx of tourists into the city is more than 50 percent. Come too!

Alicante resort on the map of Spain – where it is, how to get there and other information

It’s worth saying right away that Alicante is rightfully considered one of best resorts in the country. Despite its small size, there is everything for a quality holiday in any direction. More than 80% of the city’s population is in one way or another connected with tourism, so everyone will find their holiday here.
Naturally, in first place in popularity at the resort is beach holiday. Of course, the city is comfortably located right on the shores of the warm Mediterranean Sea. There are also many attractions here. Still, the first mention of this place dates back to 230 BC! Residents of other countries and even continents often sailed here. At one time, these lands were even owned by the Arabs, but that was also a long time ago.

One more popular destination holiday in Alicante is bicycle rides. There are a huge number of bike paths and paths along which you can ride bicycles. Paths lead to the mountains, forests and along the coast. Traveling by bicycle may be considered amazing nature and a world that you would never notice while flying down the road in a car.

But local residents are not the only ones involved in tourism. Since the sea is nearby, there are fishermen too. And the demand for fresh fish at the resort is great. Tourists love to eat fish and try something new and tasty.
The banking sector is also developed here. And this is also not surprising. Visiting tourists need to be provided with currency exchange and maintenance services credit cards. That's why there are many banks here.

Neighbors of Alicante

On land, Alicante's neighbors are Valencia on one side and Murcia on the other. At sea, the resort has more venerable neighbors. Firstly, this famous island Ibiza. It’s true that it’s a bit far away and you’ll have to swim up the sea. And secondly, the no less famous island of Mallorca, which is located even further from Alicante.

Sights of Alicante

As we wrote above, Alicante has many attractions. Many of them are several centuries old and are under the protection of various international organizations.
The Iglesia de Santa María church was built in the 15th and 16th centuries. It has a distinct Gothic style. In its modern version, the church has been slightly rebuilt in the Baroque style, but nothing can erase the traces of history.
There is also a fortress with a telling name - Santa Barbara. It was built on high mountain to see enemies at sea and defend against their attacks.
The city also houses cathedrals and mosques, museums and memorial parks. There is a famous boulevard that all tourists who arrive in the city must walk along. In general, in Alicante there is where to go and what to see. Therefore, quickly buy tickets and fly on vacation to a paradise.

Thanks to modern construction technologies detailed maps They even include pictures from space. To date, geographic map and the circuit of Spain is the main companion of tourists from different countries peace.

Map of Spain in Russian with cities and explanations

When planning a trip to a magnificent country, you want to know about the location of Spain on the world map with a satellite view. The presented diagram will allow you to get acquainted with local resorts and cities. Thus, the traveler will be able to calculate how long it will take to fly from Russia.

Thanks to modern and detailed geographical data, on the map of Spain in Russian, Alicante can be seen from a satellite from Google. Using the additional features of the map, you can zoom in and out of certain objects, for example, small cities, landmarks and central streets. There are many interesting towns on the coast of the country that attract our attention in tourist guides. For example, the glorious Torrevieja and Denia. And it’s always more convenient to have a map on hand, especially for those travelers who suddenly want to change their route.

Map of Spain - general description

Where is Alicante on the map of Spain

Alicante is a province located in Valencia. Alicante on the map of Spain is located at an altitude of 18 meters above sea level. Alicante has a population of 334,757 people, making it the second largest city in Valencia. The air is permeated with the aromas of the sea, because the city served as an important seaport for many centuries. There is nothing quite as pleasant as walking along a beautiful promenade covered in red, cream and black marble to imitate the waves of the Mediterranean.

Alicante looks out from its famous Paseo de la Explainada, one of the most beautiful promenades in Spain. Alicante is also a university city with various faculties and a number of technical colleges. During the summer, various Spanish courses for foreigners are offered.

Note! Alicante's mild climate allows you to spend time on the beach all year round.

The area has many fantastic beaches to choose from: La Playa de San Juan, with seven kilometers of golden sand. La Albufereta, a quiet, residential area protected by the Serra Grossa promontory, El Postiguet, located almost inside the city itself, at the foot of Mount Benacantil, next to the port and Los Saladares, to the south, known as Agua Amarga.

For those vacationers who prefer rocky beach With crystal clear waters, Cabo de las Huertas offers a tranquil spot. This rugged, rocky area, with coves such as Los Cantarales, Los Judios and Palmera, is especially popular with families. El Saladar and Los Judios have nudist sections.

Important! The city of Alicante serves as Madrid's commercial port and has excellent road and rail tunnels.

It is important to note that the main products are wine, raisins, vegetables and esparto grass - all exported - tomatoes, bricks, cigarettes, aluminum utensils, furniture and embroidery. Local trade and services are the main economic activity of Alicante.

Distance from Alicante to major cities in Spain - how to get there

In this article, a tourist can find a detailed way to travel from Alicante to Barcelona.

City of Happiness on the map

Both buses and trains operate from Alicante towards Barcelona. Flying would be faster, but when you add check-in time and travel time to the airport, then it's better to take the train or buses. In addition, flights will cost more.

