Casino in alicante

 

What to see in Alicante

Having such a diverse history, there's no wonder that Alicante has so many historic buildings. Old buildings blend seemlessly with modern constructions and there's something to see on every street.

 

Among the churches of Alicante is the Iglesia de Santa Maria, which is the oldest church in the city and was built between the 14th and 16th centuries. It was once the main mosque during Moorish times. Its front comprises of two solid looking towers and wonderful Baroque stonework. The church houses many important works of art. The Cathedral de San Nicolas was built between and and stands over 45 metres tall. The Communion Chapel inside is considered to be one of the most beautiful examples of Spanish Baroque architecture. St Nicolas is the patron saint of the city so this Cathedral is one of the most important buildings in the city. Despite its size, the interior is very plain. The huge dome dominates the ceiling. There are small chapels along the aisles.

 

Whilst three sides of the cathedral are in narrow streets, the front door opens onto a small plaza.    

The Town Hall and Council Square

The Plaza de Ayuntamiento, or council square is dominated by the Town Hall with its two square towers and moulded panels. The square has fountains in the centre that appear from nowhere. The Town Hall building is an excellent example of civil Baroque architecture. Work started in and it took 9 years to build. The doorway is flanked by two wonderful barleytwist columns.

 

One of the towers has a clock face, the other a matching blank.

      Scattered around the city are numerous statues and columns dedicated to patrons of the city. Many of the roundabouts contain a monument of some description.

 

Museums and art in Alicante

When it comes to museums, Alicante has its fair share. The Archaeology MuseumThe museum is now housed in a new building and incorporates the most modern of multimedia displays. There's also a fine arts museum, museum de Belenes and unique museum of the 'Ninots' from the Falles fiestas. Alicante has a rich history and the museums make an interesting visit.

   

TheCastillo de Santa Barbara

This is one of the largest medieval fortresses in Europe. It occupies the entire summit and a large proportion of the slopes of the Benacantil mountain. It commands a unique look-out over the coastline, the Bay of Alicante and the surrounding farmland. Remains from the Bronze-age have been discovered on this site. The castle has three enclosures of differing dates, each with unique features.

 

You can drive to the top of the castle although the access road can be hard to find. Signposts are not fantastic. There's free parking at the top of the hill.

 

Entry to the castle is free of charge and you can easily spend the best part of a day walking round. There's a restaurant near the top.

 

You can also visit the castle by means of an elevator that ascends from the Paseo Maritimo. Entrance to the castle is free but there is a charge for using the elevator. EU Senior citizens and disabled don’t have to pay. The castle is visible from just about every part of the city.

 

Alicante also has an array of palaces worth visiting, including the Gavina Palace which now houses the Provincial Gallery with fine paintings from the 19th century. The main theatre dates from and is a fine example of classical construction.

 

The main avenues in Alicante are lined with Classical and Renaissance buildings. Many of the old apartments blocks have attractive applied reliefs.

  The bullring in Alicante (Plaza de Toros) is one of the oldest in Spain still in use. Built in it has since been restored and enlarged. The current design dates from and is rather plain. Inside the bullring there's a small museum of bullfighting and a bullfighting school. The bullring is in Plaza de Espana.

 

 Outside the bullring there's a wonderful bronze bullfighter and some bulls.  

The port and marina in Alicante

The very modern marina has a host of cafes and restaurants. The further round the marina you walk, the better the view of the city across the water. On the marina you will also find the Casino. The Casino Mediterraneo offers a great nights entertainment from 4pm until 4am (5am in summer). thisisnl.nl

   

The harbour of Alicante

It was once the port of Madrid. Today, modern facilities combine with tradition and history to provide a thriving centre.

Alicante is a major education centre and has an impressive university, founded in At present it has over 30, students on a campus covering over one million square metres. The university has six higher schools, seven colleges and seven university institutes. It has branches in several provincial towns.

The Monastery de la Santa Faz is 5km from the city centre and is now used as a convent of the order of St Clare. Although being built in , there are remains here dating from in the form of a defence tower.

  

Parks and gardens in Alicante

Most have impressive water features, monuments and statues. Most parks seem to be safe places although they can attract a few vagrants. The oldest park in Alicante is Parque de Canalejas with children's play areas, monuments and lots of shady areas. One of the nicest parks is located a few kilometres from the city. The Parque de El Palmeral has a boating lake, a theatre, play areas and wonderful walkways.