Note! The distance between Barcelona and Alicante is 521.5 km.

Train Via Madrid

There is a high-speed AVE train from Alicante to Madrid, which takes you to the capital in about two hours. From here you can change to another Barcelona high-speed train (about 2.5 hours) and travel to Barcelona. Because of this improved route, it will take just as much time to get to Madrid and then Barcelona on the high-speed train as it does to go straight to Barcelona on the five-hour slow train. The only downside is that the slightly faster train costs more.

Barcelona - Alicante and back: direct train

The Alicante to Barcelona route takes about five hours and costs approximately 40 euros ($50), departing from Barcelona Sants station. Flights operate almost every hour from 7 am to 6 pm. These trains are operated by RENFE. Book train tickets with Rail Europe.

Barcelona to Alicante and back by bus

The bus costs about 40 euros and the journey takes approximately seven and a half hours. ALSA - the most popular bus company in Spain, however Movelia and Avanza are competitors. They are also reliable and sometimes offer good discounts to customers.

Important! Since the train and bus cost about the same, it is best to purchase a train ticket.

Barcelona to Alicante and back: car

The 550km journey from Barcelona to Alicante takes around five hours, mostly along the AP-7 highway. Please note that AP roads are toll roads, which can significantly increase the cost of travel. Tourists can pay about 30 euros.

Distance from Alicante to Madrid

Coordinates of Alicante (38.3452, −0.4815), and Madrid (40.4165, −3.7026). The approximate distance from Alicante to Madrid is 360 km.

For those who prefer to travel from one city to another resort by car, the distance between Alicante and Madrid is 419.63 km. When traveling by car with average speed 112 kilometers per hour (70 mph), travel time is approximately 3 hours 44 minutes.

Note! Difference between by high speed train and by car is 60 km.

Intercity communication

Alicante coast map

Golden sand, hidden coves and crystal clear waters attract millions of holidaymakers to the province of Alicante every year. With 244 kilometers coastline, there are many interesting places for a perfect holiday. The sandy beaches attract sunseekers, divers, surfers, fishermen, artists and many other people who love bright colors.

There are many sandy beaches and bays to suit every taste. This site presents the top best beach places where you can have a great relaxation while enjoying the natural beauty.

Upper Beach - La Granadella, is located in the northern Costa Blanca resort of Javea. It has twice won the prestigious award for the best beach in Spain. La Garandella is located in picturesque bay with clear turquoise waters, surrounded by jagged cliffs and pine trees. It is important to note that this is very popular place scuba divers

Crystal clear water does it ideal place for snorkeling breaking the surface of the water to see seaweed and colorful fish. La Granadella is a tiny beach, only 220 meters wide, and is very popular with both locals and tourists.

Note! You will need to get up early to reserve a spot on the beach.

In a busy resort Benidorm there are also two best beaches Spain - Levante and Poniente. Both beaches are surrounded by the mountains behind Benidorm, which protect the bays from cold winds, creating a warm microclimate.

Benidorm's beautiful sandy beaches stretch for approximately four kilometers with slopes along the Mediterranean Sea. Levante is known as the sunrise beach and is the ideal place to enjoy an early morning swim or sunbathe.

The best coasts of Alicante

Beaches Blue Flag safe and suitable for family vacation. This perfect place For sailing, jetting or paragliding. The long coastal strip has an attractive promenade lined with bars and restaurants serving food from around the world, as well as great deals on daily menus and drinks.

This fabulous central beach with beautiful golden sand has turned San Juan to a popular destination for Alicante residents and chic city dwellers. San Juan is the city's main attraction, stretching 2,900 meters from the fishing village of El Campello to the rocky headland of Cabo de las Huertas. The coast is only 25 kilometers from international airport Alicante therefore attracts local Spaniards who come here for the weekend.

This is interesting! Legend has it that in days past, when the Moors ruled Spain, a beautiful Moorish queen bathed in these pools among the rocks. Nowadays, it still attracts holidaymakers, but is also a seaside playground for kayaking, yachting, surfing and snorkeling.

Another little gem on the coast Costa Blanca(Campoamor), El Portet is located in a rocky bay sheltered by cliffs with sparkling clear blue waters. Tourists come here to swim or surf. This beautiful place for relaxation.

The bright blue, crystal clear waters and great atmosphere have caused some people to compare El Portet to Caribbean island. The beach is only 350 meters long and is very crowded in summer. It is especially popular among locals who come here with their families or friends.

What should a tourist vacationing in Alicante know?

Smoking is prohibited in public places, and violators may be subject to severe fines. However, most restaurants have designated smoking areas, and hotels allow smoking on balconies.

When going on excursions to local cathedrals and temples, it is best for women to wear a long skirt, and for men to wear trousers. Visitors who only understand Russian may simply not be allowed into the temple in revealing clothing.

In conclusion, it should be noted that if you plan to spend a lot of time on excursions, it is best to refrain from traveling in the autumn. At this time it often rains, which can seriously disrupt the excursion program.