  

The beaches of Alicante

When it comes to beaches, the Playa de San Juan is considered to be one of the finest in Spain. There are three small coves, Palmera, Cantalares and Judios. They are difficult to access and therefore appropriate as nudist beaches. Further south is the Playa del Coco, next to the regional railway station. This beach connects to Playa del Postiguet, located close to the city centre.

    The Explanada is the pride of Alicante. It's a very long and very wide walkway, lined with shady trees. It runs along the seafront of the city. Along here you will find some fine restaurants, fast food outlets and lots of places to sit in the shade. There's a stage where concerts are held and you will always find some kind of street entertainer or artesans selling their wares. From the Explanada, walk up the Rambla, one of the main shopping streets.  

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Getting around Alicante

Driving is calm in Alicante although quite difficult at times. Parking is very limited and the best option is often underground car parking. Cycles are popular in Alicante and there's a city cycle hire system. The best way to see Alicante however is by foot. Within the historical centre, everything is just a short walk and there are lots of places to rest. The city of Alicante appears to be very safe, even at night although care should always be taken in quiet streets. Local buses are everywhere and very frequent.

 

Most of the streets are disabled friendly and pedestrians definately rule. Start your visit on the Rambla Mendez Nunez where you will find the Tourist Office at number There are 6 tourist offices in total in Alicante.

 

You can get to Alicante using the popular railway service - details and prices here

 

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Culture and fiestas of Alicante

Alicante is a cultural centre and has a varied selection of events and fiestas. The event has a medieval theme.

 

The Moors and Christians fiestas in Spain can vary drom small, town affairs through to huge city celebrations. You can see a sample fiesta here, with video.

 

 

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Activities in the Alicante area

The coast of Alicante offers a wide range of sports and activities. Kayak Alicante offer kayak excursions and hire all along the Alicante coast. thisisnl.nl Aeroglobo offer balloon rides from their base near Catral. thisisnl.nl You can explore the mountain roads with Mototours (thisisnl.nl). They have tours on Vespa scooters and BMW motorbikes. When it comes to theme parks, Safari Aitana in Penaguila is a great day out. The safari is open every day from 11am. thisisnl.nl

 

Boat trip from Alicante to Tabarca - Cruceros Kon Tiki - Tel - thisisnl.nl

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		National Police Alicante Emergencies Local Police Alicante - Emergencies Guardia Civil Alicante - Emergencies Fire Brigade Alicante - Emergencies General emergencies Alicante General hospital Alicante County Council Alicante British Consulate in Alicante German Consulate in Alicante Tourist information Alicante   Rambla Mendez Nunez, 23 Expalnada de Espana, 1 Campus san Vicente del Raspeig C/Portugal, 17 (RENFE), Av. Salamanca s/n Playa de San Juan, A. Niza s/n Summer only     Town Hall Alicante Post Office Alicante Red Cross Alicante Customs Alicante Port of Alicante Coast Guard Alicante Costa Blanca Samaritans   Hospital General de Alicante C/Pintor Baeza Hospital San Juan Ctra Alicante-Valencia
		Bus station Alicante RENFE Train station Alicante Alicante Airport information Traffic Information Alicante TAM Buses Alicante Taxi in Alicante or (thisisnl.nl) Alicante tram network (Trenet) See train stops here   Low cost car hire in this part of Spain - Instant quotes, online booking and guaranteed reservations. Access to all the top car hire companies in Spain
		SA Discoal (Nightclub) Alicante Wilson's nightclub Alicante
		Museo Arqueologico de Alicante Pl. Doctor Gomez Ulla s/n Tel: thisisnl.nl

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Where to go after Alicante

 

The Island of Tabarca

Located 11 miles south of Alicante is a guitar-shaped island with a total area of 30 hectares. The Island of Tabarca has a curious history and has a firm place in ancient Greek history. It was once a refuge for Berber pirates and in , King Carlos III ordered a fortress to be built here. It is possible to take a boat ride from Alicante to the island.

 

From Alicante, take a side step to Benidorm with its miles of golden beaches or head south to the wonderful port of Santa Pola. To the north, above Benidorm you find Calpe and Altea.

 

An excursion inland can be made to Busot to see the Cuevas del Canelobre. The caves are 24km from Alicante and house the highest vaults in the whole of Spain. The interior reminds you of a cathedral interior with its coloured lights illuminating the rock and mineral formations. Busot also offers the visitor many hiking routes with unique views and a range of restaurants with local cuisine.

 

More caves can be found at Vall d'Ebo, some 30km from Denia. The Cova del Rull is open from am until 5pm (pm April-September).
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Just over 50km away you will find a handful of towns that boast some of the most impressive castles in Spain. These include Novelda, Sax and Villena.